the albees

KNOXVILLE — While many of Knoxville’s local music venues have struggled, shut down or changed formats in the past year, the caliber of the city’s artists has never been stronger. There was a flux of new bands in 2009, which is nothing new. But given the potential and originality of these fledgling acts, Knoxville looks to make 2010 one of its most musically innovative and all-around best years to date.

Among these new bands to keep an eye on is The Albees.

The Albees are a “lyrically driven” rock trio consisting of drummer and vocalist Sean Bowie, guitarist Zack Scarlett and bassist Nate Shipley. Having come together in 2009, the band’s development was temporarily slowed upon losing a third of its trio when Scarlett migrated south for the winter. The brief move spawned a name change and a side project, but since his return, The Albees have been preparing at full force.

“The name ‘Albees’ originated from a made-up character I thought of when I first started writing music,” says Bowie. “In November our guitarist moved to Florida briefly, and we were unsure how long he would spend down there, so we started going by The Soft White. In that same time period, we started a much heavier side project called Strange Fruit.”

Currently working on a debut EP in South Knoxville’s High Gravity Studios, The Albees’ sound echoes styles of the ’80s but isn’t quite an all-out throwback. Between the haunting, reverb-heavy riffs and Bowie’s Morrissey-schooled vocals that conjure Depeche Mode’s David Gahan with a head cold, The Albees will undoubtedly build a name out of a local niche left unmanned since the disappearance of Angel and the Love Mongers.

“Our music is a blend of tropical garage pop,” Shipley describes. “The sound can be likened to the sweet and sensuous scent of hibiscus languidly lilting along a summer breeze. The polished, velvety vocals, seedy guitars licks and daunting bass lines create a unique style of melodious pop that will leave the audience in a hypnotized state of erotic immobilization.”

The Albees now stand before the milestone of their first public performance but look to make a determined splash by following it up with a second show later in the week. To alleviate the intensity of the band’s pressure-packed debut, Bowie says that snacks will be provided.

“We are very excited about our first official show,” says Bowie. “The only crowds we’ve played for at this point were at a few house parties where we didn’t even tell anyone who we were or anything. We just picked up the previous band’s instruments and played a set. They ate it up.

“We hope to impress all those who come out. We’ve been working diligently on our set. We’d also like to thank Kate Loxx for the help and dope flyers.”

Bowie will not embark on his first show without the support of his family as his brother’s rock duo Invetera will co-host the Saturday night bill. The show is scheduled for 10 p.m. at Pilot Light, but as anyone who has ever been to Pilot Light will tell you, it will almost certainly not start on time. Admission is $5.

The Albees will perform again Thursday at The Longbranch Saloon, joining Wilikers and You Just Don’t. That show is also slated for 10 p.m.

- Knoxville.com

Knoxville’s own The Albees formed in early 2009. the group breeds a hybrid of anxious beauty through richly sonic vocal textures and staccato guitar pieces. “Loose Lisp” connects immediately with its breathy tensions, as lyrics like, “Always late for the weekends, I'm making bite marks in the bed, still got me shaking, from what you said,” only add to the creepy, yet gorgeous, sound dynamics. - www.Knoxville.com