The Federalists
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The Federalists

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"Done eating? Head out for fat-free music"

Thursday, November 23rd 2006

LOCAL BAND DOES GOOD: I've been listening to East Bay band the Federalists ... a lot. With a great mix of alt-country and easy rock -- no, not the boring kind -- they'd seem to appeal to a wide range of people with good musical taste.

Not surprisingly, the Federalists were chosen from hundreds of bands to play a big-label showcase, Jan. 20 at 12 Galaxies in San Francisco. They're polished and they're ready for a big label, with well-structured songs, a singer with an identifiable voice (which is a bigger deal than most people think) and just a great grasp of what goes into good music.

The Federalists' first, self-titled record, recorded at Bay View Studios in Richmond and mixed and mastered at Trinity Studios in Walnut Creek, is available at www.the-federalists.com. The site also has plenty of other band information as well. The Federalists next show is Dec. 9 at Red House studios in Walnut Creek. Check out the site for more info. - Contra Costa Times


"Hard Workers"

Thursday, May 25th 2006

The Federalists

Band members wrote down 500 band names on a piece of paper before they could find one that nobody in the group would object to. The truly democratic band was formed a year ago in Concord after Brandt Walker and Luke Franks picked up the pieces from their last group, Yours Truly, (RIP). The Federalists practiced practically every day for eight months before hitting a stage because they wanted to be as perfect as possible.

Lineup: Franks (guitar, piano, voice), Jason Roysdon (guitar); Walker (bass); Dustin Smith (drums)

1. The Federalists' music should be filed between:

Wilco, Pedro the Lion, Elvis Costello and the Beatles.

2. The soundtrack to what movie would your music best match?

"Coogan's Bluff."

3. If you could collaborate on a song with any person, living or dead, who would that be?

Prince, Brian Wilson or Sly Stone.

4. If a junior high school asked you to play a cover song at the next talent show, what song and school would you choose?

The Beatles' "Happiness Is a Warm Gun," performed at Foothill Junior High School in Walnut Creek, because we realize as musicians we have influence on people and want to make sure we use it for good.

5. What is the meaning of life?

The property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from dead organisms and inanimate matter, manifested in functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction and response to stimuli or adaptation to the environment originating from within the organism.

Check them out: www.myspace.com/thefederalistsrock

Next gig: 6 p.m. Sunday. Full bill: The Federalists, Azrael, Illusion Lounge, SFM (The Soul Fire Machine), Two Left Feet. Bourbon Street Bar & Grill, 2765 Clayton Road, Concord. $8-$10. (925) 969-9802; www.bourbonstreetrocks.com. - San Francisco Chronicle


"The Federalists - Interview"

Tuesday, December 26th 2006

Q: Tell me about being picked out of the hundreds of bands to play
on Jan. 20 at 12 Galaxies in San Francisco? Why should people come
out to it? (I know I’ll be there!)

It is always a thrill when people dig what we're doing. Being picked to play the show was a real honor. Supposedly they booked the 10 best bands they could find in the bay area, so I'm looking forward to seeing our competition.


Q:What did it take to get to this point with the band?

We've all been playing music seperately for most of our lives. We've learned how bands work and how they fall apart. Everything just happened to align naturally to where it made sense for us to be playing together. Hopefully this "point" is nowhere near our peak.

Q:What are some of the new sounds your making for the EP that you
are releasing at the 12 Galaxies show?

Unlike our first record, we are taking advantage of the studio and modern technology. Our new songs are very precisely orchestrated with strings, horns, background vocals, synths and anything else we can think of.

Q:You describe yourselves and “Rebelling against modern gimmicks”
so is this mostly because you guys don’t do the overdubs thing or
how would you explain that further?

I'm not against doing overdubs. I just felt like recording without them was necesary to achieve the sound I wanted on that particular album. I think the way we rebel against modern gimmicks is by not paying attention to them. After Green Day a bunch of pop punk bands came out. After The White Stripes made it big, a bunch of garage bands came out and after Franz Ferdinand a bunch of dance rock bands came out. We are not planning on jumping on any band wagon. We will continue to do what comes natural to us and hopefully people will like it.

Q:Although your “style is continuously shifting” would you agree to
calling The Federalist an alt- country band?

No musician or artist wants to be put in a category. However, it is fair to say that our first (and currently only) record is definitely alt-country. The songs that we are working on for our next album have more of an indie rock feel. I realize that people want consistency from a band, but I think the melodies and the individual style of each member of the band will keep the sound coherent no matter what genre the music is.

Q:O.K. fun stuff now! I like to play a little game where I say a
word and you say the first thing that pops in your head! Alrighty?
GO!

Elvis? Costello
Popsicles? Otter Pops
Rabbit? Monty Python
Hula? Lilo & Stitch
Sugar? Stevie Wonder
Puppies? Pound Puppies
Yellow? Coldplay
Rum? Thumb - Soundpick.net


"Local Music Spotlight"

June 2007

I imagine that at one point or another, everyone has driven somewhere and heard a song on the radio that just infiltrated their mind and stuck in their brain for weeks to come. That song was most likely “Hit Me Lovely,” courtesy of the Bay Area’s very own Federalists. According to The Federalists themselves, the band has rebelled against modern gimmicks, i.e. “dance rock, whining, production by Kanye West or The Neptunes” and have instead shifted the attention back on what it should be; timeless songwriting, memorable memories and committed musicianship. After all, federalism is a philosophy in which a group of members are bound together, and in this case, The Federalists are joined together not only by true talent but by their undeniable ability to catch your attention and leave you singing their songs well into your workday. Citing The Beatles, Television, Wilco and Pedro the Lion as their main influences, the band’s self-titled album, which is available on Itunes, has ruptured the underground scene and attracted fans from all corners and genres. The band proudly admits to a continually evolving sound and with their regular radio airplay and magnetic appeal, it’s no time before you’ll be ranting and raving about them yourself. If you’re a college student who’s living off of Top Ramen, forgo the noodles for a week and instead pay the money to experience The Federalists live on June 16 at one of Berkeley’s favorite venues, Blakes. It’ll be well worth your time and dedication.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Booking: thefederalists@mac.com
Website: www.the-federalists.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/thefederalistsrock - Zero Magazine


Discography

The Federalists - Self-Titled (2008) (Released 2/12/08)
Rose Hill Collective Compilation (Release 3/17/07)
Guitars Not Guns Compilation - Volume 1 (Released 9/14/06)
The Federalists - Self Titled (2006) (Release 7/1/06)

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Bio

We (The Federalists) are an indie rock band from the East Bay. We formed in 2005, and kicked things off with a challenge, recording our eponymous debut live in the studio. Instead of hiding behind studio trickery, we wanted to prove that we were the real thing from the start. The album took two days to record and was released in July 2006, but by the winter of that year we already had enough songs to begin work on our second album. We decided not to hurry ourselves this time, and spent all of 2007 developing and perfecting our second self-titled record which will be released in February 2008, followed by extensive touring.
In 2006 we played a showcase for multiple indie and major record labels. The indies told us we were too mainstream; the majors told us we were too indie. This is exactly the line we’d like to walk, being accessible while maintaining artistic integrity. We don’t evaluate ourselves based on what a label tells us or what is being played on the radio. We don’t strive to be part of a fad. We aim for timelessness; we aim for greatness.