The Here Now
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The Here Now

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"The Here Now, Shotgun Dancer, CD Review"

I love well-crafted lyrics which lead you to seek not only their literal meaning, but also challenge you to find the hidden reasons behind which they were written. That is what you will get with The Here Now’s EP release, Shotgun Dancer. This disc offers a five song collection of strongly written poetic and mellow songs, delivered perfectly by talented instrumentalists that are obviously in tune with each other.

The Here Now open up their set with a descriptive tune called, “Emily,” which appears to be about two people who are both lost in a huge world divided by tall buildings, wars, pollution, and bigger things, yet are still able to come together and find love. Anyways, that’s my interpretation. I recommend you listen for yourself, because “Emily” is one of the better songs I’ve heard in a while.

I was also more than pleased with the equally strong ballad, “Nothing Will Change.” I like the unexpected minor chord changes and realistic production on this song. As with many of the tunes on this disc, “Nothing Will Change” isn’t overly complicated. It’s just an effectively simple, really well written song.

Another of my favorites in this collection is, “The Wound.” The acoustic guitar picking is quite good and unique. Again, the listener is treated to colorfully illustrative lyrics carried dramatically by the ambient performance of the band.

It’s groups like The Here Now that require a listener to dive deeper into the music. You won’t find any shallow pop tunes on this CD. What you’ll find is much better than that. The lyrics are just about as good as it gets, and the five piece band is tight, subtle, and very effective at delivering the right level of emotion to frame these fantastically written tunes. I hope the band is busy writing more songs, as I’ll need more than five tunes to satisfy the welcome urge that Shotgun Dancer has created. - Listeners Generation


"INDIE Mag's Kickoff Showcase"

The Here Now took the stage to a modest ovation; they seemed offended by the lack of reaction and countered by being the loudest and most original band of the night. The crowd was taken aback by this and responded by taking to the floor and jamming. Those I talked to felt these guys were there with the purpose of showing that they are on their way up the local rock ladder. They shook Peppers and it's patrons to their knees with the power of original rock. The vibes were so strong I saw my editor needed Southern Comfort in order to keep her composure.

After surfing through The Here Now Myspace page I realized these guys are a band you must see in person. The fans, the band, and the beer cannot be transferred accurately through digital means. - INDIEanapolis Magazine, Review by David Plough


"Indy-based indie band set to play at The Verve tonight"

The Verve is the premiere bar in town to hear live music, and that trend continues tonight when Indianapolis-based The Here Now take the stage, and they can't wait.

"Terre Haute is fortunate to have a venue like The Verve," said Ryan Millbern, lead singer of the band. "The crowds are always great. It's definitely up there with anything we have in Indianapolis."

The band, which consists of Millbern on acoustic guitar, Corey Staton on lead guitar, Mike D. on bass and Scott Holbert on drums, originally met in 2004 while in college at Purdue, Millbern said. The band played around the state under the name Exit Fowler, but after graduation they separated and were spread throughout the Midwest. In late 2006, they added Scott Borchert on keyboards, changed the name to The Here Now and began playing once more.

"It's hard to explain (our music)," Millbern said. "It's kind of alt-country-indie-folk-orchestral-rock mixture."

Millbern said some of the band's influences include Ryan Adams, Ray LaMontagne, M. Ward, Rocky Votolato, The Band, Wilco and My Morning Jacket.

"Our stuff has some rock and some sad songs and some triumphant noise," Millbern said.

One of the things that makes The Here Now so powerful musically is that the entire band has a process in creating its music.

"I write the skeleton and heart of the songs," Millbern said. "But the rest of the guys flesh them out, give them a body. They make them exciting and dynamic and presentable to the public. It's that kind of collaboration that I think fuels all of us."

The result is that each member of the band gets to see how the things they've created affect other people, Millbern said. "It's exhilarating to have the chance to live the moment of that song on stage and try to communicate the feeling of the song to people you've never met," Millbern said. "It's a crazy challenge and really rewarding."

The less serious side of Millbern has a less serious answer to the question of why the band plays music.

"We can be out of control and have an excuse for it," he said. Ultimately, Millbern said the band's goal is to make the crowd have as much fun as the band is having on stage.

"I hope at some point in the show (the crowd) stops and thinks, 'damn these guys have written some amazing songs," Millbern said.The Here Now will hit the stage at The Verve after indie folk band Cuba takes the stage at 10 p.m. This will be the band's third show at the venue. "I think we've played some of our best shows there," Millbern said. "It's just such a good atmosphere."

For a sample of the songs of The Here Now, visit www.myspace.com/theherenowmusic. The band's new EP, 'Shotgun Dancer' as well as other songs are available for purchase.

"Ultimately, I want people to listen to our music and be inspired to create something of their own," Millbern said. "That's my measuring stick for a great artist." - The Indiana Statesman


Discography

Shotgun Dancer, EP (2007, independently released)
The Choice, LP (2008, forthcoming)

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Bio

With the addition of Scott Borchert on keys in 2006 and a shift in musical direction toward simpler, tighter and more lyrical songs, Exit Fowler became The Here Now. The name change embodies an aesthetic shift and attempts to capture what John Lennon described as the purpose of rock and roll: to "be here now," and to some extent the idea that, to live in the past or the future is to be dead in the present.

Four parts Indianapolis, one part Chicago, their deep roots in Midwestern cities are reflected in their music, which alternates between the open-air-emptiness of alt-country ballads and the jangly rock of the cities that spring up to interrupt those spaces. Rather than overplay and overstate, they work under the theory that it is a musician's responsibility to his or her craft to not add and add until nothing can be added, but to cut and cut until only the core of the song remains.

The five members of The Here Now have collectively played more than 150 live shows, including:

Fox 59 AM Morning Show Battle of the Bands Indianapolis, IN
Elliott Hall of Music, Purdue University (opened for Socialburn)
Lafayette Brewing Company, Lafayette, IN (3) (opened for Rusted Root lead singer Michael Glabicki)
Spin Nightclub, Indianapolis, IN
The Melody Inn, Indianapolis, IN
Radio Radio, Indianapolis, IN
C.T. Pepper’s, Indianapolis, IN (5)
Rock Lobster, Indianapolis, IN
Birdy’s, Indianapolis, IN (6)
Locals Only, Indianapolis, IN
Scotty’s Brewhouse, West Lafayette, IN (4)
Sergeant Preston’s, West Lafayette, IN (4)
Roxy’s, West Lafayette, IN (5)
Slater Hill, West Lafayette, IN 96.5 WAZY Battle of the Bands, placed second
The Verve, Terre Haute, IN (3)
Wabash College Center for Fine Arts, Crawfordsville, IN (2)
Ball State University Student Union
University of Indianapolis
Vanity Theatre, Crawfordsville, IN
Underground Lounge, Chicago, IL
The Goose Island Brewing Co., Chicago, IL
The Wild Goose, Chicago, IL
Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival, Chicago, IL
Hoghead McDunna's, Chicago, IL
Life's Too Short, Chicago, IL
The Fantasy Lounge, Chicago, IL