The Levee

Most local bands choose to progress slowly, starting with a few live shows, then moving on to a demo or two before they ever get around to recording even an EP. The Levee took a much different route: they kicked out a pristinely-produced full-length record with 10 enormous songs full of gang vocals, massive guitars and atmospheric drums before they had even played a show or had a complete lineup. Instead of tiptoeing the water to see if it was safe, the Levee dove straight into the deep end.

Brandon Funk, the brains behind the band, began writing songs and demoing them out all on his own, creating the core of the Levee’s sound with just himself and his MacBook. Instead of trying to enlist his bandmates off rough demos, he decided to go straight into the studio to document the symphonies he had in his head, predicting he would recruit a stronger, more focused team if the music was already tight and solid. He teamed up with Kyle Schumacher of the Ranch studio and got busy making huge, wall-of-sound jams. Throughout the recording experience he borrowed musical help from his friends, three of whom ended up filling out the rest of the roles in the band (Schumacher on drums, Tucker Richmond on guitar, and Michael “bassist” Stallings on bass).

Funk’s judgment definitely pays off. The Sound of the Levee is very strong, well-produced and smartly written. The record has a focused, concise direction, yet it’s dynamic and varied enough to keep a listener interested. Though the overall tone of the album is heavy, many of the songs employ acoustic guitars and a cappella vocals; a few songs such as “Digger” and “Addiction” even cross over into folk. The less-is-more philosophy runs rampant all over this record and has a really positive effect. Funk and company never over play here; instead of showing off their personal chops, they use their individual parts to build a better whole.

The fact that the Levee’s first ever show was also an album release show is impressive. The fact that the album is not your usual EP, but a full-length (and an extremely good one from start to finish) is even more remarkable. The Levee has accomplished a feat right off the bat that most indie bands would take a few years to do. It’s also an album both musically and production-wise that any band would be proud of delivering. Being brand baby new the group will be growing and expanding as they develop, and they have plenty of room to do so. There is a lot work for them to do to prove themselves as a band locally, and they’ve set the bar very high for themselves with their stellar debut. - Latest Disgrace