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The best kept secret in music
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NEO Music News
Friday, April 27, 2007
Asterisk rock: the Star * Junction guitarist Lucas Allmon swears his Chardon-based instrumental rock act has nothing against singers. "We were originally going to have a singer when we started playing and writing music but none of us stepped up to sing," laughed Kent resident Allmon, 28. "At the same time, we started finding these underground instrumental bands, and we were like, 'Well, this actually works without any lyrics at all.' So it just evolved from there, where we play instrumental music in the vein of, say, Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. I always like to say if you're over 35, you think we sound like Pink Floyd. And if you're under 35, there are a ton of different bands you might think we sound like." Formed a decade ago at Chardon High School, The Star Junction is finally releasing its sophomore effort, "Euphemic," which Allmon describes as a "heavily distorted lullaby." The quartet - Allmon, Nick Lynn (drums), Mike Lynn (bass) and Marc Cody (guitar) - is celebrating the release of its new album with a 6 p.m. show Sunday at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland. - Cleveland Plain-Dealer
Discography
Cessation (RSA-1) - Full Length LP released in 2001 (Re-release pending in 2007)
Untitled (RSA-2) - 4 Song EP released on MiniCD in 2004
Euphemic (RSA-3) - Full Length LP released in April 2007
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Like many bands the Star Junction was formed by four friends in high school, around 1996. Like most high school bands, members changed up until the people who were interested in making music (and not just saying they were in a band) were found. We were slowly writing music for a year and a half, and planned on having one of us write lyrics and sing, but no one ever stepped up to the mic. There are still lyrics sitting on a dusty shelf somewhere for songs that never wanted them.
Around 1999 we heard songs from a little Scottish act called Mogwai, and realized that we were in the same genre already, but had viewed it all this time as songs without lyrics, instead of instrumental songs. That shifted our focus and drive, and instead of writing songs with the intention of putting in vocals later, we started writing the music as the song. The realization came fast that we didn't need words to convey the same ideas, but in fact, the message was just as clear, much more clear in some cases. We pull from feelings we all have, but mainly love, nostalgia and aggression.
Since that realization we have released 2 albums and one EP, all varying wildly, but still keeping that lifeline that feels like the Star Junction. Epic, subdued, infectious and overtly subtle. Somewhere along the way, we turned into a live band. The idea that live should be more stripped down and raw, keeping the essentials of the compositions and amplifying it. Strange, cause we've always composed with the album in mind.
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