Total War

Part of the challenge of working with the equipment, says Rose, is that Total War — who will kick off the new AHA AVL season on Wednesday, Oct. 9 — is a three-piece (with bassist Ory Petty and drummer Adam Woleslagle). “If any one of the three of us gets too pedal-y at any moment, it’ll be a two-piece with weirdness.”

Anyone who’s seen a Total War show knows about the vulnerable spin they put on indie-rock. Equal parts quirky sweetness and propulsive intensity, their songs are both personal and cinematic. The trio’s video for "All We Have Tonight” won best song and the audience choice award at this year's Music Video Asheville. They already have ideas for AHA AVL and will also incorporate a keyboardist. Some Total War songs have implied keys parts and, says Rose, “We figured it’s a synthesizer factory, so we should use a synthesizer.” - Mountain XPress

Rose says that when Total War considered approaching the song literally, it lent itself to the same approach as their previous video for the song, "You're Over It," directed by Brian Wilson. While the band loved that end-product, and working with Wilson, they wanted to try something new.

Videographer Josh Hartigan was feeling ambitious, and, in a brain-storming session, Petty (who, "when given a moment to brainstorm will naturally take everything to the most insane possible destination," says Rose) came up with jet packs and rocket ships. "We wanted to make it silly and cute," says Rose. "The song presents itself as kind of serious, but it's not. It's a trifle, a dalliance." So, following Petty's lead, they went for fun and fanciful.

"A light reflection on imagination and perception instead of a dark one," as Rose puts it. - Mountain XPress

Rose says that when Total War considered approaching the song literally, it lent itself to the same approach as their previous video for the song, "You're Over It," directed by Brian Wilson. While the band loved that end-product, and working with Wilson, they wanted to try something new.

Videographer Josh Hartigan was feeling ambitious, and, in a brain-storming session, Petty (who, "when given a moment to brainstorm will naturally take everything to the most insane possible destination," says Rose) came up with jet packs and rocket ships. "We wanted to make it silly and cute," says Rose. "The song presents itself as kind of serious, but it's not. It's a trifle, a dalliance." So, following Petty's lead, they went for fun and fanciful.

"A light reflection on imagination and perception instead of a dark one," as Rose puts it. - Mountain XPress

"Themes in [Total War's] music are of youth and uncertainty. The drive to get somewhere, to accomplish something, but what? Adam Woleslagle's percussion adds the urgency and immediacy that catapults Rose's lyrics into palpable, emotive intensity.

It's an angsty/hopeful mix, balancing polished and raw, practiced and rough. The band finished with a new song that they said had never played in front of an audience before. It had some tricky time signature changes and jazz touches; the overall sound recalled Psychedelic Furs' 'Heartbreak Beat.'"

-- Alli Marshall, Mountain XPress (Asheville NC) - Mountain XPress