Vast Atlantic
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Vast Atlantic

Band Americana Folk

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"Vast Atlantic-Locals Only"

Refuting any sort of sonic agenda, Orange County-based Vast Atlantic decided just over a year ago to make music only they themselves would want to hear. The payoff was a warm and comforting brew of sunny western folk—oddly familiar yet unaccustomed, almost as if the band stripped apart the elements of other artists and created a crafty gallimaufry. (Think an only-in-dreams collaboration between Neutral Milk Hotel and Old Crow Medicine Show.)

Their latest EP, So Long, opens with “Paddle to the Water,” a song so ambrosial they resurrected it from their previous disc, Darker Days. With an unfaltering heartbeat of a drum pattern (thanks to the ever-steady hands of Adam Herro), steel guitar and acoustic twangs only emphasize the track’s foot-tapping appeal. And then? Oh, yes, there are handclaps. But not enough to be obnoxiously trendy.

When comparing So Long and Darker Days, it’s clear that not much change—musical evolution, really—has occurred in the time between them. But why bother altering something that already garners adoration from being so fresh and bright? So Long’s title track is a ballad disguised as a country song thanks to the waa-waa of the metal slide hovering in the background. Two minutes in, the tempo doubles, a harmonica wails, and this slow crooner becomes an into-the-sunset sing-along. “Paralyzed” opens with a catchy little riff, and a slight distortion on Jarrett Killen’s lead vocals adds refreshing texture.

Vast Atlantic have honed a specific style, and though I fully endorse changing up anything constant, I almost hope they stay right where they are. It’s a good place to be.


-Erin DeWitt
10/23/08
- OC Weekly


Discography

The "Darker Days EP" was released in 2007, and the "So Long EP" was released in April of 2008 both physically and on iTunes/AmazonMP3. We've been featured on Chapman radio, streamed live on notMTV.tv and have been played multiple times on Los Angeles station INDIE 103.1

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Bio

Who is Vast Atlantic? Vast Atlantic is the brainchild of Jarrett Killen, formerly from the Interscope signed band, Narwhal. After languishing in relative gridlock for three years, Jarrett’s disenfranchisement with “the system” grew to such a point that he began looking for another creative outlet. So he started writing songs on his acoustic guitar. Jarrett soon hooked up with multi instrumentalist Kyle Zantos (guitar/banjo/keys/vox) who shared his love of folk, blues and country music. Armed with mutual inspiration and a desire for substantial music, the two sat down and began to write what would become their first E.P., “Darker Days”, which quickly became a staple in many of their friends’ iPods and stereos. Seizing on the momentum that had been created, Jarrett and Kyle enlisted the services of Bret Hendry (guitar/lap steel/harmonium/vox), Adam Herro (drums) and Adam Poe (bass/vox) to form what is now the permanent lineup of Vast Atlantic.

Now a fully functioning band, Vast Atlantic set out recording their second E.P., “So Long” which was released in April of 2008. The record is a beautiful mix of Americana rock, folk/country, and blues and has earned the band comparisons to Ryan Adams, Wilco, and early Bright Eyes. Since its release they have played to a sold out crowd at the Troubadour; headlined The Knitting Factory, played at the Maloof Cup (the largest prize money skateboard event in the world) and been featured on LA radio station INDIE 103.1. Sharing the stage with such acts as Rocky Votolato (Barsuk Records), Portugal the Man (Fearless Records), and Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter (Barsuk Records), the band has been earning themselves an ever expanding fan base all the while. The upcoming months are full of potential as the band is currently planning a West Coast tour and is shopping their (in the works) full length to a slew of labels. All of this, mind you, from a band that has only been together for a year.

Vast Atlantic has a passion for making music that they want to hear and hope that along the way, others will want to hear it too. Always bursting at the seams with new songs and ideas, they hope to continue producing records and performing for fans for as long as they are allowed.