Posts Tagged ‘Grand Rapids’

Heaters from Grand Rapids, Michigan In the year 2015, it may be that only foolishness or forgetfulness can excuse being surprised by the pace and power of a rock and roll machine coming out of the holy state of Michigan. Yet such is the power of the perpetual energy expressed throughout “Holy Water Pool,” the new full-length album by Heaters on Beyond Beyond Is Beyond Records.

If there’s an offer of salvation within “Holy Water Pool,” its one that comes with a catch: you have to risk drowning. Drowning in this case brought on by the rapid-rush of these eleven songs over forty-one minutes, creating an album that consistently offers explosion while also always keeping its fuse lit. “Kamizake” is the suitably deadly opener, as much an invocation of the ghosts of reverb past as it is a song. Broken shards of the Bo Diddley beat, detritus left behind by the three-eyed men of the Elevators, the amplifier-abuse-turned-illumination of The Warlocks – all feed the rich soil from which “Holy Water Pool” emerges. And perhaps nowhere on “Holy Water Pool” is the fruit of that soil better served than on “Master Splinter,” an instantly-under-your-skin gallop of greatness that lays bare both the unbridled joy and teeth-gnashing distress of what we like to call rock and roll.

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Moments of “Holy Water Pool” threaten to turn into a wave pool, holy or not, given Heaters almost incongruous surf-city leanings. Sonically, this is more than the sum of its parts (and more than the sum of second-hand Ventures records, too) in the way it colours the band’s sound, with their relatively defined palette expanding to a depth that’s deceptively broad and ultimately breathtaking. “Gum Drop” is perhaps the albums sweetest treat, here the pace slowed to a somnambulistic shuffle, with the band threatening to disintegrate completely into the sound that grows ever more cavernous at every turn, tethered to reality only by the siren sound of saxophone. On the album ending “Dune Ripper,” our eyes initially crossed and read the title as “Duane Ripper,” as in the million-dollar twang delivered by Duane Eddy. It’s a ripper, for sure, and leaves little doubt that this dose of “Holy Water,” delivered with chilling efficiency by Heaters, has had its intended impact on our ears.

Onward flows the “Holy Water Pool,” the rambunctious and replenished flow of rock and roll, inviting all for a cleansing, refreshing dip. Jump in.

Originally released September 25th, 2015

 

If you are searching endlessly for new music and bands. So, let us save you from the hours of endless scrolling.  We have your new favorite indie band right here. Pretoria is a four piece alternative/indie rock band out of Grand Rapids Michigan. Josh Bilisko (Guitar) met Rob Gullett (Vocals/Bass) and Ben DeWitt (Drums) in high school and they all decided to start playing music in and around the area. Soon after releasing their first EP they added Evelyn Timmis (Synth/Guitar/Vocals) to round out their new indie sound.

The band formed when guitarist Josh Bilisko and bassist Rob Gullet met in high school. After that, Ben Dewitt came in to play drums. The group bonded over their mutual music interests (Nirvana) and they immediately clicked. Pretoria already has an EP and a couple of singles under their belt. Now, they can add their latest “Cape Town” to their discography.

EP opener “You Can’t Explain” is the peak of the album (which implies that there are pits, but there really, really aren’t). Kicking off with high energy, good vibes, and just a taste of what else is to come is a great way to start off this EP. “Cody Maverick” has the funky, beach feel that the band seems keen on embracing. It’s meant to be loud, listened to with the windows down. “Laundry” takes on a more med-tempo beat, but instead of feeling slow, it feels sultry. “Don’t Forget Me” is the melancholy EP closer. It still keeps up the summer vibes, but it’s more toned down. It’s the kind of summer day where it hits you that life isn’t always like a movie, and sometimes you have to be introspective. Lead singer, Bilisko, begs “Don’t forget me” more desperately as the song starts to draw to a close, bringing the EP to a desperate end.

They just sound good. It’s a fun album, that offers something relatable when you need it, but something fun-loving when you don’t. “Cape Town” feels airy, summer-y, and shows something great in this tiny indie band.

Pretoria just released their EP, “Cape Town,” in June. The four track long EP is an indie music lover’s wet dream.

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released June 12th, 2019

Josh Bilisko, Matt Burdick, Ben DeWitt, Rob Gullett

Heaters are back! And on this, their fourth LP in as many years, we find their sound has aged like a fine wine. The evolution of Heaters over those 4 years has been a thrill to hear, from the original sonic maelstrom of three young men to a seasoned 4-piece unit totally finding its groove and its voice the further it ventures on. It’s also true that Heaters have grown exactly 4 years over that time, which is quite substantial when you’re talking about dudes in their twenties. “Suspended Youth” is the first album where Heaters lived in two different places, Grand Rapids and Montreal, and couldn’t just come up with songs while hanging together in their GR jam space. This time, ideas were cultivated in separate places and then stitched together when Nolan (Krebs) would fly to Grand Rapids to record in guitarist Ben Taber’s studio. Nolan says it was a longer process, but ultimately just as rewarding.

“Suspended Youth”: is it a full dissolution of youth, or youth put on the back burner till we’re old enough to appreciate it, or is it the actual physical suspension of youth? Youth levitating, if you will. Many of the songs have an overarching theme addressing the march of time and getting older, and valuing peace as much as chaos, the yin and yang that is life; something that comes through in the overall sound, too. You have never heard a Heaters quite as balanced as on “Suspended Youth”; balancing their whirlwind sonic rave-ups with steady motorik lock-ins. For example, marvel at Nolan on bass and Josh (Korf) on drums completely in swingin’ robots mode on the last 3 minutes of ‘Venus,’ a track full of texture and synth vs. guitar compositions from Ben and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Hagan. Never have you heard Heaters vocals as clear as they are here (dig ‘Lysander’ and ‘Monolith’), harmonies so dreamy (hear Nolan and Ben on ‘Highwind’ and ‘Dandelion’), and melodies so beautiful throughout. And Heaters are no strangers to bringing the bizarre vibes, just check out the closing 11 and a half minutes of the album, ‘Nova Prime’ and ‘Lunar Creep.’

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This is the sound of a band making the conscious decision to age gracefully and to grow artistically…and on their own terms.

Releases November 2nd, 2018

Heaters performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded September 9, 2016. Heaters is Andrew Tamlyn, Nolan Krebs and Joshua Korf.

Less than a year after the release of “Holy Water Pool”Heaters’ debut, a crushing, revelatory psycho-surf-rock anointment-as-album there are no apparent signs of distress to the engine that powers this Michigan-made vehicle of sound. To the contrary, Heaters are operating at a higher horsepower than ever before, as evidenced by the 2016 release of “Baptistina.” the bands second album.

“Baptistina” glimmers to a greater degree than anything Heaters have previously unleashed, a full-spectrum sheen that shines across the full panorama of righteous reverb riots. Heaters are in full control of their machine from the opening, and yet the result of this increase in control can be heard as a willingness to crash their ship completely. But have faith in the pilots – Heaters are living for the next ride.

Songs:
Dali
Elephant Turner
Centennial
Ara Pacis

Heaters Holy Water Pool album LP

From Grand Rapids, MI trio Heaters are getting ready to release their new platter of blazing psych, titled “Holy Water Pool”, September 25 via Beyond Beyond Is Beyond Recordings. The band haven’t shared any music from it yet but you can check out cover art and tracklist (and an older Heaters cut) below.
Heaters start their tour this weekend in NYC.
Heaters will also be back for 4 Knots Festival with Super Furry Animals, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Mikal Cronin, Screaming Females,

The guys of Heaters, you’d think the three lanky psych rockers resided in Sunny California where bands like The Growlers, Shannon and the Clams, the Ty Segall Band have made psychedelia cool again, but this three-piece was born and bred in the snowy beaches of Michigan.

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Guitarist Andrew Tamlyn, bassist Nolan Krebs, and drummer Joshua Korf formed the band back in 2013, and since then, they’ve released a handful of EPs – self-recorded in their homes – and their studio debut “Solstice” (Dizzybird Records). Aside from constantly laying down recordings, Heaters has also been touring non-stop, including frequent shows in Chicago. And just this month, Heaters also played Austin Psych Fest. With all that touring, the band has definitely been giving their van a run for its money. On their way to the Windy City, the Midwesterners broke down in Kansas City, but luckily they managed to get the van running, making it just in time, pulling up to the venue minutes before they were set to take the stage.

Fans and friends seemed relieved to see the trio loading in, and once Heaters got started, people instantly began moving, swaying to the fuzzy melodies of “Shump” andSanctuary Blues.” Heaters played the single, “Mean Green,” off their recent 7” via Beyond Beyond is Beyond Records.

 

 

If you’re into reverb, spaced out garage rock, and not really understanding what a song is about because you can’t quite hear the lyrics but you’re definitely vibing on the groove, then “Kamikaze” by Grand Rapids-based trio Heaters will certainly make your nipples rather erect. I mean, doesn’t that happen to you when you hear a song you really dig? Either way, we’ve had our eye on Heaters for minute and now they’re set to release Holy Water Pool—their debut LP out on 9.25 via Beyond Beyond is Beyond Records

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