Posts Tagged ‘The Family Crest’

The Family Crest is a baroque pop band from San Francisco, known for its sweeping and cinematic soundscapes. Led by songwriter and composer Liam McCormick, The Family Crest was named NPR Music’s “Favorite New Band of 2014” and on Paste’s “Best New Bands of 2014” list for its album “Beneath the Brine.” With seven core members who perform the music in concert, and an “extended family” of over 500 collaborators, The Family Crest embodies “ambition wide enough to swallow you whole.”

After performing at Sundance and contributing music to campaigns from GoPro, Coachella and NBC, The Family Crest will be hitting the road this summer. “Seeing is believing,” explains Bob Boilen of NPR Music. “Liam McCormick is a knockout singer, you simply must hear him live…. There’s a decent chance you’re about to discover your favorite new band.”

 

The Family Crest’s Liam McCormick. Since forming the band with John Steerlin in 2009, he’s expanded the San Francisco group to a six-piece. Then when it was time to record an EP, he invited all his friends to come play on the record. But that still wasn’t enough. He ended up putting an ad on Craig’s List inviting musicians throughout Northern California to contribute, getting 80 people to play on “Songs From the Valley Below”.

This year the band released its first full-length album, and the number of contributors  was up to 400. I joked with McCormick that he’s going to need to hit 1,000 next time, and he responded with all seriousness that that was the goal. It all might feel a little gimmicky if the music wasn’t so great. Even with just six people on stage, The Family Crest’s sweeping orchestral pop can hardly be contained by the small clubs the band is playing. It feels like bigger venues are just around the bend.

The Family Crest performs “Beneath the Brine” on Audiotree Live, June 30, 2014. I seriously can’t fathom how this band hasn’t gone international yet. This is such a powerful performance. This is true talent. Nobody know what they’re missing. Chills everywhere. Hats off to you guys and keep it up. I want you to be on the radio every day, in every city. Cannot wait for you to hit the UK.

family-crest

Plenty of singer/songwriters get tired of making music alone, but few if any have responded as thoroughly to that feeling as The Family Crest’s Liam McCormick. Since forming the band with John Steerlin in 2009, he’s expanded the San Francisco group to a six-piece. Then when it was time to record an EP, he invited all his friends to come play on the record. But that still wasn’t enough. He ended up putting an ad on Craig’s List inviting musicians throughout Northern California to contribute, getting 80 people to play on Songs From the Valley Below.

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This year the band released its first full-length album, and the number of contributors (or the “Extended Family”) was up to 400. I joked with McCormick that he’s going to need to hit 1,000 next time, and he responded with all seriousness that that was the goal. It all might feel a little gimmicky if the music wasn’t so great. Even with just six people on stage, The Family Crest’s sweeping orchestral pop can hardly be contained by the small clubs the band is playing. It feels like bigger venues are just around the bend.