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.
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.
The Fat Angel Sings 