With unsuspecting places like Omaha, NE and Suburban Illinois having spawned some of today’s most inspirational and compelling bands, is it any wonder that another great band could pop up out of another obscure, middle-of-nowhere place like Colorado Springs, CO? Many great bands have proven they can come from anywhere in the country and Laymen Terms are here to prove that phenomenon once again. Laymen Terms began in 1998 as most do, playing melodic punk songs to kids at house parties, pizza places and anywhere else they could play a show. After building a small fan base and fine-tuning a set of songs, the band self-released it’s first CDEP, “An Introduction”. The CDEP came to the attention of the people at Soda Jerk Records, who loved what they heard, and signed the band on for 2 records. But, before the bands debut LP would hit the streets, Soda Jerk wanted to re-release “An Introduction” nationally. The record was re-mixed, re-mastered and re-packaged making it suitable for broader distribution. The reaction from the fans was amazing and the press loved what they heard. By the time the EP came out, Laymen Terms already had a full set of new songs and were ready to record their debut full-length, “Since Last December”. “Since Last December” is the record where one can begin to see the band coming into their own and finding their sound. The songs are somewhat paradoxical in the sense that they are dark and melancholy, but yet, upbeat and catchy at the same time. The guitar work is magnificent in that the tones are heavy and layered, while the surface is swimming with enough catchy hooks to grab the listener and make them pay attention. The rhythm section on this record is nothing short of amazing. To listen to Jameson Becker play drums is one thing, but to see him play live is entirely another. You will not be the only one at a Laymen Terms show focused and trying to comprehend what a fantastic drummer Jameson is. Lastly, and without a doubt, the heart of the bands sound and appeal lies in Andy Tanner’s brilliant song writing and smoky but smooth vocal style.
Andy captivates the audience with his powerful voice and his heartfelt songs. He will draw you in and make you listen as he pours out his heart and soul the only way he knows how. Andy is truly one of the great vocalists on the scene today. “Since Last December” received rave reviews from the press, and the band’s fan base continued to grow. After the release and their apparent rise in popularity, Laymen Terms began getting the nod to open for larger shows all over Colorado including Sugarcult, The Riddlin’ Kids, and Taking Back Sunday to name a few. Thanks to large word of mouth, and opening slots on bigger shows, Laymen Terms have consequently built a strong draw performing on their own. They recently co-headlined a sold out show at Tulagi’s in Boulder selling 500 tickets, and headlined another show in their hometown of Colorado Springs that sold over 800 tickets. With this momentum behind them, the band has begun to tour regionally with runs to Salt Lake City where they played a sold out show with Unwritten Law and another sold-out show with Sum 41. A lot of good things have been happening for Laymen Terms. They’re happy with their sound, with the direction they’re headed and they’re driven to continue to mature as a band. With everything in place, and an ever growing, fan base, the band is looking to take the next step. They have focused on touring the west coast and the mid-west, (having made a couple trips there already) and began work on both a new single and a new album, to be released in early 2004. The immediate goal is to use everything they have already accomplished to help them expand their fan base outside of the Rocky Mountain region. The band continues to be smart by taking things one-step at a time and trying not to bite off more than they can chew. With this philosophy and their brilliant song-writing ability, it shouldn’t be long before Laymen Terms have a lot of success to chew on. Laymen Terms are: Andrew Tanner (Vocals/Guitar), Devon Bryant (Guitar Vocals), Jameson Becker (Drums) and Justin Blair (Bass/Vocals)
