Adam Ptacek - vocals Matt Olson - guitar Jason Ptacek - bass T.J. Kammer - drums
The First Band I Ever Signed -- by Steve Lillywhite
After more that 30 years of producing bands for other labels I decided to start my own label, Gobstopper Records, through Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures. With that, I finally had the chance t sign a band for myself. Choosing my own signing seemed like such an important decision but I had an idea of the sort of band I wanted. I wanted youth, and more than that, I wanted the kind of intangible exciting presence no one really understands but everyone can sense. When I first saw U2, for example, what struck me was their amazing commitment. That was what I was seeking again from a new band - true dedication to music.
That's what Rearview Mirror was. When I first came across them, I instantly recognized, "Ah, this is what U2 had in the early days." I discovered Rearview Mirror on an Internet mailing list. I began reading about this band from Iowa formed when they were 13, 14, and 15 years old. The idea of the band, their freshness and early dedication, shone out to me even before I'd heard the music. Four young musicians, a guitar, bass, drums, and singer - the essentials. I got an urgent sense that I needed to hear them. I called the manager and he sent me their independent CD. I immediately loved what I heard.
I knew then that I had to see them live. If you look at my history as a producer, all the bands I've had success with have been great live performers, from the Psychedelic Furs, to the Pogues to Dave Matthews Band. So I went to see Rearview Mirror in this little place in La Crosse, Wisconsin called The Warehouse. When they came out I was so proud. I thought, "These guys rock!" They were a little bit raw, but they had it, that intangible presence, that charisma. The crowd loved them. And that skill and chrisms have only increased. Even in the past few months since they've been signed, their gigs have gotten really good - they've blossomed. Musically, these four young men, now 18, 19, and 10, are very accomplished players.
The U2 comparison isn't really a musical one. It's more a matter of spirit. I've never taken on a band that has sounded anything like any other band I've previously worked with. I'm now in my fourth decade of producing, and I like the challenge of something new. Rearview Mirror is the youngest heaviest band I've ever worked with and I really know they're onto something. The route for the band like this is constant touring, making a great record, building a fan base - and taking it from there. Rearview Mirror has exactly that kind of solid potential.
I've made my career with great guitar bands and Rearview Mirror is a great four-piece rock band with a classic line-up. Adam's vocals and writing resonates honestly from his experience living in a small town in Iowa and about all the things that go through a young man's head like alienation, desire, and aspiration. These days, there are a lot of people who don't fit the mold. They're looking for something they can call their own and Rearview Mirror speaks to them. As a guitarist, Matt knows exactly what he wants. He painstakingly works on his sound, conceives it in his head, and refines it. T.J.'s a powerhouse on drums. He's precise and his parts are very inventive. And Jason on bass completes a great rhythm section. As I've said, the guys rock. And the four of them have developed a very sure sense of songwriting. Compact and tight, their songs never meander. There's no dead wood. Everything matters. They understand that a great song is one that you have to be able to go out and play live.
The song "Guilty" first grabbed my attention with it's chorus, "28/7" with it's heavy chords, and the ballad, "City Walls", all of which underscore that initial credibility I saw in the band. And after all my pressuring I saw this credibility firsthand with the completion of "In the Beginning". This was the last song they wrote for the album and it's the first single. This showed me that this band has the ability to go on and do amazing things in the future.
Working with them was a pleasure. For them, the excitement of music is still brand new and they're very serious about it. They have a strong work ethic and strong ideas. They're not intimidated; they are truly a band - a kind of club or world unto themselves. They do everything together. With the best bands there's a lot of communication that's unspoken. Rearview Mirror is that kind of band.
What I do, is bring out whatever's inside the musicians I work with. But at the end of the day, it's their album, their music. With "All Lights Off", Rearview Mirror has made a debut album that truly makes them contenders.
-- Steve Lillywhite
