How many bands lose their songwriting apparatus and come back swinging? Indiana pop-punk trio Side Walk Slam have done it - twice now, in fact. Since Past Remains, their debut album, Side Walk Slam have released two subsequent albums, Give Back and their newest, ...And We Drive. Original singer/songwriter Marcuss Hall left the band after the first album, though he penned all but two of the tracks on the second; “...And We Drive” is the first album featuring the writing talents of bassist Josiah Curtis, who took the step up to chief songwriter and lead vocalist. "It's not really all that surprising that we 'bounced back' from Marcuss' departure, because Josiah has always had an amazing talent to write songs," drummer Matt Jackson says. "It's just when Marcuss left, it gave him the chance to step up - a chance to shine, if you will. I think Marcuss' style may still show a bit in our writing, but I definitely feel we've moved on to a bit of a different sound."
Side Walk Slam started as a cover band in their mid-teens, performing their takes on various bands including MxPx, Squad 5-0 and Ghoti Hook, and the new album is a smorgasbord of tuneful punked-out pop songs reminiscent of the early '90s punk explosion; fans of Green Day, MxPx and Blink 182 will be all over this one. The first single and video "Time Will Pass You By" features gritty live footage of the band cranking it out in a tiny basement venue, replete with sweaty fans and mass singalongs. "The new albums still deals with the same things we've always sung about," Jackson says. "Relationships, fun and friends. We just write about whatever comes naturally, both lyrically and musically. We feel if you try to write a song about this or that, or try to write a song that sounds this way or that, it won't sound natural. We strive to play what feels right to us."
Recorded this past April at the Blasting Room in Fort Collins, CO, Side Walk Slam once again worked with the prolific team of Bill Stevenson (Descendants/All) and Jason Livermore, who've developed a strong working relationship with the band, having worked on all three albums. "All the guys at the Blasting Room are amazing!" Jackson enthuses. "We've worked not only with Bill and Jason, but also Stephen Egerton; he needs props also. All the guys have helped us in different ways. All three of us feel we're better musicians since recording at the Blasting Room; every time we go we learn something new. Recording there is nothing but a plus for us. We love it." You heard it here first, kids.
Having played on several high-profile tours since their inception, and with new guitarist - and recent high-school graduate - Neil Endicott on board as a permanent replacement for the departed Hall(the band enlisted Kevin Hobby as a touring guitarist for their relentless schedule), things are looking very bright indeed. Endicott just turned eighteen years old and has never toured, so the band can't wait for September 16th to hit the road in support of “...And We Drive”. "Touring is a help in our playing, period," Jackson says firmly. "I mean, we get to practice every single night! I know personally it builds up my drumming chops. Touring makes us tighter and a lot more solid."
“...And We Drive” hit the shelves everywhere September 16th, 2003 - expect big things from Evansville's own Side Walk Slam.
Source: http://www.sidewalkslam.net
