Raw emotion has always boded well when trying to make intense, innovative music, especially in the indie and local circuits.
University of Memphis students Jeremy Townsend, Matt Strini, Matt Shankle, Justin Toland and Kyle Wagenschutz were trying to do just that when they formed While I Breathe, I Hope.
Formed in 2002, While I Breathe, I Hope has made a name for themselves as a great live draw in the city of Memphis and has played in various cities across the country including Minneapolis.
While I Breathe, I Hope will be playing "Friends for Life," an AIDS Benefit show Nov. 6th at The Riot. Admission Is $6 with the doors opening at 2 p.m. and music starting at 3 p.m. All proceeds go to Friends for Life.
The band's EP, I Have to Let Go, is a decent mix of the modern powerful rock approach while still maintaining the classic sound of indie bands from the mid to late 90s. It sounds like a mix of Texas is the Reason and Further Seems Forever.
The recording itself captures the essence of a live show while concerting time and effort of a decent studio record.
Musically, the EP is near relentless. Jeremy Townsend's powerful vocals soar above a never-ending barrage of progressions, rhythm changes and ever twinkling guitars. While I Breathe, I Hope's songs seem to be in constant struggle, twisting and turning, building up and down in an always emotional state.
While at times it's an effective tool, While I Breathe, I Hope leaves the listener not in wonder, but confusion to where they're actually going in a song. Tracks such as "Roadtrip" and "I'll Shake Your Hand and Slap Your Face" seem to begin and stay in a constant state of change, making them hard to follow, paired with ambiguous verses and choruses.
Lyrically, the band seems a little pissed off, which is always healthy for young college males.
Vague enough to relate to but not so much that they're inane, these are words you can certainly make your own.
With lyrics like "I'd like to take a knife to your watering yes/but I'm not sure it's as harsh as the act you've worked so hard for," and Townsend's "on my last limb" vocal approach, While I Breathe I Hope sound like they're talking about some pretty specific and harsh situations.
Themes of wrong doing, betrayal and justice ring through I Have to Let Go, with the band playing a little of all three, especially the justice.
In the song "5 on 4," Townsend turns from desperate to defiant, singing "we don't fight fair so please take notice/bats and knuckles/begging for mercy to deaf ears/you have mistaken what we're here for."
As far as song structure goes, While I Breathe, I Hope could take a little time to put together a more definite and cohesive product. Overall though, this band shows nothing but promise. There's a sense of pride within the emotional tones of their songs. These guys seem to take their work pretty seriously, which is better said then many local groups.
