When the psychedelic pop-infused rock band SpaceFace takes the stage, they are surrounded by hundreds of multi-colored bulbs flashing brightly as they hammer through their set. As the last members of the group graduate from college, the band plans to take their unique light show to the stars.
"I was on tour with the Flaming Lips in South America and my stage manager was showing me his old band, which was pretty metal, and he was telling me the story of the band," Jake Ingalls, singer and guitarist for SpaceFace and the synth and guitar player for indie legends Flaming Lips, said. "I asked if they had anything online and he said I didn't have any of that space face stuff since he couldn't remember Facebook or MySpace. It just stuck with me."
Ingalls, who met the Flaming Lips four years ago and eventually became a member of the band, said that although the other members were resistant to the name at first, his persistence eventually led to the name becoming official.
"It was vague, kind of futuristic, but most of all it sounded like us. I had pitched a few names to Wayne (the singer of the Flaming Lips), and it was his favorite," Ingalls, a former U of M student, said. "It just kind of came full circle when we realized it was a David Bowie lyric, who we all like. People assume that it's a reference, which it's not."
The band was founded two years ago and was started by Ingalls, guitarist Eric Martin and bassist Matt Strong. The three core members also serve as the group's songwriters.
"I just hear somebody say something that sounds cool or I see something that sticks out, and I let it incubate in my head," Ingalls said. "Then I'll write a line or stanza and then I write around it. I have more of a philosophical approach, Eric has the party element and Matt adds the personal touch to our song writing."
The unique group, which now consists of six full-time members, also features drummer "CaveMan" and the most recent addition, keyboardist and U of M senior Peter Armstrong. Along with the five musicians, the outfit also includes lights and production manager "Big Red."
All the members agree that their light show and stage presence is a very important part of their performance, noting that it not only adds another layer of depth to their show, but that it also makes the band stick out among other local or touring acts.
"The goal is to make every show an experience. Every band can get up there and play music, but it adds another layer to have a big light show behind you-it makes you stick out," Big Red said.
SpaceFace shows, which vary in lights depending on the size of the venue, at most have two light walls, three lighted monoliths, eight 30-foot strands of LED ropes, a retired skating alley disco light, guitar lasers, projectors and many more of the band's self-crafted effects.
"Some people might see it as a gimmick, but we just want to add to the experience," Armstrong said. "I feel like the music is good enough to stand alone, but we want people to come out and say, 'Wow that was amazing.'"
Ingalls said their initial goal was to bring a light show, which are more commonly seen at venues like the FedExForum, to club-level venues, and make the most out of the audience members' $5.
Along with lights, SpaceFace shows have adopted confetti shows and costumed guests on stage. The group said they hope to never have the exact same show twice.
"It's definitely a production. We pride ourselves on our light shows. The initial take away we hope the returning audiences get is that we try to make every show different," bassist Matt Strong said. "Sometimes we shoot out confetti, sometimes balloons, sometimes we have projector and occasionally we even have a person running around in a lion costume."
Armstrong, who has played in several pop-punk outfits in the music scene, said that this band is very different from other acts he's been in and that being apart of the group is much more than just playing music.
"It' s completely different vibe than other things I've done. I get to play music as well as help with the production of the shows," Armstrong said. "We all meet together and say let's get these pipes and these lights and make something. When we're practicing, I'm not just rehearsing the music. I have a power drill, I'm mixing concrete and building a set."
The group recently played Austin's South by Southwest Music Festival, which they all noted was a great experience. The members plan to take the group to the next level as soon as Armstrong graduates this year.
"One of the things I really like about this group is that we are all really forward thinking," Strong said. "We're trying to pursue this as our career. Ultimately this is something we all want to do. Once we get rid of all of our anchors, we're going at it."
The group released a self-titled EP last year which can be heard on their website spacefaceband.com
