Home

Chinese Proverb Proves Successful For National Band

by Mark Maxey

Chinese Proverb Proves Successful for National Band

Saosin, pronounced Say-Ocean, is a Chinese proverb from the 15th and 16th centuries. However, for this band, Saosin is one hard working band. Their current “All Dudes. All The Time” Tour brought them to The Green Door in Bricktown, and I got to talk with them for a short while. Chris Sorrenson, bassist; and Beau Burchell sat down with the MidCity Advocate to discuss their tour, life together as a band, and their outlook on their music.

Presently they are on a thirty seven city tour during forty days of travel. They will have traveled from Florida to California and back to New York by the tours end. “This tour is kinda awesome for us,” Sorrenson says. “We have not played in about a year and half and our first time through we may have played in front of twenty kids.” “Yeah and this time there are literally hundreds there, we are very excited about this,” Burchell stated. “I think it is a matter of our fans growing gradually. Our two year absence from touring allowed our fans to get the word out about our music.”

Their present line up has been part of Saosin since June of 2003. Having released their first EP on their own label, they recently were signed to Capitol Records two months ago. While most independent bands strive for Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mentality, their signing has opened new doors for them. “Our first EP was funded by me and another friend,” Burchell stated. “We did not want to limit ourselves and our goal was to reach as much kids as possible.”

“So many bands at first when they are young have this mystique about ‘getting signed’. I know of many bands that this has ruined them,” Burchell says. “They think that if they get signed first they can put their feet up and rest…and that is not the case at all.” Saosin’s first tours and EP proved they could control their music and still do it on their own. “Now that we did this and then signed to Capitol, we were able to keep things as a band as we wanted without sacrificing our intent. Capitol has treated us very well.”

Saosin while playing at The Green Door proved to be a hard, high energy band. The packed house had the audience on a roller coaster ride of emotions and energy. I don’t think there was a spot on that stage that any of the five member band did not step, run or jump to while performing. “For me our music is a vent, it’s like therapy,” Burchell says. “While most have punching bags to vent their frustration, I use our music to deal with anger or bad things that we go through. I like having our music with a melodic sound while these angry lyrics are under scored underneath.”

While at times I may not understand this current surge in musical trends, I can say that with Saosin and other bands of this genre I have interviewed, they are very gregarious and even tempered persons off stage. I know working with several bands locally within this genre that presenting their anger through music has proved to be a healthy outlet that prevents long term affects from these normal ‘bad’ experiences. “I know too that we all are content with the quality of our music,” Sorrenson stated. “What we write and play we have to be one-hundred percent content with or we don’t do it. It may take us longer to write it but it is totally our expression we all can be happy about.”

Their first initial success was from the internet. “We owe a lot of our success to our fans that shared files and exchanged our songs,” Burchell says. “I could tell from the kids in the audiences singing along with our songs that more persons knew of our music than bought it.” “Yeah and the funny thing is we all did not lose monetarily, as we all are debt free,” Sorrenson stated. “While I am not encouraging internet exchanges, I do know we owe a lot to our fans from the internet,” Burchell added. “Recently we had some songs leaked out that Capitol found out about,” Sorrenson says. “And the amazing thing was our fans through our message board even tried to stop it. Our fans are very protective of our music and have shown us loyalty that is truly amazing.” “Yeah our fans are the greatest,” Burchell said.

You would think that with seven guys traveling in a ten passenger van would be audacious for 40 days of travel. However, the band has a sibling relationship that keeps them working within a tight-knit unit. “We have pushed the extremes on our relationship,” Sorrenson says. “We live together in a two bed room apartment in Orange County (California).” “Plus we arrive like tonight and set up at 5pm, do this interview, play in front of hundreds of fans, and then leave at midnight to drive to New Mexico,” Burchell added. “We know each other so well that we focus on the bigger things and not the little things. I mean if someone in our band is having an off night…we pass it off and move on.” “When we treat the small things in a sarcastic funny manner, then when the big things hit, it can even seem smaller than it is. It works for us,” Sorrenson says. “We have so much to be thankful for that there is no reason for any of us to be petty over small issues.”

Meeting and talking with these guys allowed me to see just how successful a band can be who really strives to produce a sound they truly can be happy with. And from the audiences response you could see they have made an impact with their fans. “After our shows we always are at the merchandise table talking with our fans. We don’t want to be like others who are successful and deny access to the fans,” Burchell said. “We are thankful for our fans and it’s for them we do what we do,” Sorrenson stated. Success has not spoiled these talented musicians. Instead it only has inspired them to continue do what they do best.

-30-

06/12/2005

Author's Note: as always I value feedback on my newspaper articles. I have less worries about my poetry...but always wonder about my newspaper writings. LOL.

Posted on 06/13/2005
Copyright © 2024 Mark Maxey

Return to the Previous Page
 

pathetic.org Version 7.3.2 May 2004 Terms and Conditions of Use 0 member(s) and 2 visitor(s) online
All works Copyright © 2024 their respective authors. Page Generated In 0 Second(s)