And the Relatives

Debuted: June 8th, 2009

Now Playing:

“Animals (feat. The Garland Sisters)”

For the longest time, we struggled with what to name our latest EP. Even once the songs were all selected and recorded, we couldn’t pin down what sort of theme tied it all together. We considered lyrics, random phrases, bizarre words. Then it struck us that something about the song “Animals” really spoke for the CD as a whole. Its melody is possibly the catchiest of any of our songs, and, lyrically, its theme is a universal one. It’s about the animalistic nature of humanity; our natural instincts and all that. However, as sobering as that may sound, it’s really just a fairly simple and totally fun pop song. It has a four-on-the-floor beat, a rubbery bass line and a breezy solo and choruses—there’s nothing heavy about it. We like to leave lyrics open for interpretation and simply hope that people will like to dance and sing along no matter what meaning they chose to give the lyrics.

-D. Patrick Rogers

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The Session:

And the Relatives

Debuted: June 8th, 2009

About:
For those of you here in Nashville, And The Relatives don't really need much of an introduction. Whether commanding a room full of young hipsters from stage or holding court in-between bands, they're an ever-present fixture in our live music scene. For those of y'all outside of Music City, And The Relatives are a group you should become acquainted with.

It's not an easy task to pull off a three-piece rock band scenario. With such a minimal set up, there's no room for weakest links, mistakes or dodgy musical choices. You've gotta be lean and mean like And The Relatives, who could probably write the Power Trios For Dummies book (which isn't such a bad idea, really). If such a book were to be published, the about the author blurb on the back cover, might look a little like this:

Andrew Brassell is a dual-headed rock and roll dragon. He slyly wins you over with Southern drawl & pop hooks and then wails wicked with his bad ass lead guitar firepower. He's hip though, so he wisely never overplays... he could, mind you, but he's far too smart for that.

Eli Beaird is a graduate of the John Entwistle School for Rock and Roll Bass Theory and Advancement (2004, Magna Cum Laude). His senior thesis on the future evolution of the fuzz-bass method proved divisive among his academic peers, who labeled him either a messiah or heretic. He also finished with a double minor in Studio Recording Technology and Ironic Last Names.

D. Patrick Rodgers claims to either be a writer trapped in a drummer's body or a drummer trapped in a writer's body. It depends, it seems, on how exactly what time of the day it happens to be. Catch him in the afternoon, during his role as Nashville Cream blogger, where his posts are causing a frenzy of heated debate and venom, then he's the former. Wait until the evening, when he's soaked in sweat, having just beat the hell out of his drums on stage and he's the latter. He is as complicated as he is talented.

Anyway... Andy, Bullock, Eades, Josh, John and I are so very stoked to present And The Relatives' Lake Fever Session. This one's loaded with Rock & Roll goodness, including a cameo from The Garland Sisters and righteous cover of Fleetwood Mac's "The Ledge."

Hope y'all enjoy it! Bless.
-Joe Baine Colvert