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Abandon Kansas

Abandon Kansas Radio

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FEATURED SONG
Heaven Come My Way
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Heaven Come My Way
Released: Jan 1, 0001
Label: Gotee Records

General Info

  • Genre: Indie / Pop / Rock

    Location Wichita, Kansas, US

    Profile Views: 1194968

    Last Login: 9/15/2011

    Member Since 4/7/2005

    Website www.abandonkansaslovesyou.com

    Record Label Gotee Records

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    If you ask Jeremy Spring, frontman for the quartet Abandon Kansas, what it is that motivates he and his band, you may be shocked at the answer. And in the answer to this question lies the very thing that sets his band apart from the endless parade of fame-seekers in this industry: “As far as long term goals, none of us have any desire to be rich and famous. If we can keep connecting with people through music then we'll be content. There are way too many bands out there already so we're trying to make what we do a little bigger than music.” And deliver something larger than just music is exactly what they do on their debut release from Gotee Records, the We're All Going Somewhere EP. With fearless hearts, ingenious songwriting, and poignant wit, Spring and company shine like supernovas among fading stars. This is indie pop/rock that will surprise you with its candor and cause you to contemplate the deepest recesses of your heart. Consider the track “The Harder They Fall,” for starters. If Abandon Kansas were just simply seeking to ingrain a melody in your head while simultaneously appeasing the music elitist in you, this song would more than achieve their goals. A bed of tasteful, yet compelling instrumentation snaps you to attention, as you say to yourself these boys can play. Then, Spring's vocal turns attention to attraction with obvious charisma and charm. As verse ebbs to chorus the energy swells and the deal is sealed, as you sing There is no one left who isn't better than the rest. I need to hear you say that I'm the best. You are officially charmed, hook, line and sinker. You are pulled into the song with breakneck speed, traveling down the rabbit hole to an unknown destination. But as you submit to the hypnotic pulse of the song, a question pops into your brain: Where is Abandon Kansas taking me? “We don't just write songs about love or breakups, or the cliche' things that you hear over and over again. We try to write about the deeper places of our hearts, asking questions of the listener, rather than just giving answers. If we can cause someone, when the music is ?nished, to contemplate their life, their motivation, and their soul, then we have done our jobs. We can't complete the journey for the listener, but we can open the door.” The band linked up with producer Mark Lee Townsend (Relient K, House of Heroes) for what promises to be a highlight in his already amazing resume'. We're All Going Somewhere comes with a full chamber; this is six shots, not just a couple rounds. Yet, if one were to focus on key tracks, it would have to include “I Wonder If It's Me,” a driving, dancy, yet contemplative number that confronts the “grass is greener” mentality that is so pervasive in our culture. And “Months and Years,” another standout among standouts, is an uplifting exercise in perseverance, complete with a chorus that could become the rallying cry of a generation of lost souls seeking a greater purpose. Perhaps the greatest triumph of all here is the lyrical potency of Jeremy Spring. Only a truly inspired mind could conjure up lines such as these: We spend our lives tip toeing carefully just to arrive at our death safely...We all want what we deserve, unless it's going to hurt. And while he excels in providing sobering thoughts, Spring provides just as many euphoric moments as well: Close your eyes, then we'll start to see. Shut them tight, now we can believe. It's taken me so long to ?nd out where you are. You live in me. Few have the power to shape the listener's emotions with words, but here you will ?nd one who can do just that, and Abandon Kansas will leave you singing (as well as thinking) long after the songs end. Amidst all this depth, it would be hard to imagine a band that who can also bring one of the most energetic and spirited live shows around, yet Abandon Kansas brings just that. Spring explains: “Our live show is a lot more intense than the music suggests. We love to dance and we love to communicate our music with the audience whether they know our music or not. Our guitar player Brad is known for his Michael Jackson-esque dancing and it's always an entertaining show. We also never make a set list so we can vibe off the audience as to which direction we should take the show.” An exhaustive touring schedule and work ethic has built a steady, resolute following. If you can believe it, the band played 200 shows in 2008, and is on pace to do even more in 2009. One heart at a time, one city at a time, day after day, the band adds to their fast-growing following. With such a schedule, it's little wonder that the industry at large is beginning to pay close attention. In the end, Abandon Kansas succeeds where so many fail because of their hearts as a unit, their commitment to a unique vision, and most of all because of their one-of-a-kind voice. We are all going somewhere. And Abandon Kansas is taking us there. Or at least they are pointing us to the door. “If people remember anything from our concerts I hope it's not the band name and the crazy dance moves. I hope that long after our T-shirts have been given away to thrift stores and our CDs have been lost, people will remember having been drawn to something and someone much more important than music.”

  • Members

  • Influences

  • Sounds Like

Stream

  1. Abandon Kansas

    See y'all this summer http://t.co/AofVc1aB

  2. Abandon Kansas

    Lifehouse, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, LIGHTS, Rocket Summer, Parachute, Secondhand Serenade, Cab, Grits, Underoath, All That Remains, and more

  3. Abandon Kansas

    ANNOUNCEMENT: We will be playing main stage at Summer Jam 2012 in Centerville, Virginia on August 4th. Great lineup of bands:

  4. Abandon Kansas

    Cool announcement coming on Tuesday!

  5. Abandon Kansas

    Dallas! We're @thedoordallas on June 9th. Come on time! Great lineup http://t.co/NBbaPiqD

Comments

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  • Amanda Panda

    I miss you guys! Come back to Augusta! I swear I will take you to 80's night again!  

    9 months ago
  • Alec Jones

     
    Hey guys i have a question for Yall's drummer.........Umm i really like the sound of your drums man especially the snare head and i was woundering what heads yall use cause im ordering my new drum set this week and im gonna get some fresh heads so i figured i would just ask you, Pretty Please :) Hey check this out if you have the time... Its on musiciansfriend or google but its a.....Ludwig Cenntenial 4-Piece Shell Pack With 24" Kick Silver Sparkle :)........Im so stoked, But please hit me back I love you guys so much and i love your music and yall just have such a different sound then everyone else and you just keep commin out with way good music Oh and yeah Great job on the new album, I cant say it but i love it Haha :) Take care and God Bless :)
    See More

    1 year ago
  • Chicago Winter

    Hey guys, let us know when you're coming to Chicago and we'll come out.

    1 year ago
  • CHILDRENSCOLLEGEFUND

    I love your new songs! You guys have come along way!

    1 year ago
  • Philadona Anika

    Thank you for the friendship :) ..

    1 year ago
  • Rain Audio

    You guys are so nice! I like your music too! I hope to have a booth next to you again sometime XD

    1 year ago
  • Tamara RhodesN

    thanks for accepting me

    1 year ago
  • Justin Whitney

    I like what you have done to your profile.

    1 year ago
  • Sandra Smith


    Happy New Year

    1 year ago
  • Neighborhood Riot

    we would love to play a show with you guys when you come back to kansas give us a listen and let us know what you think

    -Nathan

    1 year ago
10 of 11184More

Ad Astra Per Aspera

Bio

Through the fire of sleepless nights, uncertain futures, and countless miles on the road, Abandon Kansas emerges battle-hardened and tested with the highly celebrated Ad Astra Per Aspera.  This, their first official retail release, is a right of passage for a band that has demonstrated over the past half-decade that they are more than prepared to lay claim to their own territory among the industry elites.      This-the consummation of their vision to be more than just a band, more than just empty words or singles-is the opus that most bands only fantasize about.  This is their time, their most crucial hour, as frontman Jeremy Spring explains: “Ad Astra Per Aspera is Latin meaning ‘to the stars through difficulty.’  The title is the Kansas state motto, and the concept for our new record.  Nearly all of the songs refer to heaven, the sky, flight, the stars, and the challenges along the journey.. For every band there is that one record that outdoes all of the rest, and that record will always be your favorite. I have no idea what the future holds, but for me, this is going to be that record for us.  Something has happened here, something bigger than four guys making noise with instruments and singing into microphones.”      This record is independent rock n’ roll that stirs the imagination and conjures deep optimism.  The sound is ethereal, yet tangible.  Spring’s voice harkens imagery of brisk fall evenings staring at distant stars, dreaming of hopeful futures, even amidst chaos.  And the reverberation of Brad Foster’s echoing guitars will etch themselves into your memory as they gently carry you to the outer reaches of the atmosphere.  Balanced by bassist Chet Keuffer and drummer Brian Scheideman the record paints in subtle strokes, communicating with deep feelings, rather than stringent riffs or unsettling beats.  There is a unity to the instrumentation that can only come from a seasoned unit of men who understand that, in order to be great, the sum of the parts must equal a greater whole. Teaming up with producer Mark Lee Townsend to create a sound all their own, Ad Astra Per Aspera defies comparison, yet sounds all too familiar, as a memorable release should.    “This record is a story about where we are headed, without forgetting where we came from,” states Spring.  “The stars aren’t fame and money. The stars represent heaven, or better yet, the presence of God. We are aiming for the stars, yet we seem to find ourselves in the middle of storm after storm.   It is the story of how was have been able to maintain high spirits and use our valleys as fuel to create new music.”  Noteworthy tracks include the first single and album opener, “Heaven Come My Way,” the methodical, art-epic, “The Golden State,” and perhaps the catchiest tune in the band’s catalogue, “Like it Or Not.”  But don’t make the mistake of thinking this is a record of a few radio tunes followed by filler, though.  Rather than approach songwriting as most do, desperately attempting to manufacture hits, Abandon Kansas has delivered an entire, cohesive collection of songs with one measure of quality control.  This is an album to be consumed in its entirety, absolutely. Lyrically, these songs are the templates for a culture that is battling through challenging circumstances.   For example, on “Heaven Come My Way,” Spring’s vocals lay claim to bright futures when as he croons, I’ve always aimed higher; don’t let me off the hook. We wrote a chapter, haven’t finished the book.  On “Where Else Can We Go?” he speaks into the problem of pain: If pain produces harmony, we all have a note.  If God conducts the symphony, no one sings alone.  Steeped with the wisdom of a crafty veteran, the band’s frontman has proven that eloquence is a given, as every single song contains nuggets of truth that will resonate, inspire, and even haunt the listener.   With such an extensive touring history (having shared the stage with the likes of House of Heroes, Run Kid Run, and The Classic Crime), Abandon Kansas has developed a special, cohesive show that is a must-see. Theirs is a tale of evolution, however, as Spring explains, “Every band grows between albums, but our band specifically grew a lot in how we present our music live.   As our songwriting has matured, so has the way we present ourselves onstage.   We have started adding television screens that run multimedia during our set.  We’re trying to offer more of a presentation, or ‘show’ rather than just get on stage and play loud songs for thirty minutes.”    If the present is grey, and the future is uncertain, then only one thing remains: faith.  And faith is the binding element, the constant for this band—a band fighting valiantly to emerge in the current musical and cultural context.   Rather than rely on hype or politics or even the promise of a truly career-defining album such as Ad Astra Per Aspera, Abandon Kansas have placed their livelihoods in the hands of a creator who never fails, who never abandons us.    “At the end of the show we answer to our fans, at the end of the day we answer to our band-mates, at the end of the tour we answer to our label, and at the end of year we answer to our families and friends back home.  But at the end of our lives we answer to God, and He expects us to follow through on what he has called us to do. God isn’t a businessman, and I don’t think He is interested in numbers.  But I know he wants us to be good stewards of the talents he blessed us with and the time we spend on the road.  I love the words from that old song “Be Thou My Vision” that say, riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise. ” 

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