The Beatles, Cocteau Twins, Nirvana, Legendary Pink Dots, The Smiths, Jamiroquai, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Depeche Mode, Simple Minds, Dead Can Dance, Love and Rockets, Tones on Tails, Tom Waits, Pink Floyd
Jonn Walterscheid and Sharon Schloss had been making music for almost their whole lives before Bumtech became official in 2005. With the goal of taking their artistic expressions and musical skills and turning them into accessible alternative pop music, they focused all of their energy on writing for the first year and recording demos at home. Then, in late 2006, Bumtech began playing live shows in Portland, Oregon, where both members have lived since 2001.
Before Bumtech, Jonn played his guitar with an obsessive passion starting in high school, and made hours and hours of 4 track recordings. These recordings were heavily influenced by Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett, Jimi Hendrix, The Velvet Underground, and Ween. Sharon started playing classical piano at the age of seven, and as a teenager picked up guitar and began her own writing, influenced also by Pink Floyd as well as Neil Young and Tori Amos. She played bass in the Los Angeles hard rock band, Third Grade Teacher in the late 90s, and gradually turned more to her writing again, having become increasingly influenced by the New Wave sounds of the 80s. By the time Jonn and Sharon met, they were both obsessed with alternative New Wave bands like Orchestral Manouevers in the Dark, Depeche Mode, and Simple Minds. They had also found a lot of influence in bands on the 4AD label, especially Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance. It was a love if this music, and The Legendary Pink Dots, that steered the band in the direction of a drum machine rather than a live drummer.
The road to the recording studio for their debut LP began with the band meeting Danny D of the well-loved 1980s Portland garage band, The Miracle Workers. He heard Bumtech playing at Alberta Street's "The Know" and promptly pulled Jonn and Sharon outside with enthusiastic ideas for Bumtech's future. He had a lot of advice for Bumtech, and eventually got them in touch with their producer, Sean Flora. During the summer and fall of 2007, Bumtech recorded and mixed their debut album, Beware of D-G. The album has the feel of a solid classic rock record, with one song moving smoothly to the next, like the unfolding of a story. There is a mixture of humor and emotion in the lyrics, a love of life mixed with a sardonic approach to the mundane. The music has an alternative and pop sound at the same time, and seamlessly meshes the digital with the analog.
By now, Bumtech has a lot of touring under their belts, having played shows in Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho, and receiving college radio play nationwide and in the UK. There are a lot more tours on the way, and Bumtech is moving steadily along toward their second LP.
"An artist is someone who produces things that people don't need to have but that he - for some reason - thinks it would be a good idea to give them." Andy Warhol
so on that note , here is a reminder to all U U's out there in myspaceland ..........incase you didnt know
or receive the cordial invitation ............. our new little debut EP "Phazes" is out and available to U
for a limited time free dowload ! ! !
it is 4 your listening Pleasuah
:> VV
PS if you already have downloaded or have a copy, then thanks a gazillion, and thanks for being a power animal
Come to Tacoma Fri 3/21 and see The Drug Purse, The Elephants, Sons of Ivan (cd release), Tea Cozies, and Tonasaur at Hell's Kitchen. You can crash on our couches after the show.
We are in the process of putting together something...we'll let you know. BTW...I love my Jazzmaster, but it's a tempermental thing. So many adjustments and such. Very fussy, but it sounds great.
