Ian McCarthy- Vox, Bass, Guitars, Synth, Drum Programming, Songwriting
Justin Sokol- Drums
Vahe Sarkissian- Guitar
Darren Hyest- Keyboards/Synthesizers
Influences
the beatles, u2, bowie, the smiths, beck, blur, interpol, new order, joy division, doves, the la’s, echo and the bunnymen, the pretenders, bloc party, the sundays, the cure, zero 7, snow patrol, modern english, the cars, todd rundgren, prince, elliot smith, jon brion, toad the wet sprocket, gin blossoms, nirvana, the cardigans, soundgarden, keane, alice in chains, rilo kiley, black rebel motorcycle club, gang of four, nine inch nails, steely dan, peter gabriel, the police, massive attack, tom petty, american music club, asobi seksu, the clash, radiohead, coldplay, kate bush, joni mitchell, the misfits, vonnegut, the shins, jamiroquai, the channels, pat metheny, death cab for cutie, the postal service, junior senior, the cult, she wants revenge, led zeppelin, r.e.m, the church, the jesus lizard, longwave, stevie wonder, nada surf, ok go, the arctic monkeys, sly and the family stone, the national, the ramones, james brown, the yeah yeah yeahs, kurt rosenwinkle, the psychedelic furs, minipop, belle and sebastian, kara thrace and her special destiny, the sex pistols, travis, tears for fears, depeche mode, joss whedon, spiritualized, thurston moore, the stone roses, chameleons UK, peter bjorn and john, bob marley, stephen marley, michel gondry, richard braughtigan, the caesars, the beach boys, quantum tunneling, pictures of pretty girls, temporal displacement, shame, back to the future, and the dictionary.
Sounds Like
Someone tried writing a love letter; only to have it turn into a discourse on an obsession with causing the apocalypse.
"Philly's Conservative Man Has My Vote!
I love me some power-pop, especially as the weather gets warmer. But what's this Conservative Man? You want to soak it in psychedelic-shoegazy goodness? Yes, I'll take some of that and go the non-conservative route, by having seconds!
There were two tracks by this Philly/New Hampshire project-adventure-band that caught my ear instantaneously. The dark and blissful "Mayday" soothes the head while it pumps Novocaine into your jaw. "We Want a Reception," is full-steam-ahead rock and roll with acid-tipped spikes. Both songs reflect a healthy amalgam of influences, from The Move to The Stone Roses, but never surrender themselves completely to the past.
When it comes to politics, I am a staunch liberal, but when it comes to good, layered psychedelic pop, Conservative Man has my vote."
-The Walrus Music Blog
"It’s a sunny day in purgatory, a hopeful walk through T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” while impish shadows tug at your conscience. It’s funeral music for grounded transients and energetic fuck-ups, for upbeat nihilists and manic loners; and it all revolves around Ian McCarthy’s meticulously constructed conflict with isolation. The New Hampshire-based multi-instrumentalist writhes poetically through 14 tracks, wavering between unabashed disdain and buoyant acceptance of loneliness all within a cinematic soundscape of lush atmospherics and dream-soaked melodies. The combination leaves you in a satisfying state of disorientation—especially in the delirious, electronic punchiness of “A Place Unknown,” the languid, ambient drones of “Backseat of an Empty Bus,” and the Radiohead-esque closer “Morning Sickness,” with it’s ominous lyrical coda, “You should all be ashamed of yourselves.” Conservative Man’s brand of solitude is the kind you lust after, the kind that leaves you surprisingly fulfilled when everyone else is gone." (Self-released/Sonicbids) –Lauren Ciraulo
-Sentimentalist Magazine
"Very catchy indie rock. The first song was really good as it reminded me of a Jay Ferguson-penned SLOAN song. Cassandra also thought she heard comparisons to APPLES IN STEREO."
-CJAM Music Review
Conservative Man is a four piece band, with it's members culled from the days in Philadelphia. These are some of the best musicians that I know, have played with, and that I could trust to do the job right:
Vahe Sarkissian, of the Philadelphia based trio T.S.U on guitar.
Darren Hyest, a keyboardist/synthesist from the experimental improv funk/jazz influenced Darren Hyest Project.
Justin Freeland-Sokol, a freelance drummer hailing from Kansas City, can be found anywhere from Chris' Jazz Cafe, to producing hip-hop in Kensington.
keeping the band a "New England Product" is frontman Ian McCarthy, on bass and vocals.
Yes, this is a new band. No, you shouldn't feel bad for not having heard of us- because chances are, we haven't heard of you either. We are approachable, so come, and play nice.
For Booking inquiries, contact:
Ian McCarthy
cmtrust@soon.com
www.myspace.com/conservativemanmusic
(Conservative Man can be found at Basecom, located in Nashua N.H, working on the next record, entitled "The Lost Art.")
I have just started an internet radio broadcast and I'm looking for all musicians / artists / poets / speakers / rebels / radicals / whatever....to contribute content.
The people provide the content and I want to make it as diverse as possible!!
thanks! college is pretty good. the dorms are always loud, at least half of the student body is drunk on any given night, and i haven't gone to sleep before 3:00am in ages. it's a good time:) how have you been?
It's been said there is no way to beat a game with a negative expectation in the long run ~ so my advice is to hit it hard , and if you happen to be on the positive side after that initial roll of the dice , and that would be what I'd consider as being kinda lucky , quit while your ahead !
I have spoken to the highest authority on this voting matter and this is how it seems to break down ~ at least as I understand it at this time !
Hey - I see you're playing in Cambridge the same night as we're having our CD release! (Clara the violinist playing w/ Plumerai that night is on our album) The Cantab is about 5 blocks from the Lilypad, so if timing permits, drop in. ~B
Oh well would you look at that...another show that I cannot attend! I am moving to Wisconsin on Oct 2 (I turn 21 on the 6th) so you had better tour out there, got it?!
