Billy Smith (Guitar, Vocals),
Wade Williamson (Guitar, Keys),
Kirsten Paludan (Vocals, Keys),
Chris Tolle (Bass, Keys, Guitar)
John Bersuch (Drums)
Mike Walker (Trombone)
FORMER MEMBERS (who are still a part of our family)...
Ryan Pope (Drums),
Pete Laporte (Drums),
Mike Lesley (Beats),
Jake Cardwell (Percussion)
ON THE RECORD...
Laurel Morgan (Violin)
Influences
Bad things happening to Good people, Whiskey, The Moon & The Stars
Some music is created out of necessity.
What began as an experiment 10 years ago in a studio somewhere in Chicago, is now a full fledged reality. Interlocking guitars, layered vocals, electronics, and spacious drum sounds have slowly simmered and combined to create Olympic Size's unique sound.
This is couch music, created late at night. These are songs to make love to; songs to break-up to.
With members of Dirtnap, Roman Numerals, The Stella Link, Bellweather, The Belles and Bacon Shoe, Olympic Size continues to evolve musically, crafting songs with honest lyrics and haunting melodies. As the opening act for bands such as Spoon, Efterklang, American Music Club, and Smog, and many years of paying their dues, playing off nights in the dive bars of Kansas City, Olympic Size has quietly built a following that continues to grow.
In 2007, Olympic Size received national attention when their song “Friends” appeared on MTV's "Real World: Sydney" during one of the most dramatic moments of the season, when one of the roommates is forced to move out of the house.
Their recently self released debut full length "You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone" (a limited edition pressing of 150 copies, which at this time has SOLD OUT!) has garnered favorable attention from the press, receiving rave reviews from local critics across the board and has recently appeared on many local "Best of 2008" lists, including Robert Moore of Sonic Spectrum's"Best Album of 2008", and "Best Songs of 2008", and Pitch Weekly music editor, Jason Harper's "Best Local Albums of 2008". (A few copies of the limited edition pressing may still be available for sale at Streetside Records in Westport, Needmore Discs in Shawnee Mission, KS, and in Lawrence, KS at Love Garden and Keif's Downtown. Get your own copy before they really ARE all gone!)
Their limited release EP in 2005, entitled "Set Free", received praise from both Pitch Weekly's music editor Jason Harper (who picked it as one of the Best of 2005), and Robert Moore, who showcased Olympic Size on his nationally recognized radio program, Sonic Spectrum, on a show that featured a live in studio performance and interview with the band.
Check out First Blood, a compilation from Oxblood Records released in 2007, featuring tracks from Olympic Size, Roman Numerals, American Catastrophe, The Republic Tigers and more fabulous Kansas City area bands. Get this great compilation online here! Or you can buy the songs individually, including "Friends" (the song that made an appearance in MTV's "Real World: Sydney"), on Itunes.
"You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone" REVIEWED...
www.PresentMagazine.com
"...the kind of band chemistry that gives you goose bumps."
"...Olympic Size has a penchant for crafting and performing refined compositions that is no fluke."
The Pitch Weekly
"...a bittersweet masterpiece."
"...soul-stirring..."
"...chock full of sexy dread and longing."
Ink Magazine
"Rife with smooth melodies, clean guitars, soft keys and haunting, if not quite beautiful, vocals..."
"Recorded with an ear for precision, You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone allows each crystalline guitar pluck and keyboard note to shine through...No sound ever wears out its welcome."
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THE PLAYGROUND is proud to host the OFFICIAL WHITE LIES AFTER PARTY on 20th November with a DJ set from WHITE LIES and live performances from White Rose Movement// Post War Years// Danny Valentine & the Meditations// Hektor Red// Dangerous Heresy// Divine Incest DJ’s// DJ Darkorse and Burlesqueshow.
THE PLAYGROUND presents Filthy Electro Trash on Saturday 14th Novmber. Come along and celebrate with:
Punks Jump Up (KITSUNE)// Punx Soundcheck (KITSUNE)// Steed Lord// Gobsausage// Glass Diamond// TOY TOY// The Education// Mr. Beasley// Ben Osborne// DJ Darkorse// Circa Burlesque- Little Bo Freak// Chrys Columbine// Slinky Sparkles and Straightola (VJ Set)
THE PLAYGROUND Vs Noise Of Art will give you a big Halloween bash on Saturday 31st October featuring
Man Like Me// My Tiger My Timing// My Toys Like Me// Trash Fashion// The Midi Midis// Glitches// The Teeth// Kindle// Gene Serene// DARKORSE-DJ set/// Rack ‘n’ Ruin – DJ Set// Afro Punk-DJ set// Slinky Sparkle// Chris Columbine// Little Bo Freak and Lydia Darling// Noise of Art’s “Dance of the Vampires” with They Came From The Stars and I Saw Them Vs Les Hommers DU Train// Ben Osborne -DJ set// Immaculate Extremists// Overlap// Your Mum// MOTH and more
“You're unlikely to attend another event in London like this so our advice is to get your ticket sharpish.” DJ Magazine, 2009.
After our hugely successful launch with the BRUTE CHORUS and CIRCA BURLESQUE trapeze artists, stilts, performance artists and burlesque dancers we have the next instalment coming up on Saturday the 26th September featuring KAPUTT, ROMANCE, SPEAK AND THE SPELLS and a whole lot more. Looking forward to seeing you there.
TICKETS IN STORES will be available on or before 08/11.
Email autumnwindrecord@aol.com to reserve your tickets TODAY!
This is a party for everyone who is doing anything with MUSIC in Kansas City!!!
There will be a drawing for a cruise to the BAHAMAS!!! $10.00 per entry…and you can enter as many times as you want! NO KIDDING!!
This is a *21 & OLDER* event! Stay tuned for more details about the show, the drawing for the cruise to the Bahamas and the hot KC After Hours party going down, 09-02-09. Doors open @ 8pm, Show starts @ 9pm, DJ Precise will be spinnin’ the tracks until 2AM! So what if it’s a Wednesday? Let’s party!!! Come kick it and network with KC’s talent!
We have our next mini-festival at 93 Feet East on Saturday 25th July with an amazing line-up along with our usual Burlesque, performance art and Electro DJ’s.
Tickets are only £6 adv. Check out the ticket link below. See you there.