Speaker./MUTE is a melodically influenced rock band that formed in 2005. It is currently based just outside Boston in the city of Lowell, Massachusetts. Speaker/MUTE incorporates melodic tendencies found in several styles of music and blend them with solid grooves with pop-like progressions. With the addition of multiple effects, thoughtful harmonic orientations, and tight drumming the group has been able to produce an original sound uncharacteristic to various current groups out there.
In the summer of 2005, the band began as two former horn players Bryan MacAuslan and Corey Blanchette occasionally spend time together writing and recording musical ideas. Although at the time they were unsure of this obviously different project, they still believed it was worthy to take to the next level. Soon they would search for additional musicians to take the music outside of their Wilder Street apartment. That following winter, they would work together with various drummers and bass players. Eventually, they would and adopt a new place for developing at “the sub” and progress their tunes and original ideas.
The following October, the group still short an official bass player, planned their first performance. Although the help of a friend would allow them fill the bass role for the night, they hoped the mild exposure could lead them to their missing piece. Easily, they were right. Within a week Jared Ambrose, a saxophonist and friend from college, would join the group on bass.
In March of 2008 their debut EP “Songs For Selfish Lovers” was released. On this you could hear the blend of many influences ranging from Radiohead to Jeff Buckley, U2 to The Postal Service to even Warren Zevon. Rave reviews and consistent local radio play followed. The success of the group was growing and within months they were headlining some of the biggest rock clubs in Boston.
Finally, nearly a year and a half later Speaker/MUTE officially started is search for a permanent drummer and percussionist. After experimenting with friends and auditioning many talented artists throughout the years, the group officially announced Mark McElligott as its new member. His driven personality and diverse playing ability was exactly what they needed. Finally, Speaker/MUTE was complete.
In early 2009 the much-anticipated full-length album "The Weight" is expected for release. With a promise of multiple "hit singles" the album has already sold an abundance of advanced copies prior to its actual release. With excitement the group truly looks forward to its official release in April of 2009.
Since the beginning, Speaker/MUTE has continued to write, grow, and accumulate audiences each time they perform. Between the passion for music and the undeniable energy the group functions like few out there. Whether it’s a mix of good friendships, their ability to musically understand each other, or their diverse sense of music and inspiration, the group continues to evolve each day.
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BRYAN MACAUSLAN on BRYAN MACAUSLAN
I started playing music at the age of nine years old at my home in Brockton, MA. My grandmother was a piano teacher and my parents thought it would be good for me to start lessons. Although I would have rather been playing outside at the time, these lessons would give me a love for music I would take with me for years to come. In elementary school I would eventually switch to trumpet after a demonstration for the city music program visited my school. I though “What a great way to get out of class” and figured everyone in my class would do it so … I joined the band. I never would have guessed then that playing trumpet would eventually get me a music degree from UMASS Lowell. Although I only occasionally play trumpet today, guitar and singing has now become the musical passion for me. Even though I have taken up hobbies in photography and graphic design, it’s still writing and producing music that I love the most. Over the years, I have worked with many performers and groups including Kweejeebo, Frank Morey, D-Tension, Spontaneous Combustion, The Mill City Project, The Skeptics, and former members of the Shods. I’m currently the rhythm guitarist and vocalist for SPEAKERMUTE and I like this a lot.
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COREY BLANCHETTE on COREY BLANCHETTE
From 1992 to today I’ve been lucky to have always done music work. Some of it has been better received than others but I’m proud of it all (ok, almost): Wrenchpilot, 5Bucks!, The Eclectics, Boomstick 603, Virtual Dandelion, Dickwig Von Ballsman, The Skeptics, Final Blowout at The Expo Center, Big Ben Hillman and The Royal Family, Supermessy, Bass Devil Hooksett, The Soul Shakedown, The Impulse, and Jen Kearney and The Lost Onion. In SPEAKERMUTE I play guitar and sometimes we play my songs. Bryan will be happy I finally wrote this bio.
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JARED AMBROSE on JARED AMBROSE
I was born and raised in Denmark, ME. I began my ventures in music playing alto saxophone. Over the years I experimented with different horns finally settling on tenor. After playing the saxophone for 21 years I decided to take a break and play bass. I can't begin to express my level of satisfaction and excitement for this change.
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MARK McELLIGOTT on MARK McELLIGOTT
Not to be confused with the powderfinger drummer....unless you think he kicks ass....then this is his "just slightly more evil" namesake doppelganger. Born in a small woodland cabin with nothing more than a mere crust of bread and a lamp shade, Mark worked diligently to break into the music scene....sadly, at first, there was little interest in the sound of stale bread rhythmically beating the aforementioned lamp shade. After much retooling of his act, at the age of 17 he broke into the scene with a band called Circular Impression who was touted as the "Pink Floyd Influenced band with a Rock-N-Roll Edge" while living in New York....After playing with bands in Ohio, Montana, Maine, New Hampshire, and North Carolina, Mark has settled in Massachusetts finding a fit for his passion for syncopation, complex rhythms and time signatures, raw energy, intelligent song writing, and (of course) sex appeal with Speakermute. Mark's musical influences for drumming include Danny Carey, Carter Beauford, Chester Thompson, Billy McGrath, Neil Pert, Joey Cav, and Chad Smith. Mark has a passion for ink but you would never know it unless you two are on a beach trip together....trust me, pass on the beach trip or at least charge 2 bits a gander....
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..and yvette thinks SPEAKERMUTE is equally, if not more nifty. :] seriously though. Love your sound...reminds me a bit of "The most serene public", but with a unique twist all your own, of course. please keep it comin'! <3
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