"Black Ghost / Black Girl" @ The Bowery Ballroom, NYC 11.13.06 Courtesy Call: Brandon Zwagerman
Starling Electric signs it... BIG TIME!
Michelle O'Brien - Superfan Deluxe
Influences
Beatles Beach Boys The Who Electric Light Orchestra Zombies Paul McCartney & Wings Left Banke Elton John Monkees Guided By Voices Nirvana Smashing Pumpkins Soundgarden Stone Temple Pilots Love Queen T. Rex Kinks Curt Boettcher Byrds birds Yes Randy Savage Marushka
Sounds Like
...a garbage truck dropped off the Empire State Building.
"We are a midwest electric company representing all things melodic, baroque, psychedelicate, and true. We are proud purveyors of both pomp and pop. You can even sing along. You can even remember our songs the next day..."
-from the Manifesto of Starling Electric
Ann Arbor’s Starling Electric nationally released their debut album, Clouded Staircase, via veteran independent label Bar/None August 19, 2008. The album was originally available locally and drew considerable acclaim from hometown media, which helped the band quickly build a loyal fan base in lower Michigan.
Recorded entirely at their own White Lodge studio, its 18 original tracks represent no less than a mission statement - or maybe a call to arms for anyone still interested in melodies, harmonies, and the power of a good pop song. Starling Electric soon caught the attention of Robert Pollard (of Guided By Voices), who invited them to open for him on an east coast tour swing. Soon after, the group was championed by Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow (Posies/Big Star) on BBC-6 Radio and their respective websites.
Starling Electric was originally a solo project by singer/songwriter Caleb Dillon that grew into a dynamic four-piece - Caleb on lead vocals and keyboards, Jason DeCamillis on lead guitar, John Fossum on drums, and Christian Blackmore Anderson on rhythm guitar, keyboards, and percussion). Everybody sang. There was much rejoicing.
Described as "...startling and superlative orchestral pop music of the best kind", the group is a melting pot of 60s and 70s influences - the melodic harmonies of the Beach Boys, Zombies, and Byrds; the prog and art-rock exploration of Yes, 10cc, Genesis, and Elton John; the baroque craftsmanship of the Left Banke and Love; and the pomposity and swagger of The Who, Queen, and ELO. In their first two years playing together, they shared bills with Robert Pollard, The Hidden Cameras, Evan Dando, Saturday Looks Good To Me, The Sights, Canada, Great Lakes Myth Society, The Satin Peaches, and many others. They’ve headlined every major city in their home state of Michigan, including two years at the Metro Times Blowout in Detroit.
Starling Electric has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, he Detroit Free Press, and in magazines such as the Detroit Metro Times, Real Detroit Weekly, Lansing City Pulse, The Lansing State News, and the Northern Michigan Express, as well as a cover story and interview in the Ann Arbor Paper and a cover feature in Lansing's Noise Magazine. They were featured and interviewed for a WDET Radio Benefit and have received an impressive amount of airplay on college radio stations throughout Michigan as well as BBC radio in the UK. SE were voted "Best Rock Artist" by the readers of the Ann Arbor Current and their song "Camp-Fire" was showcased in an episode of the UPN television series, "Veronica Mars". In 2009, the Clouded Staircase track and live staple "Black Ghost/Black Girl" was featured in the soundtrack to the critically-acclaimed film Crossing Over, starring Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta, and Ashley Judd.
"Startling and superlative orchestral pop that reminds me why I fell in love with music in the first place...Clouded Staircase is to my ears one of the best records of the modern age - a bona fide stunner." -Jon Auer, The Posies / Big Star
"...Pop music of the best kind. Really amazing stuff. It calls to mind the greats of the 60s...Detroit might be facing a new pop renaissance..." -www.lagerhousedetroit.com
"...This is a band people ADORE. Starling Electric's members have their hands on the stuff of which legends like Guided By Voices were made." -Jason Gibner, The Ann Arbor Paper; April 2006
For more information contact Howard Wuelfing at Howlin’ Wuelf Media
howlingwuelf@aol.com 215-428-9119
S.E. Automatic Fan Retrieval System AIM = GoFlowerPeddler
I'm just dropping by to check it with you and see how all is doing. And guess what? The music is still as great as before. The melodies and feel set it apart from so many bands. I just wonder who introduced you to the music of the Left Banke.
The Ecology Center is holding the 5th Annual 'Dance for the Earth' benefit concert and Earth Day costume party, and we are in need of unique art, handcrafted items, gift certificates, and other items for the silent auction. Donated items will be on display at the event and also acknowledged on the Ecology Center website and in its newsletter. For more information, and to download a donation form, click here.
Dance for the Earth!
Join the hottest Earth Day party in town with live music from Brennan Andes and the Arkatoothis Orchestra, dancing, Earth Day theme costumes, drum parade, and silent auction featuring local artists and earth-friendly items ...all for a great cause!
Thanks for the add! You guys are awesome in a way that cannot be put into words. You guys are the latest of our project's inspirations! Please keep the greatness coming!
OLE! Looks like the rest of the tour has been going good. We left a verbal snap shot on your blog with gratitude to the sharing and the rocking we did with The Boys Themselves in Athens. Stay in touch. Would love to do something in state together sometime and if you have any photographic evidence of any of the sonic debauch please send along sometime. Cheers!
