The influences on Stendhal are many, but commonalities amongst the band members abound; Einsturzende Neubauten, Bauhaus, Joy Division, Big Black, My Bloody Valentine and U2. The band is as likely to draw inspiration from the fringes of the underground as they are from popular music. The marriage is a successful one, judging from the wide and varied audience Stendhal enjoys.
Stendhal began from two ideas: modern music had grown stale, tasteless and unimaginative and live performances had become nothing more than glorified rehearsal. "Most music these days has a lot of fear in it. they- the artists- hide behind musical conventions," says Darren Morze, drummer for the band. "Stendhal is trying to transcend all of that and still make a listenable and enjoyable product. In short, our music fears nothing and no one."
Unapologetically blending hallmark rock and roll sensibility with sounds from far outside of the mainstream's tastes, has allowed Stendhal to bridge the gap between "art for art's sake" and enthusiastic audience acceptance. Empty propane tanks, gas cans, an oil drum, and sheet metal replace the traditional drum kit, while guitar, bass and even saxophone, are routinely desecrated by a dizzying array of effects pedals. Call it "art rock" or "experimental rock", these creative sounds are woven into a unique music driven by passion and intensity, to support haunting and intelligent lyrics.
stendhal moment #1235: waiting for a train at a subway station in buffalo. third person singular starts playing. wind in the tunnel picks up. as the song opens up and the drums kick in, the subway pulls into the station -- wind in my hair, light, faces pressed against windows, etc. -- could not have filmed the moment better.
you guys have to get this stuff on a soundtrack i swear. i was, at that moment, one with the train and the music.
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