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The Freek Out is writing songs to delight your intellect and your body.
The songs you may sample now are from "Wake Up Happy". Originally the album was intended to encourage optimism, joy and empathy. The songs describe the perspective of a perennial outsider, but the content has a decidedly broad emotional palate. The songs are deeply grounded in real experiences and obsessions. The lyrics range between oblique and conversationally direct, unflinching.
While the title track, "Wake Up Happy", fulfills its earnest promise the other songs borrow equally from fact and fiction. The Album explores memory and forgetting, photography, Isolation, youth, affection, affectation, love, and lust.
The Freek Out is the brainchild of Michael Bryant. He writes songs, produces, and succeeds in finding the most exciting and innovative artists and musicians to write and perform with. The most collaborative of their collective work is growing into "Scarily Terrible", a vehicle in which Bryant takes a backseat to the growing collective. The Freek Out has been around for several years, self-releasing a variety of recordings: "A Very Freeky Christmas", "Hot Rawk Action", and "Please play at Maximum Volume".
The live experience is remarkable. Bryant's songs are informed and enriched by his amazingly talented freek show band. They expand and interpret the imaginative meanderings with passion and energy. Together they create something new every night.
The size of the band varies. Generally It's made up of these fascinating people:
Michael Bryant from Dallas TX, via Amarillo TX. SMU Graduate--BFA Electronic Media and Film. Dayjobs are a drag, suffice to say he's the manager of a burgeoning cottage industry. He's the creator of The Freek Out, Scarily Terrible, and Thomas Weird. His credits include production of "Please Play at Maximum Volume" by the freek out, and a songwriting credit for his contribution to Rasputina's song, "Our Lies" from the album, "Cabin Fever." Bryant is a multi-instrumentalist and composer of music, lyrics and prose.
*He says:"Dallas is kind of a one-horse town. I'm really glad that I've found some interesting people to create art with or I would have left by now. I consider doing so every day. In the meantime I'm pretty thrilled by my creative friendships. They nourish my soul in these times of historical upheaval and inanity. I'm not really aware of any visionary pop-music infrastructure in Dallas, but I sure am open to finding or founding one. Or relocating of course."
Chris Bucklin from Dallas TX, is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. He is a professional musician. He plays drums in classy jazz combos, and in truly remarkable bands:"Backflap", "Tonite Tonite" and probably more. His work in Backflap can turn on a dime between sensitive and understated, to aggressive and driving. He plays keys and synths for the most part in The Freek Out; his contributions lending to harmony and melody build the dynamic ambience so essential to their sound. He writes his own songs as well, and is exploring lo-fi via four track cassette recorders.
Robin Burke is a longtime Metroplex native. She is also in the phenomenal "Backflap." She plays synths mostly, is a unique and talented vocalist, and also enjoys playing bass, guitar, cello, and trumpet. Nobody believes her when she says that she's only been playing music for a few years. She has remarkable instincts and the uncanny ability to mold dissonance and compliment unique songs and sounds. She has made tons of recordings with "Backflap" and also contributes to "Scarily Terrible"
Justin Fuqua is from Maybank TX, transplanted in Dallas TX. He labors in the production of the televised mixed martial arts competition: Chuck Norris', "World Combat League". In his free time he lends his numerous talents to the freek out, playing bass and keys and generally being awesome. He's been in the freek out for three years or so.
Tommy Pyland is also from Dallas. He has played in numerous bands and also plays professionally in recording studios. He plays bass, synths, melodica, and handsonic in The Freek Out. His Project 'Koala Wallis', is an unpretentious psychadelic blues jam capitalizing on the conventions of these genres and expanding their focus. He contributed guitar tracks to several songs on "Wake up Happy".
Eli Stafford is a Dallas native. He splits his time between half price books and school. He's been at richland, but is transfering to UTD in the fall to complete his degree. He is an amazingly talented percussionist and drummer. His work is athletic, precise, nuanced and musical.
You can find our songs at Rhapsody, Cd baby, and I Tunes among others. In Dallas you can find us at Good Records and Forever Young in Arlington.
These city lights and the things they hide may never be seen again. Come, let us sing dreams of architecture while we measure the marble.
wake up happy,
freek out
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