Winter, 2001. In a dark, dank basement on Detroit’s Westside, five young men come together to carry on the tradition of hardcore and punk that is seminal in creating the ‘emo’ radio takeover. Starting off with a strictly DIY mentality, The Transfer played all over the state averaging over 200 shows a year at any venue that would have them. Designing flyers, burning CD’s and screen-printing t-shirts. Anything to let people know they existed in an all but burnt-out shell that was the local music scene. Luckily, persistence pays off. It wasn’t long until The Transfer’s stage presence, sound and dedication started to turn heads. Making a mad dash for the top of the Detroit scene, the band started to open for larger national acts at the famed St. Andrew’s Hall along with regional tours throughout the Midwest. It was around this time that The Transfer was approached to record their first full-length album with Conquer The World Records (Boy Sets Fire, The Holy Fire) and producer Tim Patalan (Lovedrug, Sponge, The Fags). In 2005, the long-awaited ‘Romantics & Addicts’ album gained distribution through iTunes at a time when that was easier said than done. The album was met with praise from fans and critics alike and was even hailed as one of the best recordings to come out of the Motor City ‘in a long time’. It became apparent that fans loved the bands originality. The ability to remind you of all their influences while still creating a unique sound. The Transfer has never fallen victim to the generic pop punk sound that pollutes MySpace.
As fate would have it, shortly after the release of ‘Romantics & Addicts’ a line-up change was in the stars. For most bands this can be a devastating blow to their immediate future. For The Transfer, it was just another challenge to overcome. The band refused to give up on the music they felt so passionately about and enlisted new lead singer Jack Miles. Fast forward to 2007. The Transfer starts networking with as many people and bands as possible via their MySpace page. Everyday new friends were gained and plays increased threefold. There was one clear message the band kept hearing over and over: ‘We want more songs’.
Enter 2009. Another dark basement in Detroit, another vision of what the future holds. The Transfer completes their sophomore effort ‘Detroit Burned Down and so did The Scene…’ earlier in the year. Conceptually, it’s a nod to the once vibrant Detroit DIY punk scene. Musically, it’s a geographical map that will lead you to regions of soundscapes… Harmony, Chorus, Space, Distortion, Dischords, Majors, Minors, Open and Muted. Listen with your eyes closed - you can see all the sounds...
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