Bump
Forward
By: Erika Fredrickson
Posted: 02/12/2009
The ’80s synth and angular guitar riffs of Bump’s “Everyone Knows” almost make this Detroit-based band sound something like Oasis meets generic jam band meets Don Henley. Forward overflows with twinkling keyboards, emo lyrics and pop hooks, though it all feels more on the order of a bland CW soundtrack—“One Tree Hill,” or “Gossip Girl”—than anything even ironically engaging.
“Darker Version of Me” proves the quartet can harmonize, but “Back Door” uncovers the bands mostly vapid and clunkily rhymed lyrics as in, “And I don’t mind squeezin’ on your hand so tight, and I wish I could say that it would all turn out alright. Late in the night, lookin’ for your light. Keep it cool, just a fool…” “Disconnected” festers with the same awkward lines, though the idea of being disconnected works well here since you can appreciate the instrumental deftness and still not feel anything.
The musicians clearly know how to play and Yorg Kerasiotis’ warbles with enough prettiness and enough edge to make his vocals gorgeous. Problem is, most of the angst and passion on Forward seems manufactured, or at least doesn’t seep through the overly careful composition, which makes this album destined more for box store-dom than anywhere remotely independent. (Erika Fredrickson)
Bump plays the Girl Talk after party at the Elks Lodge Thursday, Feb. 19, with Delta Function at 9 PM. $5.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Billings, MT Show Review
Bump at Bones
By Jaci
Feb 19th, 2009 in Music
Tags: Bones Brewery, Bump
Photo by Casey Riffe of the Gazette staff
Five minutes into Bump’s second set Wednesday night at Bones Brewery, the lead vocalist asked the audience if they were up for some space rock. The Detroit rock band had already blown through most of the songs off their new CD “Forward” and now they were digging into 8 years worth of original tunes to fill out the night. They’d already shown us some stellar three-part harmonies and what fine players they are, but this second set was incredible.
Whether it was a mood swing or a reflective moment for Bump, the four-piece band spouted this other-wordly experimental rock that the crowd (I use this term loosely since there were only 25 or 30 people there) pretty much went nuts for. It was an abrupt shift from the melodic pop sound of their new songs and it showed where Bump’s roots are. Eventually the 10-minute jam turned into the Who’s “Baba O’Reilly.” Earlier in the evening, they did an amazing cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times, Bad Times” that fit right in with their jam-band vibe. The band annnounced that Zeppelin is their favorite band to cover — a Herculean task that these guys managed to pull off.
Next stop for Bump: Missoula’s Elk’s Lodge tonight at the after-party for Girl Talk. If you’re up that way, check them out, they’re worth an hour or two of your time.
By Jaci
Feb 19th, 2009 in Music
Tags: Bones Brewery, Bump
Photo by Casey Riffe of the Gazette staff
Five minutes into Bump’s second set Wednesday night at Bones Brewery, the lead vocalist asked the audience if they were up for some space rock. The Detroit rock band had already blown through most of the songs off their new CD “Forward” and now they were digging into 8 years worth of original tunes to fill out the night. They’d already shown us some stellar three-part harmonies and what fine players they are, but this second set was incredible.
Whether it was a mood swing or a reflective moment for Bump, the four-piece band spouted this other-wordly experimental rock that the crowd (I use this term loosely since there were only 25 or 30 people there) pretty much went nuts for. It was an abrupt shift from the melodic pop sound of their new songs and it showed where Bump’s roots are. Eventually the 10-minute jam turned into the Who’s “Baba O’Reilly.” Earlier in the evening, they did an amazing cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times, Bad Times” that fit right in with their jam-band vibe. The band annnounced that Zeppelin is their favorite band to cover — a Herculean task that these guys managed to pull off.
Next stop for Bump: Missoula’s Elk’s Lodge tonight at the after-party for Girl Talk. If you’re up that way, check them out, they’re worth an hour or two of your time.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Revue West Michigan Review
Take a look at the above video. Anything look familiar? Not only was Bump's video for "Out of Reach" filmed in the wonderful city of Grand Rapids, it was done in one take. Bet you Kanye isn't even that talented.
The "Out of Reach" video is just a representation of this Detroit-based band, whose second full length album "Forward" is available this month. They don't need glitzy special effects, production, or even a myriad of instruments to stand out. Their music is simplistic, focusing on soothing vocals and hypnotic rhythms.
"Everyone Knows," the first track on "Forward," sounds like a perfect spring rain, only upping the intensity during the chorus. "Everyone Knows" segues into "What Was All the Fuss About," with an industrial-sounding melody complete with shades of Bowie-esque glam (a plus in my book).
Bump may reconsider calling "Darker Version Of Me" "The Song Talking Heads Wish They Wrote." The strong ballad focuses on flat vocals during the verse, which works perfectly for the sound Bump is attempting to achieve.
Pop in this CD for a chill atmosphere. It won't put you to sleep, but it's perfect to listen to while you're thumbing through a quirky indie rag.
Bump will be touring America in the next couple months, but make sure to check them out on their May 16 date in Detroit.
The "Out of Reach" video is just a representation of this Detroit-based band, whose second full length album "Forward" is available this month. They don't need glitzy special effects, production, or even a myriad of instruments to stand out. Their music is simplistic, focusing on soothing vocals and hypnotic rhythms.
"Everyone Knows," the first track on "Forward," sounds like a perfect spring rain, only upping the intensity during the chorus. "Everyone Knows" segues into "What Was All the Fuss About," with an industrial-sounding melody complete with shades of Bowie-esque glam (a plus in my book).
Bump may reconsider calling "Darker Version Of Me" "The Song Talking Heads Wish They Wrote." The strong ballad focuses on flat vocals during the verse, which works perfectly for the sound Bump is attempting to achieve.
Pop in this CD for a chill atmosphere. It won't put you to sleep, but it's perfect to listen to while you're thumbing through a quirky indie rag.
Bump will be touring America in the next couple months, but make sure to check them out on their May 16 date in Detroit.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
High Plains Reader Article
Bump: Always Moving Forward
Who: Bump
When: Monday, February 16, 2009, 9 pm
Where: The Nestor, Fargo
Michigan pop/rock band Bump will be at the Nestor in Fargo on Monday, Feb. 16, touting their new album, “Forward,” which was released at the end of January. Bump hit the music scene eight years ago, releasing their first studio EP, “The Heart of Cadillac Square,” followed by a five-song demo with selections from that disc and some new reggae-tinged tunes. Their first full-length album, “Incredible Consequences,” was released on Beechwood Records in 2004 and was a fine example of their technical expertise and Jorg Kerasiotis’s skilled voice. It was polished, sometimes moody, and had enough instrument layers to make it interesting. They made an appearance at the 10,000 Lakes Festival in Minnesota and the Bele Chere Music Festival in North Carolina in 2005 and were named by Jambase as one of the top bands to see in 2005.
Their new CD is quite remarkable, considering how often sophomore efforts are plagued by overconfidence and second-choice material. Bump, however, has overcome that by creating an album of strong writing, tight vocals, and commanding instrumental backup. But more importantly, Bump has something to say. “I think that if you listen to “Incredible Consequence,” it was good,” Yorg said in an interview this week, “but there was a lot of standard stuff in it.” It was the kind of writing that many young songwriters go to, mainly concentrating on love songs.
But a lot of life has happened in between that first effort and today. “Being on the road, the hard times, all of the stuff you have to put up with, life in general, all of the stuff that’s been going on—just flew out of us,” Yorg explained. Some of that “stuff” was the normal road weariness that happens with a touring band, but in their case it was heightened a bit more. Right after that first album came out,
guitarist Chris Sterr was bedridden for two months with a ruptured spleen at the beginning of their tour, and they had $40,000 worth of equipment and belongings stolen from their home while they were on the road. Though nothing so catastrophic has happened since, the band, needless to say, has matured.
Most of the writing for “Forward” was done by Yorg and Sterr. “But, everyone in the band is encouraged to write,” Yorg said. “Once the songs are brought in, we’re very selfless; we just want the songs to take on the right feel. We both know that maybe it will take someone else to make the song better than it was intended.” But even then, there could be some glitches. “Obviously, once the song is there, you can go in any direction. We say sometimes that we have ‘option anxiety.’”
To smooth out those kinds of difficulties, Bump enlisted producer Dan Curry. “He let us do a bunch of stuff and when we did the right thing, he would tell us what it was and that we should go with that,” Yorg added. “We concentrated more on making sure each part breathed like it had its own place but it fit together. We were meticulous when it came to trying to fit a vocal melody and not clutter it.”
Though their work has a pop sound, there are reggae influences, rock influences, some funk, and lots of jazz. They’ll do dance music and will even stretch into an extended jam once in a while. There is a faint reggae delivery in some of the vocals, such as “Darker Version of Me,” and a British invasion sound with “Everyone Knows.” They are trying to pack in a wide spectrum of musical styles. “It’s hard,” Yorg admitted, “and, be true to yourself, too.”
The lead singing is spot-on, with great harmonies and sometimes with overlapping vocals. Yorg, Sterr, and new bassist Bryce Carroll-Coe share vocal duties. Instrumentation is provided by Yorg on keys and guitar, Chris Sterre on guitar and lap steel, Bryce Carroll-Coe on bass, and Clint Carpenter on drums and sequencer.
Bump always delivers a fine stage show, so come on down to the Nestor on Monday night.
Posted 3 days, 11 hours ago by Janie Franz | Email Janie Franz | View Janie Franz's profile.
Who: Bump
When: Monday, February 16, 2009, 9 pm
Where: The Nestor, Fargo
Michigan pop/rock band Bump will be at the Nestor in Fargo on Monday, Feb. 16, touting their new album, “Forward,” which was released at the end of January. Bump hit the music scene eight years ago, releasing their first studio EP, “The Heart of Cadillac Square,” followed by a five-song demo with selections from that disc and some new reggae-tinged tunes. Their first full-length album, “Incredible Consequences,” was released on Beechwood Records in 2004 and was a fine example of their technical expertise and Jorg Kerasiotis’s skilled voice. It was polished, sometimes moody, and had enough instrument layers to make it interesting. They made an appearance at the 10,000 Lakes Festival in Minnesota and the Bele Chere Music Festival in North Carolina in 2005 and were named by Jambase as one of the top bands to see in 2005.
Their new CD is quite remarkable, considering how often sophomore efforts are plagued by overconfidence and second-choice material. Bump, however, has overcome that by creating an album of strong writing, tight vocals, and commanding instrumental backup. But more importantly, Bump has something to say. “I think that if you listen to “Incredible Consequence,” it was good,” Yorg said in an interview this week, “but there was a lot of standard stuff in it.” It was the kind of writing that many young songwriters go to, mainly concentrating on love songs.
But a lot of life has happened in between that first effort and today. “Being on the road, the hard times, all of the stuff you have to put up with, life in general, all of the stuff that’s been going on—just flew out of us,” Yorg explained. Some of that “stuff” was the normal road weariness that happens with a touring band, but in their case it was heightened a bit more. Right after that first album came out,
guitarist Chris Sterr was bedridden for two months with a ruptured spleen at the beginning of their tour, and they had $40,000 worth of equipment and belongings stolen from their home while they were on the road. Though nothing so catastrophic has happened since, the band, needless to say, has matured.
Most of the writing for “Forward” was done by Yorg and Sterr. “But, everyone in the band is encouraged to write,” Yorg said. “Once the songs are brought in, we’re very selfless; we just want the songs to take on the right feel. We both know that maybe it will take someone else to make the song better than it was intended.” But even then, there could be some glitches. “Obviously, once the song is there, you can go in any direction. We say sometimes that we have ‘option anxiety.’”
To smooth out those kinds of difficulties, Bump enlisted producer Dan Curry. “He let us do a bunch of stuff and when we did the right thing, he would tell us what it was and that we should go with that,” Yorg added. “We concentrated more on making sure each part breathed like it had its own place but it fit together. We were meticulous when it came to trying to fit a vocal melody and not clutter it.”
Though their work has a pop sound, there are reggae influences, rock influences, some funk, and lots of jazz. They’ll do dance music and will even stretch into an extended jam once in a while. There is a faint reggae delivery in some of the vocals, such as “Darker Version of Me,” and a British invasion sound with “Everyone Knows.” They are trying to pack in a wide spectrum of musical styles. “It’s hard,” Yorg admitted, “and, be true to yourself, too.”
The lead singing is spot-on, with great harmonies and sometimes with overlapping vocals. Yorg, Sterr, and new bassist Bryce Carroll-Coe share vocal duties. Instrumentation is provided by Yorg on keys and guitar, Chris Sterre on guitar and lap steel, Bryce Carroll-Coe on bass, and Clint Carpenter on drums and sequencer.
Bump always delivers a fine stage show, so come on down to the Nestor on Monday night.
Posted 3 days, 11 hours ago by Janie Franz | Email Janie Franz | View Janie Franz's profile.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Tour Diary: Yorg from Aberdeen, SD
Valetine's Day in Aberdeen, SD
Congratulations Aberdeen, SD. For the rest of my life I will praise Aberdeen as one of the coolest towns we've ever played. Zack, our promoter, filled up an the Aberdeen Eagles Hall with a huge amount of insanely enthusiastic music fans and party animals. After our second encore and an endless amount of applause from the audience, one of Aberdeen's own invites us to a HUGE after party along with everyone else at the show. Ted, the bouncer, offered to help us load out and ride with us to the party. By the end of the night I was having flashbacks of the parties from "Uncle Buck", "Almost Famous" and "Dazed and Confused." We sold a ton of new albums and hope to keep in touch with everyone we met. I can't get into just how crazy the party got but I think I started getting freaked out when I suddenly realized I was trapped in a small weird bedroom with 60 other people singing the theme songs to "Family Ties" and "Full House."
This is only the second week of our 3 month tour so there's a lot more to come!
yorg, BUMP
Congratulations Aberdeen, SD. For the rest of my life I will praise Aberdeen as one of the coolest towns we've ever played. Zack, our promoter, filled up an the Aberdeen Eagles Hall with a huge amount of insanely enthusiastic music fans and party animals. After our second encore and an endless amount of applause from the audience, one of Aberdeen's own invites us to a HUGE after party along with everyone else at the show. Ted, the bouncer, offered to help us load out and ride with us to the party. By the end of the night I was having flashbacks of the parties from "Uncle Buck", "Almost Famous" and "Dazed and Confused." We sold a ton of new albums and hope to keep in touch with everyone we met. I can't get into just how crazy the party got but I think I started getting freaked out when I suddenly realized I was trapped in a small weird bedroom with 60 other people singing the theme songs to "Family Ties" and "Full House."
This is only the second week of our 3 month tour so there's a lot more to come!
yorg, BUMP
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Forward Available Online!
You can now purchase our new album "Forward" at CD Baby and Digstation. The album will also be available on iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon, and a bunch of other sites, as well as our own website and myspace in the coming weeks. Pick up a copy and let us know what you think!
BUY FORWARD:
CD BABY
BUY FORWARD:
CD BABY
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