In a land of pop star rehab stints and countless reality talent shows there are still oodles, yes oodles, of brilliant artists striving to become noteworthy the old fashioned way, free of tabloid press and text message voting.
Bands like up-and-coming Thousand Yard Stare depend solely on their songwriting talent, tireless work ethic and exceptional ability to rock out. No 1-866 number needed for votes here.
“It doesn’t really matter if there are ten people or 2,000, we play our hearts out no matter what,” Nick Romes, lead singer of Thousand Yard Stare said. “Every time it’s been a bigger response [with] more fans, more people and more interest.”
To the delight of their newfound fans all over the Southwest, this unsigned alt rock quartet is relentlessly hitting the road, letting their contagious and authentic rock sound speak for itself.
“A lot of bands are more worried about image,” Romes said. “That’s definitely a priority for us, but we’re more interested in writing great songs and being a genuine band with a sincere live sound. That’s what drives us.”
And drive it does. Romes, along with guitarist and fellow songwriter Chris Jensen, bassist Tom Livingston, and drummer Will Johnston, just released their first full-length album Stars and Roadmaps last April without a major label backing them. However, first-time listeners might assume otherwise. Their intricate debut has distinctive longevity, corralled from somewhere beyond the studio and the dusty desert of their Arizona roots.
“The band chemistry is great, we’re really fortunate,” Romes said. “It’s hard to find guys that you really gel with, but we’re all on the same page, and that’s the best thing.”
That undeniable chemistry generated charged up tracks from beginning to end, complete with impressive riffs and melodies on songs like “Save Yourself” and “Epiphany.” What is seemingly a product of four musicians growing up playing in the garage after school together actually stems from some want ad responses a few years back.
“I actually answered an ad to be a guitar player for one of Chris’ bands — he and I were in a few prior to this one,” Romes explained. “We met our drummer Will in a band previously, and then we were looking for a bass player and met Tom through a newspaper in Phoenix.”
Thousand Yard Stare is proof that the classifieds can yield much more than a used car or temp job. Although the guys wouldn’t mind turning their music into a permanent position soon.
“Our main goal is to do this full-time,” Romes said. “I can’t lie, we want to attract the attention of a record label. We want to get signed.”
“But we’re not just gonna sit around and wait,” he continued. “We booked our first tour last October by ourselves, did all the leg work, to get out there and build a following.”
The TYS fan base is definitely growing, garnering more plays on their Web site and more friends across the states, thanks to their sincere and expansive approach to alternative rock.
“We really wanted to make a record that is kind of like a journey,” Romes said. “Our favorite records are ones you like to listen to from start to finish, which seems to be kind of a rarity these days. We wanted that in the album.”
