THEMES @ Fernwood Big Sur, CA by Stan Russel

THE HISTORY THUS FAR…

In 2005 McIntosh and Crawford began “THEMES” in Santa Rosa California.  Being long time touring music veterans, the two artists had experienced many musical dynamics and knew the values of both chemistry and flexibility, thus “THEMES” was created to be the band they had both always wanted. With McIntosh and Crawford at the helm the band has been able to grow and evolve, with an ever changing cast of close friends and multi-instrumentalists sculpting the Music of THEMES into lush soundscapes of haunting and fractured Post Rock Balladry.

In 2007 THEMES relocated to their previous Home town Minneapolis, MN, where they recorded and released their sophomore album “War Over The Great Plains”. The band spent the remainder of the year Touring the U.S. with great success.

In early 2008 The band returned to Minneapolis from a year of touring the U.S. to record two 7” records with Miniature Record Club ; “I can’t make you believe, It’s not hopeless to survive” and “The Soldier Trade / Soldier Trade Remix, (Feat Hip Hop wordsmith P.O.S and re-mix visionary Booka B). The Releases we’re followed with two more U.S. Tours. In fall of 2008 THEMES Relocated again, To Portland, OR and joined longtime Friends Minus The Bear for U.S. tour dates.

In the past 13 years of  touring , McIntosh and Crawford have shared stages with Artists such as The Velvet Teen, The New Trust, Portugal the Man, School of Seven Bells, Atmosphere, Fleet Foxes, Le Tigre, and BLACK FLAG, to round out an ever growing solid base of friends and fan throughout the United States and beyond.
THEMES has been Hard at Work in 2011, with recent recorded and live collaborations on the latest Solo release from Tim Kasher (Cursive and The Good Life) Entitled “The Game of Monogamy”, where Kelsey Crawford sings lofty and powerful harmonies alongside Tim Kasher.

The Band Spent the better part of 2011 on tour, in support of their latest release, “THE PHANTOM”, An 8 Song Album, featuring Multi Instrumentalists: Cory Gray (Production, Horns and Keys, and Synths), Brian Wright (Drums and Precussion), Matt Simon Carillo (Guitars) J. Clark (Bass Guitars) Cliff Hayes (Upright Bass ), and John Askew (Bass Guitars). With the recent addition of the dynamic Drum and Percussion talent, Nick Dayka, the band Rounds out the live Sound of their most lush and focused work yet.

The year held more performances in the US with bands such as The Velvet Teen, Tapes and Tapes, Minus The Bear, Joan As Police Woman and The Lonely Forest, as well as a Daytrotter session featuring different version of “The Phantom” album.

In OCT of 2011 THEMES was Invited to appear at a 3 day gathering in Big Sur, CA entitled Communion In The Redwoods, via members from the band Mumford And Sons and their collectively run London based Record label/ Promotions company Communion. THEMES appeared along side a handful of artists  MOJO magazine has called “A new generation of songwriter.”