THEMES

PETALUMA, CA, NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN, BY GABE MELINE 05-20-08
“Lemme just say first off that when I brought Themes‘ new 7 Inch “I can’t make you believe, It’s not hopeless to survive.” home on Sunday afternoon, I listened to it three times in a row, over and over. It’s that good. Full of optimistic hooks, unifying harmonies, and hopeful lyrics, it’s nothing short of inspiring. It’s the Obama of 7 Inches !!”

PORTLAND, OR, WILLAMETTE WEEKLY BY AMY MCCULLOUGH. 5-21-08
“This guy-girl duo also claims to play “folk rock,” but the songs on its latest full-length, War Over the Great Plains, employ plenty of electric piano and guitar, theatrical vocals and an epic nature that smacks more of post metal than old Americana. (Think Faith No More Videos, and You’ve got the right idea.) Jacy McIntosh’s deep roar of a voice could’ve sound tracked something like Twister, all foreboding and mysterious and intense. Makes sense, then, that THEMES lists “Mother Nature’s random acts of violence” as its only inspiration. Key-tickler Kelsey Crawford, adds loftier, heavenly vocals to all the drama, highlighting the songs’ melodies and saving the THEMES message from suffocating in its own smoldering dark-rock fire.”

CHICO, CA THEMES LIVE @ THE CRUX GALLERY, BY : RYAN PRADO for Synthesis.net
Themes was instantly engaging; McIntosh’s epic vocal bravado laid the groundwork for the multi-instrumentalists in the band to paint lush resonance within highly progressive musical evolutions. Crawford’s lovely key work added lulling repose to what were by and large monolithic hybrids of folk/rock/orchestral-pop opuses, and the result was hugely impressive; the sparkling brows of the Crux audience nodded along with every plotted beat. Find this band and listen to them today.

i know it’s nice outside, because i can see sun peaking through the basement windows, that have been partially blocked off, on purpose. i know there are things going on outside because i can hear them, but the sounds are unfamiliar. what i know, are sounds of our voices and guitars. our pianos and drums.

the sound of repetition…..To quote the great John Cage.

“Music is being written. but it is not finished yet.”

this is where our tribe will spend the summer with welcome home….into the studio

-jacy

MINNEAPOLIS! We’re Back in minneapolis, and we made it just in time for the wedding of our best friends Rob and Ellen!!!! have a wonderful trip. we love you!

05-31-08 @ The Soap Factory

05-29-08 FARGO, ND @ the AQUARIUM

We a great time with Bryce’s parents in Fargo, we even put a dock in a lake!…who does that on tour…!

then we played the aquarium! thanks chris!

05-28-08 BILLINGS, MT @ Yellowstone Valley Brewhouse.

there is nothing between fargo and billings. except for these two things. and i don’t know why they are there.

Billings is a city that gives us a glimpse into the future, and it is somewhat frightening, however the guys at the Yellowstone Valley Brewhouse in were swell and they sent us away with a care package to share with our friends.

05-27-08 BOZEMAN, MT @ THE FILLING STATTION

the filling station is an amazing place, that looks like an old roadhouse, where people like us would actually drift through. we had a wondeful time with our new/old family of road dogs (VICTORY SMOKES, AND POSION CONTROL CENTER.

thanks to Olivia for joining us on this journey.

hello, again, and welcome back. we’ve been having such a hard time keeping up with posting, but we have no lack of content. here i sit, at the Richardson house, on the way to the Aquarium here in fargo. for the next few days, i will be reflecting and trying my best to get all of the content sorted through, and posted.

THEMES Mobile Multi Media Studio, a hotel in Reno, NV.  5-13-08 (by jacy)

Good morning from beautiful Missoula, MT. i have been cruising around town talkin to local folk, and reading a bit of independent media, in hopes to educate myself, as to what the people of this fine city have been up to, and i came across this story through Activism Across America. Way to go people. i really dig activism that directly effects quality of life, and how easy it is to clean up after ones self, and others.

OBAMAWORKS in Missoula Helps Clean Up the Fork River!

i also came across this story, which is very inspiring! Protect your lands, and if you do decide to develop fertile land, please do it in a sustainable fashion! It’s Beautiful here, and there is a common ground between expansion, and sustainability. one just needs to take the time to do it right. and from what i’ve read, and heard. The Missoula Community Food And Agriculture Coalition is doing a hell if a job. GO CFAC!

MISSOULA STOPPING SUBDIVISIONS FROM EATING UP LOCAL FOOD!

LIVE @ THE BADLANDER W/ POSION CONTROL CENTER / MUTE ERA / VICTORY SMOKES / BLACK VELVET ELVIS.

Portland, OR opened it’s misty arms for three days to the THEMES underground, we found ourselves ramparted in a New Creative Compound underneath the famous “ANGELA DAVIS LIVES HERE”.

ANGELA DAVIS, is a professor, and founder of anti prison organization Critical Resistance, key member of the Student Nonviolent Committee, Political candidate of the Communist Party, and Station mount of the of the Black Panther Party. ((read more about this amazing woman!))

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Davis

mad love respect to the brilliant Corey gray and our brothers Carcrash lander, the lovely Miss Anna, my brother Joseph Deluxe, my sister Caitlin, Dio, Amy Hsuan. ilan, kelly, sam, casey at the AudioCinema. we cannot wait to see you all again…..

I think the thing that astonishes me the most is the mentality That you are the metropolis you live in. You may say to yourself, “for vacation I’m going to the mountains. Or, for vacation I’m going to the ocean.”
“I will go to India and Ireland!”
These ideas we have about these places that represent magic to us, are actually what our soul is telling us we desire. Our soul deficiencies.
What we may have is available to us daily.
The ideas, the magic and the feeling that we are children again are the things that take care of us.
Inspiration will always be stronger and more filled with mystery than the wildest mind could conjure up.
I don’t want these tired eyes to look at the same gas station across the street from my house everyday. My skin is dehydrated from waiting hand and foot on strangers in some restaurant. It had been months since I smelled rain or grass.
My mouth spilled out with road rage in more than one moment of weakness.
My ears are experimenting with the noise of a city bus.
I’m again flexing my senses muscles.
I never again want to take for granted my inspiration. I don’t want to silence it. I don’t want to be embarrassed by it. I don’t want to hate it.
Inspiration is picking me up as the weaker half and whispering to me that it will always be there. It will always help.
It’s giving me rising tunnels through very steep climbs. It’s showing me how to live.
-Kelsey Crawford

chico is a hell of a town. i’ve only played there once before, over 5 years ago, but this time it was very special, as chico town is now home to my parents, David Scott and Toni Elizabeth McIntosh. it seems only fitting that we play an art space with THE NEW TRUST, who are also as much a family as my own blood. YOU TOO JEFF! thanks for being there. we will be back often. mad props to Sesar, and the shimmies and surrogat ! you guys made this show amazing. if you haven’t heard these band……SSSSSSSSSHECKEMMOUT!

We Love You Dave and Toni! you are wonderful people!

we rolled into our old home town, where we birthed THEMES, to open arms, and man!, our friends in santa rosa/ petaluma are some of the most colorful and creative people in the nation! we had a wonderful time….

SANTA ROSA!!!! guns, grills, yard beers, an oil change, pants on fire, riding wheelies, THE NEW TRUST! LITANY FOR THE WHALE! AHHHHHH!

i live for this family! THANK YOU FOR THE INSPIRATION! YOU ARE THE REASON WE ARE HERE!

here’s a review of the show and our new 7″ from Gabe @ the Bohemian

http://www.bohemian.com/citysound/

although it’s actually 5-21…i’m playing catchup. THANK YOU ALL so very much…it was great to revisit the place of my birth and have so much fun with such beautiful souls….oh, BRIAN you are amazing….thanks for letting us live with you!