Moving in Stereo

Nate Black named Moving in Stereo after a song on the Cars’ debut. But don’t expect new-wavy, synth-heavy pop when this six-member band plays. They’re after something different. They create textured, spacey, dreamy rock with emo-styled vocals and rich, full sound.

“We all knew we wanted to do something different. We’ve all done the typical rock-band thing,” Black said. “We felt like it was time for a change, time for something new and for something that no one’s really done before.”

But not even Black can define their still-developing sound. Some songs are light and delicate; others heavier, trickier and employ unconventional arrangements. “We’re still developing a sound. I don’t think we’re where we want to be,” he said. “But I think we’re on the right track.” Black talked about Moving in Stereo with Showcase.

H O M E B A S E Erie.

B A N D M E M B E R S Bob Williams, drums; Dustin Clark, guitar, vocals; Nate Black, guitar; Dustin Wilkinson, bass; Jay Burrows, guitar; Mike Hammer, keyboards.

T H E I N S P I R AT I O N Before Moving in Stereo formed, Williams and Wilkinson played together in Rockets Red Glare, while Burrows was in Johnny Football and, before that, Crown Me King.

Burrows knew Black from a previous hardcore band, but the new group still needed a singer. Burrows had seen Clark sing acoustic shows at Forward Hall, and invited him to practice. Keyboardist Mike Hammer came too and wound up joining the band.
Clark stunned the band at practice, improvising lyrics on the spot.

“He came and listened for a minute and jumped in there,” Black said. “It was crazy. I never saw anyone do that. He didn’t have to write anything. It seemed like he had lyrics, right away.”

S T Y L E Space rock.

I N F L U E N C E S Radiohead, Elliott, Muse. “We try not to set up a sound like anyone in particular, but it’s OK to have references,” Black said.

L A S T G O O D C O N C E RT Y O U S AW
“I got to see one of my favorite bands, Love Drug, over the winter in Pittsburgh. That was very inspirational,” Black said.

F I R S T C O N C E RT Y O U S AW “The first real one had to have been in ’94, an old club in Cleveland called Flash’s. I got to see a band called Green Jelly. They had a song on MTV and were with Pro-Pain and Testament. But we missed Testament. The club was so incredibly packed like sardines, we somehow got pushed out the back door, and we were out. We were like, ‘We might as well leave, it’s so hot.’”

L A S T C D Y O U B O U G H T “I saw the Stills. They’re from Montreal. I bought their EP. It’s rare and hard to find, so the only way you can get it is at their shows.”

C D S Finishing debut with producer Shawn Hammer at Midtown Studios.
It’s due out by the end of the year.

W E B S I T E
www.myspace.com/movinginstereomusic

U P C O M I N G G I G S Tonight at 10 with Telefonics, Modern Style of Living at Sherlock’s, 508 State St.; Friday with the Charms at 8 p.m. at Denny’s Bar and Banquet, 10004 Route 98, Edinboro; Saturday with Black Rose Diary, Knife Fight the World, Isadora at Forward Hall, 2502 Peach St., all ages, 5 p.m. —