Sunday, April 04, 2004
April 3: Upside - Scope & History
Upside is all growns up now. All growns up. When I first met these guys, it was at the Asylum in Lawton in January '02, and they were first band on a four-band bill, a baby band... nothing special. They had one pretty good song called "The Way I Dream" that sounded a little too much like Bon Jovi. Sid, the lead singer, hustled us for some shows in Stillwater and Dallas, and let us open for them in Tulsa and Norman in exchange. We did four or five shows together in like three months, made friends, and that was about it.
Then they put out a CD in summer '02 that got some recognition, then put out another CD last summer (this one) that ended up with a No. 1 single on Z-104.5 in Tulsa, and now they're showcasing for major labels at the Viper Room in Los Angeles and making the finals of the Buzz March Bandness and re-recording "The Way I Dream" with Bowling for Soup's producer so that it sounds like a Top 10 RAWK juggernaut.
There's nothing special about what Upside have done; they just write good songs and then work their asses off to make sure people hear them. It's a lesson other bands know, but usually don't put into practice.
So why was I listening to Upside today? Well, first of all, this is a great CD, well-written and well-produced. And second, 12 Pearls and Upside are coming to my hometown of Guthrie April 24 for a big '89ers night show. All you kids need to roll out and show 'em why it's called Gut-rock (is it still called Gut-rock?).
Then they put out a CD in summer '02 that got some recognition, then put out another CD last summer (this one) that ended up with a No. 1 single on Z-104.5 in Tulsa, and now they're showcasing for major labels at the Viper Room in Los Angeles and making the finals of the Buzz March Bandness and re-recording "The Way I Dream" with Bowling for Soup's producer so that it sounds like a Top 10 RAWK juggernaut.
There's nothing special about what Upside have done; they just write good songs and then work their asses off to make sure people hear them. It's a lesson other bands know, but usually don't put into practice.
So why was I listening to Upside today? Well, first of all, this is a great CD, well-written and well-produced. And second, 12 Pearls and Upside are coming to my hometown of Guthrie April 24 for a big '89ers night show. All you kids need to roll out and show 'em why it's called Gut-rock (is it still called Gut-rock?).
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