All You All

It's been a big year for the local electro-pop-rock trio All You All. They've released two excellent EPs (and are working on more music as we speak) and they finished near the top of the pile in the 2012 Last Band Standing competition. Then last night, they went over to Portland to compete in the semifinals of the Sonic Smack Down. On Saturday, they'll be back in their home town for a headlining show at Silver Moon Brewing & Taproom, ready to show off the danceable sound that has made them one of the region's fastest rising bands. - Bend Bulletin (Online Edition)

Bendites who think a typical night out for live music must involve folk, will get a pleasant shock should they stumble into a show by psych-rock group All you All.

Multi-instrumentalist John Has-Ellison, vocalist Maggie Surgeon and drummer Anthony Trefry pile layer upon layer of Jane's Addiction-like vocals, Jamiroquai-esque acid jazz synth, pop beats reminiscent of New Radicals and just about every other genre you can think of. And yes, that includes hip hop. So far, this has resulted in two well received EP's as well as a second place finish in the 2012 edition of Bend's Last Band Standing competition. Quite a nice start.

People patient enough to wade through All You All's EPs Fluorescence and Incandescence, will find several gems including the track "Oregon Burner." In that track, pop guitar commiserates with haunting synth creating a chaotic but lovely journey that All You All felt deserved some visuals. Just like with their music, they couldn't stop themselves from layering scenes throughout the three- minute long video. A strobe-lit attic recording session is paired with semi-translucent scenes of cruising around Bend. There are also candid shots of the band smiling. It feels heroin chic and it's awesome.

A typical All You All show is dark. Front man Has-Ellison digs in on his guitar with his head tipped down brandishing his standard flatcap while Surgeon belts out her vocals, eyes closed. And given the band's atmospheric vibe, it's the crowd's reaction to their music that stands out at their concerts. In short, they don't just stand there—they dance. Whether it's Has-Ellison breaking from prescribed instrumentation for a guitar solo or the peek-a-booing pop beats, concertgoers find a reason to move. During All You All's LBS semi-final round performance this summer, heads were bouncing and feet were moving for a blazing 20-minute set that screamed by.

Currently, All You All is working on a double-sided single that they hope to release in the next couple of months, with a full album due out sometime next year. According to Has-Ellison, while the title song should be radio ready, it's the experimentation of the B-side that may turn a few heads.

"The song is experimental, kind of ambient with dark gloomy tones and instruments," said Has-Ellison in an interview with the Source. "There's these weird bell chimes and stuff, and it's not exactly a pop format. The working title is 'Grime.' That's what we were trying to make people feel—a little grimy and out of place. Uncomfortable."

If you're a fan of the unconventional, then the music of All You All is already right up your alley. If, however, more traditional music is your thing, you will be surprised at how All You All mixes in enough mainstream sound to bridge the gap between what you're used to and what you're not. - The Source Weekly

– Last but not least, local dance-rock band All You All put out its first EP, called “Fluorescence,” right around the turn of the year. I’m still letting this one sink in, but I definitely hear a little Modest Mouse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, White Denim and White Stripes in the band’s urgent, bouncy sound. Check the EP out below! (http://soundcloud.com/allyouall/sets/fluorescence-ep) Also, please note that five days into 2012, All You All is currently in the lead for best cover art of the year - - Ben Salmon, Frequency Blog by The Bend Bulletin (Jan 06, 2012)

"The fresh-faced local rock band All You All is wasting no time in putting its stamp on 2012. The band — John Has-Ellison, Maggie Surgeon and Anthony Trefry — released a fine EP called “Fluorescence” on Jan. 1, and tonight, they’ll celebrate their second EP of the year, “Incandescence,” with a show at PoetHouse Art. Now, we here at The Bulletin’s music desk haven’t heard “Incandescence,” because the band was finalizing it this week (they hope to have copies at the show tonight). But if the first EP is any indication, you can expect a jittery mix of stomping garage rock and warm-glow electronic pop. The whole thing is deceptively danceable, in that Modest Mouse-meets-Of Montreal in the High Desert kind of way. Keep up with ’em at www.allyouall.tumblr.com. " - Ben Salmon, The Bend Bulletin Online (Apr 20, 2012)

"Fresh off their second-place finish in the 2012 Last Band Standing contest, the fidgety (in a good way) local electro-rock trio All You All today unveiled a video for the song “Oregon Burner” from their fine “Fluorescence” EP that came out earlier this year. It’s a trippy, lo-fi clip, packed wall to wall with strobe lights, shaky-cam action and nighttime cruising. The whole thing vibes nicely with the song’s heavy-lidded, wee-hours dance party kind of feel. Enjoy… " - Ben Salmon, Frequency Blog by The Bend Bulletin (Jun 27, 2012)

"Music junkies of Bend fear not, All You All has new material for your local music fix. RISE UP presents an EP release show that is guaranteed to transform the PoetHouse into a killer dance party fueled by three rocking regional bands. All You All is a band with a heavy blues sound and a simplicity that is reminiscent of Jack White. Their ambient male and female vocals, drenched in reverb, make for a smooth sound, which compliments the Bend band’s familiar and relatable lyricism. Copies of Incandescence, their new EP, will be available for purchase, giving the crowd a taste of material both new and old. ... Given the energy level of these three bands, we’re both excited and terrified by the prospect of a full floor collapse at the Poet House." - Brianna Brey, The Source Weekly (Apr 18, 2012)