Astronomers
Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Music
Press
"If you like your rock and roll filled with more intelligence than the average Blowtard Rock Convention, you need to check out Astronomers. Hailing and wailing out of the city of Charlottesville, VA., Astronomers birth a blind-kind / light-wave / black-heat combination of aquiline guitar lines and proto-post melodicism, fused to the holographic rhythms of a future not yet written in stone, but coming fast, like time travel through a blurred telescope welded to a microscope for the micro to macro effect. Yes. Do it. Please."
- Independent Weekly
"Among 60+ active local bands in Charlottesville, nearly every style/genre is represented. But there has definitely been a lack of key artists in the indie/pop/Pitchfork/Stereogum style genre. Astronomers (two of whom are actually UVA Astronomy Majors) are quickly changing all that. Catchy but complicated songs and playing tons of shows." ---Brad Savage, 106.1 The Corner
- 106.1 The Corner
As the name suggests, Charlottesville quartet Astronomers favor an expansive, stargazing sound. Guitars circle like satellites through eccentric, chiming orbits. Though the bright, busy tones get exotic and ethereal enough to suggest shoegazers, they're much more restrained, grounded in a straightforwardly melodic sensibility like a less adventurous Muse or caged Doves. Frontman Nate Bolling's moody baritone croon could definitely find a home across the pond, but the jagged churn of tracks like "Or Maybe It's Nothing" melds post-punk slash to an elegant Britpop sweep. For a relatively new band they're remarkably assured, with an impressively fanciful sound.
---Chris Parker, IndyWeek.com
- IndyWeek.com
"...Think Fast! proves stellar from beginning to end. And with such production value, this band is able to sound just how they want to sound. With their contemplative arrangements and progressive ambition, they set themselves apart from the cookie cutter that molds most local indie rock bands. Check out Astronomers and you, yourself, can see why they are out of this world."
---Ben Cokeley, Magazine33.com - Magazine 33.com
"We know the map isn't the territory, but these indie rockers come pretty close to charting the heavens with their cerebral, celestially poetic tunes." - C-ville Magazine
We here at cVillain have been long time fans of the sonic works put forth by progressive indie/dance rock quartet Astronomers. Between their hauntingly full range sound and the 'quantum-related' content of the vocals, they are pushing our expectations on what a band is capable of. A definite must listen for the intelligent rocker in you." --cVillain.com
- cVillian.com
Discography
Alpha Demo (Dec 2008)
-self-produced
THINK FAST! (Nov 2009)
-produced by Lance Brenner (Kate Star, Trees on Fire, The Falsies)
Size Matters (May 2011)
-produced by Astronomers
Photos
Bio
An audio engineer from Dallas, a librarian from Austin, a software engineer from central Virginia, and a video gamer from Philadelphia found each other in Charlottesville, Virginia and decided to write some rock songs.
In the spring of 2009, the band began work with local producer Lance Brenner on their debut EP "THINK FAST!"
Their second release, full length "Size Matters" was released in June of 2011 and proved that the band had figured themselves out. The band draws influence from dark, epic-rock like Pink Floyd and the Velvet Teen, as well as from modern rock like Phoenix and The Strokes. Although Astronomers are easily accessible to crowds of any age or taste, some of the songs are executed almost as if they were written solely for musicians and mathematicians.
If catchy, mature songwriting is the backbone of Astronomers, then a High energy, entertaining live show would be the heart, constantly drawing viewers in and encouraging a good time for all.
Astronomers have played :
-Dewey Beach Music Conference and Popfest
-Virginia's Crozet Music Festival
-Charlottesville's Fridays After Five
-Piano's in NYC
-Exit/In in Nashville
-The Jefferson Theatre in Charlottesville on opening weekend, then with We Are Scientists, and finally with Tapes n' Tapes.
-Three extended tours of the Southeastern states and Texas and numerous dates throughout the northeast
We love music.
We make music for people who love music.
The point of our music will be lost to those who only hear, but do not listen.
We are astronomers.
Links
