Gold Star Morning
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Music
Press
... if someone had told me to guess which man among the five-piece was its newest member, I probably would have guessed wrong – not a one of them seemed out of place. As it turns out, Ben Leang joined the band just nine months ago to perform lead guitar, keyboards, computer sound effects, back-up vocals and whatever else the band tells him to do. Guitarist Luke Rodgers, who started the band with front man Joe McHale, praised Leang’s versatility and said that GSM’s objective in writing its more recent songs has been to take advantage of his many talents. The band does so proficiently on songs like “Best Excuse” and “Start Tonight,” during which Leang adds drama and mystery with echoey keys before launching a devastating guitar solo.
It is those fiery leads that add a welcome snarl to the band’s otherwise pristine brand of alt-pop. Gold Star Morning cites Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay and U2 as chief influences (depending on which band member you ask), and they have melded their tastes brightly enough that they would sound at home on a bill with any of those bands. Like a true pop combo, the band lives on the strength of its hooks, with the chorus giving each song its raison d’etre. With a silky voice that bears a resemblance to that of Coldplay’s Chris Martin, McHale is an ideal match for the players around him, and Rodgers, drummer Craig Blinten and bassist Cory Bean pave the kind of steady road needed for driving rock ballads like “Start Tonight” and “NSA.” - www.Playgroundboston.com
Discography
Before The Light EP (2009)
Photos
Bio
Amid brutal winters and sweltering summers, through the sea of taxes and bills upon bills, through break-ups and heartache, and with you through long weekends and long workdays, Gold Star Morning wants to be the new soundtrack to your life.
Formed just over a year ago, the band has quickly immersed itself in the Boston music scene. With the intention of blissfully marrying the best of their influences, the band has created a chiming, shimmering sound. It is the sound of hope amid despair and the mundane.
Led by vocalist Joseph McHale and guitarist Luke Rodgers, the band meandered aimlessly until the addition of bassist Cory Bean in early August of 2008. Distilling his love of pop-punk and channeling it into hypnotic bass lines, the template was set. After a chance meeting at a birthday party, Craig Blinten joined the group the following October. Bringing a jazz sensibility and a seemingly endless well of exploration (both musically and in his late night debauched adventures) Craig was the perfect fit to man the rhythm section. But much like Jordan without Pippin or KG without Pierce, the band felt strong, although not quite where they needed to be. Ben Leang became the point guard the band needed. Driving each song to new sonic levels and adding layers of keys and guitar riffs that were sorely missed, Leang completes GSM’s lineup.
Having tackled nearly every major venue through the greater Boston area, Gold Star Morning stand on the edge of something bigger with the November 2009 release of their debut EP "Before The Light." As the name implies, the band strives to make music that is shelter amid the troubles of your day. Beautifully haunting, cathartic and epic, GSM only knows one size - widescreen.
This is what your life sounds like.
Links
