Good King Friday
Los Angeles, California, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
Kicking off yet another edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we have a band emanating from the left coast, Los Angeles, CA to be exact and we find the unique sounds of Good King Friday. The band consists of Kelly Caldwell on lead vocals and piano, Nathan Caswell on bass and vocals, Patrick Conlon on violin and vocals, Christina Giacona on guitar, clarinet, and vocals, Audrey Synder on cello, and Chris Wakelin on drums. The band's sound can best be described as symphonic rock, with influences of Evanescence and Lacuna Coil thrown in for good mixture and provides a substantial balance all the way throughout. I normally don't cover this genre of music quite too often, but something about their music made me want to keep listening and take notice of the rich melodic landscapes and incredible vocal patterns that set their music apart from their other counterparts in that respective genre. A great band with a host of potential and one that has a ever growing fanbase as we speak. Some songs that are worth checking out include "Breakdown" and "I Know". - Music Box Pete Blog
I'm absolutely in love with the sound of this band. Lush, intimate, and tasty! If you like really well crafted music give these guys a listen. - iTunes - Good King Friday Album
Beautiful voice... so much talent I was touched , felt the passion of the musicians. Bravo!!! - iTunes - Good King Friday Album
Recent commentary on Good King Friday's newly-released album:
Good King Friday is an ambitious new collaboration from six classically-trained rock aficianados with far-flung roots in Oklahoma, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Canada, and equally ecclectic tastes. The group operates as a collective in the classic sense of the word; each member adds an interesting element to the whole. Fantastic harmony, arpeggiated polyrhythms and unique orchestration combine over a bed of minor tonalities and modal melodies with powerful female vocals that tie the entire ensemble together. This is art rock that caters to a new generation that is no longer satiated by guitar rock cliches. Their eponymous album is a feat in duality: cohesive and exciting, technically accomplished and creatively orchestrated, deep but still fun, and all-in-all refreshing.
Listen if you like:
Atonal and classical influence, along with a popular/rock vibe
Insightful lyrics
Sufjan Stevens's and Owen Pallett's lush orchestration - The Cardigan by Alissa Nicole
Discography
Good King Friday (LP)-Self Titled released October 25, 2011
Vents Magazine Compilation CD-release December 2011
Tracks: Simple Choice and Leaving have been featured on Music World Radio, M.I. Net Radio, ARTKAST RADIO, Radio Crystal Blue, xsite radio, Banana Peel Radio, Tranquilizer Radio Records, Vents Magazine and SoundClick.
Photos
Bio
Good King Friday, named after the character from the show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, formed after members of the avant-garde classical group the Los Angeles New Music Ensemble played a show at Spaceland in Silverlake, CA, met up with some long-lost friends, and got down to writing some serious symphonic rock. After seven months of slaving away at writing, arranging, and producing their first album, GKF has something that they hope puts a little extra beauty into the world.
At the album's heart are the connections within the band. Canadian Patrick and Chicagoan Audrey met Los Angeles girl Christina playing rough-and-thorny classical music together at the University of Oklahoma. Christina introduced them her L.A. childhood friends, siblings Kelly and Chris.Kelly, Chris, Christina, and Nathan had attended high school together in Valencia, California, and, after crossing paths for the first time in years at that show in Silverlake, Nathan and Kelly were married to each other a little over a year later. As the band grew author Matt Kolbet, Nathan’s brother-in-law, joined the ranks with his dynamic and thought-provoking lyrics.
Each song on the album sways and shakes to the tune of a dozen different influences filtered through late-night rehearsals and later-night conversations until they all speak with the same unique voice. Arrangements and lyrics and choruses were sent back and forth over email until each song was fully documented through hummed parts, midi takes, scores, scratch tracks, and email chains. All these puzzle pieces and bits of sound and verse came together to make this album something beautiful and new.
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