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WHAT: Seattle rock band featuring Tim McCormack (vocals), Jeff Adams and Keith Louisell (guitars), Cameron Lewis (bass) and Dave Decker (drums)
CAREER DEBUT: Seattle 2005. Less than a year later, the band was invited to play at the 2006 Layne Staley tribute concert at The Showbox.
SOUND: Melodic, cutting-edge hard rock. Surface Tension has performed with national acts Gary Hoey, Army of Anyone, Saliva, Floater and Adema
NEWS: Surface Tension has been nominated as best "breakthrough artist" in the college radio category at the New Music Weekly Awards. Winners will be announced Nov. 10 in Hollywood, Calif. The band's debut album, "Consciously Clones," is No. 12 on NMW's college chart.
QUOTE: "We made the largest jump of a new band all year," Tim McCormack says of Surface Tension's chart action, in a blog on the band's MySpace page. "We went from 40 to 21 on the chart overnight. (At the awards) I'm talkin' red carpet, after party and a bunch of celebs and labels and radio people and everybody. Like seriously, it's televised and the whole bit. Gwen Stefani and Fergie and Tim McGraw -- and me in my tuxedo T-shirt."
RELEASE: "Consciously Clones," Surface Tension's debut CD, was produced and engineered by Martin Feveyear of Jupiter Studios. "Bed of Nails" is included on KISW's "Harder, Faster, Louder Vol. 4" compilation. "Start Over" is featured on KZOK's "Write a Bleepin' Song" compilation. Songs from the album helped the band win first place in the KISW/B.J. Shea American Idiot Contest.
WHERE TO LISTEN: myspace.com/surfacetensionmusic
NEXT PERFORMANCE: With rock bands Stomping Grounds and Windowpain Saturday night at 9 at The Central Saloon, 207 First Ave. S. Information: 206-622-0209 or centralsaloon.com. Tickets: $10.
-- Gene Stout
- Gene Stout
Surface Tension, interviewed for the KISW American Idiot Competition. Received the highest listener call-in rating, scoring a perfect ten. “You guys came in here and scored like Russian Gymnasts” (Steve the Producer 99.9). One of the Judges was Debbi Lepitz of Epic Records who asked for a chance to hear more of their songs to pass on to the local A&R representative. Surface Tension will play the Annual Hangover Ball as a result of winning this contest and have their song featured on a compilation album. - Radio Station
Surface Tension wins the KISW American Idiot Competition and headlines Neumo’s with the other top two finalists, Temperedcast and Counterfist. This show was given an incredible amount of promotion by KISW and the turn-out was wonderful. “This is the only band I spoke up about during the competition and said ‘hey this is good’…” (Double R 99.9). Surface Tension will go on to open for the annual KISW Hangover Ball as a result of winning this competition and will be featured on the KISW Louder Faster Stronger CD put out by the station every year. - Radio Station
Nancy McCallum, mother of Layne Staley of Alice and Chains and founder of the Layne Staley Committee and annual Benefit concert showed, her support by taking a ferry on a weekday to be present for their show and invited them officially to play at the Benefit by unanimous vote from the committee. “Where have you been hiding? Honestly…this is the best band I have ever heard!” (Nancy McCallum). At a future show at the Showbox, Nancy McCallum introduces Surface Tension as her “favorite new local band”. - Nancy McCallum
Discography
Consciously Clones-Released 2007
Tracks Currently Being Played On Radio:
Start Over
Bed Of Nails
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Photos
Bio
Surface Tension is a Seattle rock band that's a classic example of what happens when you combine just the right amount of raw musical talent, determination, charisma, business savvy and chemistry to produce a mature, yet current sound that makes rock fans, radio stations and the music industry stand up and take notice.
Guitarists Jeff Adams and Keith Louisell, bassist Cameron Lewis and drummer Dave Decker have been writing songs and performing together in various local groups, honing their craft. But it wasn't until the final piece of the puzzle was found, on a camping trip to Getty's Cove in 2005, when they really took off. Tim McCormack was that missing piece.
Surface Tension has found itself propelled forward at a momentous speed. Shortly after making their public debut, the group was recognized by Layne Staley Fund and Layne's Mom, Nancy McCallum in 2006. They were honored with an invitation to play at the 2006 Tribute & Benefit concert, held annually in Layne's honor.
With just a handful of shows under their belt, they entered and won first place on KISW's B.J. Shea's American Idiot Contest. This contest highlighted Seattle's top talent and was judged by both industry panel and public vote. As a result, Surface Tension was selected to open the KISW's Holiday Hangover Ball, sharing the stage with Saliva and Army of Anyone.
They were pictured on the cover of the premier edition of Alternative World Fanzine Magazine and in a four-page interview with a show review. This issue also includes a recap of both the Layne Staley Tribute and the KISW Holiday Hangover Ball.
Surface Tension's first self-financed, full-length CD, 'Consciously Clones' was produced and engineered by Martin Feveyer of Jupiter Studios and mastered by Vlado Meller at Sony Music Studios, New York.
In their first year, the band is featured on two compilation CDs. Their songs appear on both KISW's "Harder Faster Louder Volume Four", and "KZOK's Write a Bleepin' Song CD", sold at Silver Platters.
The year 2007 kicked off with a sold-out show at the Showbox Market for the bands CD release party. They were then asked to provide regional tour support for national act Adema. That summer Surface Tension continued to play near capacity shows such as Hempfest and the Puyallup Fair.
Also that summer Surface Tension began an intensive 8 WEEK radio campaign through the U.S. (as well as Australian radio stations). National airplay throughout the country paid off. The band was received well and placed in the Hot AC charts at 37.
They were also notably received in cross-genre formats across the country, jumping into positions on Country, Hot AC, College Radio, Mainstream. Surface Tension's song "Start over" jumped 80 slots in just a few weeks on New Music Weekly’s College Radio charts. It was the college radio stations that really received a buzz. "Start Over" shot to number 2 on college radio stations in Long Beach, CA. and in New York City (these two radio stations collectively air to over 25 million listeners).
The massive overnight jump on the charts earned the band the award for 2007 College Radio Breakthrough Artist of the Year. In November 2007, the band flew to Los Angeles and performed at the New Music Weekly Awards ceremony held at the Avalon theatre in Hollywood.
They continue to have full support of several large Seattle radio stations, with in-studio interviews on KISW's Loud and Local with Jolene and air time on 99.9 KISW, 104.9 The Funky Monkey and 102.5 KZOK.
Surface Tension is currently seeking professional management and label representation.
Surface Tension have performed with the following National Acts:
Gary Hoey
Army of Anyone
Saliva
Floater
Adema
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