How does a successful
band, with thousands of devoted fans, hundreds of amazing
live shows, a debut that shattered all expectations and spectacular
musical skill follow-up its debut? The answer is simply The
Question. Emery’s second album for Tooth & Nail, The
Question has already exceeded expectations — in
fact, the release debuted in August 2005 at #45 on the Billboard Top
200 Albums chart, and to date, has sold over 130,000 albums,
with no let up in sales. No easy feat for a band that,
just four years ago, had barely formed.
Emery’s roots can be traced back to Rock Hill, South
Carolina, where members Toby Morrell, Devin Shelton, Matt
Carter and recently departed member Chopper, all attended
the same university. The four had been playing in separate
bands at the time while in college, and upon graduation decided
to form what would become Emery. Soon after forming, the
group opted to leave their South Carolina hometown, and to
settle in Seattle.
“We wanted a change of lifestyle,” says Devin. “We
grew up in South Carolina and we really didn’t see
a future as a band there. We really knew we had to move somewhere,
to a place with a definite music scene.”
The group departed from South Carolina in the early hours
of September 11, 2001 and learned of that morning’s
tragedies while at a food stop in North Carolina. It was
an intense situation for the nation, and Emery were understandably
affected by the tragedies, bringing members emotionally closer
to one another while on their journey westward.
Adding keyboardist Josh Head, Emery began playing locally
in their new hometown and spent a year writing songs for
their debut album. “We got to the point where it was
like, we need a real, tangible record, so we can give it
to a label and say, ‘Here, we have this, please release
it,’” Devin says.
In 2003, Emery tracked their debut, dubbed The Weak’s
End, with producer Ed Rose. Self-financing the operation,
the band knocked out the sessions in a rapid two weeks.
After the sessions wrapped, Emery hit the road on smaller,
regional touring stints and performed at festivals. Upon
returning to Seattle, the group finalized their deal with
Tooth & Nail and released The Weak’s End in
January 2004.
After tour dates with bands like Hawthorne Heights and Eighteen
Visions, Emery was back in Seattle, penning tracks for their
second Tooth & Nail album. In 2004, Emery’s previous
drummer had left the act to get married, so the group enlisted
the talents of 19-year-old drummer Dave Powell, whose previous
band had played with Emery while in North Carolina. The group
spent five weeks recording with producer Aaron Sprinkle (MXPX,
Pedro The Lion) in early 2005. The end result was The
Question, a more diverse album than The Weak’s
End, most notably with a striking balance of delicate
melodies and uncompromising muscle.
Part of The Question’s sonic direction stems
from a wide array of listening inspirations. Devin notes
that Morrell’s Queen influences led him to pen “Listening
To Freddie Mercury,” a song that’s a veritable
roller coaster of musical ideas. “It starts out fast
and heavy, and then changes to an almost Willy Wonka, Charlie
And The Chocolate Factory feel,” says Devin. “It’s
a dance-y, weird, magical kind of thing.” “Left
With Alibis and Lying Eyes” moves carefully at its
start, only to unleash a chorus that’s equally catchy
as it is up-tempo. “The first part reminds me of an
old Led Zeppelin song, like a slow kind of build,” says
Devin. “Then the chorus hits and it’s full blast
all the way through.” Emery’s timeless intensity
can also be spotted on tracks like “Returning The Smile
You Have Had From The Start,” sporting synchronized,
driving rhythms and epic choruses.
In the summer of 2005, Emery headlined the Smartpunk stage
of the Vans Warped Tour, performing on the entire
summer-long event. Visually differentiating themselves from
the multitudes of look-alike acts, Emery opted to wear matching
outfits. “It’s goofy, it’s fun and the
festival’s so crazy, it’s like, how do you tell
one band from the other?” says Devin. “It helps
makes us stand out a little more. You can’t take yourself
too seriously.”
Nevertheless, Emery appears serious about their accomplishments,
forging ahead, delivering distinctive sounds to both stages
and stereos. “We’re totally blown away,” says
Devin, in regards to the band’s recent success, “we
can’t believe it.” And as for an answer to The
Question, simply pressing play will likely offer the
best response.
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