For the members of Grade School, graduating from electronic pop to a rock style is a natural progression.
The Athens indie-rock outfit formed last year playing electronic pop, but three of the band-mates have actually known one another since elementary school.
Guitarist Jack Laskey, singer/guitarist Pete Larson, drummer Zach Evans and bassist Connor Gaughan are all from Fairview, Ohio. Then Laskey and Larson met pianist Maddie Brennan of Dublin, Ohio, and guitarist Andy DeVelvis of Sidney, Ohio, in Lincoln Hall their freshman year and formed Grade School.
The band became more serious when Evans moved to Athens from Fairview to attend Hocking College and the band could utilize their drummer full time. But don't be fooled: The band's recent music sounds different from a year ago.
I think lately we have been going outside of what we play and trying new things
Larson said. We started off playing electronic pop and we realized that wasn't what we wanted to do and started playing more of a rock type.
This musical change came swiftly to the band one fateful night last spring.
We played the worst show of our lives in Dayton Larson said. We were just hammered and not into it and messed up like 100 times so from then on we swore we would never play any of those songs ever again. We threw those songs away and started fresh.
Inspired by bands such as The National, Bon Iver and Rogue Wave, Grade School recently recorded a new five-song EP, yet to be named.
We recorded it in Akron
and Pete's cousin produced it. We need money to press it
so hopefully it will be released soon
Laskey said.
Along with branching out with new music, this latest EP also covers new lyrical ground.
There isn't a single love song on it
Larson said. I write all the lyrics
and I used to write a lot about love but these songs are about friends and good weekends
not sad love songs.
Until their EP can be released, the band hones its sound by playing in its unique practice space.
We just built a tent in our apartment's living room out of sheets
Larson said. It contains three amps
guitars
