The Tale of 8 Minute Morning
One day in 2002, a boy in Los Angeles became tired of playing instruments in other people's bands. So he decided to leave those bands to form a new musical project. He knew to surround himself with the best musicians he could find and to make the environment truly collaborative. Because the boy knew the best music came from collaboration. In this band, the boy would sing and play guitar.
First, the boy got his brother to join, and play bass. They'd collaborated on music all their lives, and both liked what they'd created together. And, being brothers, they could wear their hearts on their sleeves when collaborating, which may or may not have helped the music. Together, they found a drummer. A very, very good drummer. This drummer was slightly hyperactive, but the boy knew that would give the drummer much drumming stamina. Finally, they found a guitarist. This wasn't just any guitarist, but a creator of unique and vibrant tones. The guitarist didn't much like exercise, so the boy knew he wouldn't run away and join some other band.
They called themselves 8 Minute Morning. And they knew that it was good. They rocked, they grooved, they meshed alternative and progressive forms with melodic backbones. And it stood strong. Better than a mollusk for sure, which has no backbone. And better than, say, something with an exoskeleton, which is more limited in its mobility.
8 Minute Morning began playing venues around Los Angeles, opening up for great acts like dada and Hellride (featuring members of Jane's Addiction and The Minutemen. And they played some benefit shows, like a Habitat for Humanity show in 2002, which felt good to do. They've played sets at the Roxy, (including a Rock the Vote show in '04), The Viper Room, The Whisky, 14 Below, The Hard Rock Café, Brick by Brick (in San Diego), The Cat Club and Goldfingers. And some other venues, too, which probably also started with the word "The".
All the while, the band was recording. Their first EP had five songs, and was self-titled. They all liked what they had done, but continued to push themselves. The second EP is due out in the summer of 2004 and is a pleasing four-song collaborative effort. The boy and the band like these tunes a lot. The new EP had the finishing touch done by legendary mastering artist (and 2003 Grammy Award winner), Bernie Grundman. So the songs sound REALLY good. The band produced the EP along with Peter Gray Mansinne, who helped push them to reach their high potential. Like a producer should.
The drummer was recently asked about the newest songs 8 Minute Morning was writing. He smiled energetically and said, "The birth of new songs in this group is always an exciting and engaging process that almost always has us thinking we are creating our best music yet. Our musical souls are really flowing and this band is getting more and more in command of the music we are creating. The future is very exciting!"
So now you kind of get it when we say he's hyperactive.
As the band continues to grow, the boy continues to smile, together with the brother, the drummer and the guitarist. Because at this point, they pretty much do everything together. Has collaboration gone too far? Download their songs, give them a listen, and decide for yourself.
The boy: Todd Stephany
The brother: Scott Stephany
The drummer: Chris Lee
The guitarist: Dan Kozak
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