There are quite a few things four bored guys sitting around Round Rock, Texas can decide to do; most aren't very productive, some illegal. These four decided to start a rock band. It seemed obvious, really - all the great bands are four- pieces, right? Now to decide who plays what:
Aaron had a guitar, so he was the obvious choice for guitarist, and Chris' father teaches choir, so he became the singer by default. The rhythm section was a bit more difficult - until Chalman purchased a second-hand kit at a pawn shop, followed closely by Austin purchasing a bass. Now to write some songs...
It may seem an odd genesis story, but Manatee somehow avoided all the pitfalls that could destroy such a band - where you might expect to find amateur musicianship, you find odd, brilliant choices perfectly executed; where you might expect average songwriting, you uncover one amazing song after another; where you might expect a halting, tentative live show, you find instead four men, primed with confidence, unleashing their songs on an unsuspecting world.
Musically, Manatee can be tough to describe. Too punk for pop, too rock for emo - they focus on tightly constructed rock songs with compelling lyrics, dynamic change-ups, and a pitch-perfect sense of when it's time to whisper and when it's time to scream.
Manatee has been receiving great press in Austin, including a recent review of their first album Music Is Useless in the Austin Chronicle, a feature about their showcase in the Chronicle's SXSW issue, and they were named best new band by Andy Langer, who also listed their album in his Top Ten of the year. Manatee has also garnered attention from KNVA, Austin's WB station, who are featuring the band in their WB Buzz program online and running a :30 spot on the band. See the press section for full details, reviews, and articles.
Manatee has been receiving regular airplay on both 101.5 and 107.7 of their first single, "A Sound To Spite The Silence," and have been invited numerous times to appear on-air. They have played nearly everywhere in Austin that will let a rock band set up, including The Backroom, Flamingo Cantina, Emo's, Hole in the Wall, Lucy's, Antone's, Red-Eyed Fly and Maggie Mae's. They have played the 101X Home Grown Live series and have toured regionally, playing to enthusiastic crowds from Norman, Oklahoma to Houston.
They have shared the stage with a wide range of bands, including Cruiserweight, Kissinger, The Stereo, Ultimate Fakebook, The Action Is, Dynamite Boy, Vallejo, Recover - just to name a few. Influences range from Jimmy Eat World, Cursive, Midtown, Death Cab For Cutie, to Thursday, Alkaline Trio and The Dismemberment Plan.
Manatee is: Chris Vanlandingham (vocals/guitar), Aaron Franco (guitar/vocals), Austin Orand (bass/vocals) and Chris Chalman (drums).
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