Tuesday, February 12, 2008

ISSUE 17 - MAN THINKING


P5 is more than just a letter and a number. P5 is a small, sweltering hole in the wall cluttered with empty drink bottles, amps, miscellaneous instruments, effects pedals, Christmas lights, and posters. Yet, P5 is also the “womb” for the embryonic band, Man Thinking.
The term “embryonic” is not descriptive of anything other than their short five months of existence. Within these past five months Man Thinking has grown from a one man looping project into a three man, multi-instrumental compilation, or in the words of the actual band members, “just some dudes playing some music.” These “some dudes” are Bryan Keller, Jarrod Drobot, and Daniel Beech. Bryan, the original seed, coined the band’s name out of a reference to an Emerson speech read in high school.
“The speech was about ‘thinking for yourself,’ thinking in terms of circles, rather than inside of a box,” Bryan revealed. “It just sort of related to the fact that we’re all self-taught musicians and how looping is all about circles.”
Man Thinking reveals both a thought and musical process outside any sort of rectangular confinement. Influenced by bands like Do/Make/Say/Think, Cinematic Orchestra, and Minus The Bear, their electronic, experimental, and ambient approach to music is a breath of fresh air in a town polluted with hardcore, metal, and balls to the wall rock and roll bands.
“We definitely pride ourselves in creating a bunch of different songs with different sounds and different instruments. There is no ‘set’ style to our music. We’re just constantly evolving,” Bryan further explained.
Not only does Man Thinking pride themselves on being different, but in finding ways to improve. “We are a young band, still rough around the edges so we definitely have room for improvement,” said Jarrod.
Currently the band is seeking improvement by incorporating more instruments as well as learning more about recording. At the Halloween show held at The Soapbox, they introduced a new song they’ve currently been working on at practice. The reaction was a room full of swaying heads, tapping feet, drumming fingers and numerous compliments.
However appreciative the band is of compliments, they explain that the most gratifying experience is coming up with a new song. “It feels much better writing a song than getting a bunch of compliments,” said Daniel.

Their stage performance is unique in that the band members will switch instruments with different songs. Daniel moves between bass and the trombone. Brian plays guitar and drums. No one is at the front, the music is. There’s an aura to their music, a deep mood that moves over the listener, and that style of music is created onstage seemingly from scratch.
Nevertheless, the guys still thoroughly enjoy putting on a show and generating a good vibe among the crowd. “There’s a great feeling when people turnout,” admitted Jarrod, “It’s the best communion when you’re sharing your music with others.”
Making music, learning about music, and sharing music seem to be the main driving forces among Daniel, Brian, and Jarrod. Much like other creative outlets such as art, filmmaking, writing, and photography, their love of music and its creation comes from an internal feeling. As Jarrod explained, “Music is the only art form that truly resonates feeling from the actual experience.”


- Hilary Walker

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