The ceilings are low, the gear is piled high and the band is sitting on a couch listening to the final mix of their new album. Smiles of unanimous approval appear as their unique blend of riff-driven guitar rock and vintage R&B flow from the speakers. This is the unveiling of an intriguing new genre they proudly boast as "Progressive Soul Music." Any ideas one might have of what a Nashville band should look or sound like simply don’t apply.
Colin, the lead singer and guitarist, looks more like a yoga instructor or liberal arts professor than the classically trained virtuoso he's become. On first listen to Colin’s singing one can only assume he has a righteous collection of 60's Soul and R&B records stashed somewhere in his apartment. As for the remaining two, twin brothers Ryan and Paul share a connection that most drum and bass duos work years to solidify. Seeing these two sitting side by side in a near mirror image of one another unveils the mystery of how this band maneuvers so fluidly through the improvisational moments that makes their live shows so memorable.
Thinking Plyers' music is rooted in familiar melodies and textures, interlaced with surprising combinations of rhythms and sounds from a variety of genres. Their love-soaked lyrics and keen instrumental intuition create a genuine spiritual element, transporting the listener to a place where hearts are warmed, smiles are formed and positivity prevails. Hints of psychedelia and East Indian ragas weave in and out of their live shows, but the danceable grooves maintained throughout keep audiences on their feet and screaming for more.
The band formed in Lake Charles, Louisiana while the three friends were in middle school. Spending the mid- 90’s writing songs in a backyard beauty shop and listening to the likes of Dave Matthews Band, Steely Dan and Van Morrison, the boys formed a style that focuses on constant change and evolution. "We always try to find new sounds and ideas when we write", states Colin, "After fourteen years of playing together, change and movement are the key to keeping it fresh."
Thinking Plyers have spent the past decade and a half putting out their own records, booking their own tours, managing their own press and building a solid fan base from Austin to Asheville. Now calling Nashville home, they are on the verge of releasing their most ambitious album yet. Gnostic Love Songs was recorded at their own Aeolia House Studios in 2006. It is the result of ten years of writing around a common musical and lyrical theme, chronicling the trials and tribulations of a fictional character curiously named Linus. "On previous records, we explored a broad range of styles, but with Gnostic Love Songs, we made a conscious effort to focus on the common elements of these songs. We wanted to create a unified soundscape as opposed to a dizzying cacophony of styles," claims Ryan. "Yeah, I feel like the new record is simply the best of what we do. These songs are at the core of who we are as a band," comments Paul.
Look for Thinking Plyers as they plan to bring Gnostic Love Songs and their thrilling live show to their loyal fans throughout the southeast US and beyond. |
