Richmond

Sometimes it’s best to just let the music do the talking.

Amid a retro-rock revolution, lo-fi outfits like The Strokes, The White Stripes and The Hives get credit for inventing a style of music that was around decades before the members of any of these bands were even born. Enter Richmond; a New York city-based psychedelic/guitar rock band comprised of singer/songwriter Derek Richmond (vocals/guitar), drummer Peter Rosch, and brothers Sam and Claremont Taylor (bass and lead guitar respectively). Taking the old school approach a few giant steps beyond the garage to create something uniquely familiar rather than just copying the sound of every other successful band, Richmond aren’t terribly concerned for how they fit the current musical climate. Through expert musicianship and strong songwriting, their music is both timely and timeless, as evidenced by a self-titled debut that fully represents the laser-sharp creative vision, intense chemistry and wild talent of a band set to provide sweet salvation from a present-day maddening quest to redefine the middle of the road. As Derek puts it, "I think fans of Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, Violent Femmes, and Wilco would be very pleased to have the Richmond CD in their collection."

Richmond’s collective influences range from ’80s metal to the eclectic indie rock scene of Portland, to classical music, and a fine mix of Morphine, Nirvana, Echo and The Bunnymen, Stone Roses, Pixies, Sex Pistols, Television, Whiskey Town, and Hank Williams Sr. The list is quite dizzying, but one listen to the music of Richmond reveals the combination is a fairly potent elixir.

Based on a demo recording of "Stratosphere" and "New Taste," Richmond inked a deal with Celebrity Hotwax Records. Over seven days in August at Atomic Recording studio in the bohemian Brooklyn neighborhood known as DUMBO, Richmond secured their rock magic on tape as the band’s many diverse influences crystallized: hear the spirit of Frank Black and The Pixies that haunts "Stratosphere," groove to the way "New Taste" recalls garage rock progenitors The Sonics, recognize the essence of The Velvet Underground’s "Pale Blue Eyes" in the fading guitars of "From Far Away," swoon to the wash of distorted guitars (think: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) buoying the sweet romantic melancholy of "Christina." It's all there.

With Richmond set for release on March 11, and the band scheduled to play the SXSW Music festival in Austin that week, Derek, Sam, Peter, and Claremont are focused on promoting the record, meeting fans, touring, and writing new material. "We've got gigs coming up in the City (the band plays The Mercury Lounge and Knitting Factory on a regular basis) and we’re working out some new songs for the set and the next album. It's such a huge, diverse scene here in NYC. I don't know where we fit in locally, but locals like our music. Right now we're just another band that people may or may not have heard of, but we want to keep making fun records, tour the world… and to be able to pay the rent while doing it."

Now it’s your turn. Listen to the band.