Archeology band mates, Daniel Walker and Jason Davis, have had quite a busy year. The pair released five EPs in the last year, and are now celebrating the release of their first LP, Memorial, out March 16th.
The interesting thing about Archeology is not necessarily their sound, but the story they tell in their songs. The two vocalists met at an archaeological research site in Eastern Washington. They discovered that they shared not only a love of ancient artifacts, but of music. They also were surprised to find out how similar their backgrounds were. Both were sons of preacher men, suffering from what they describe as “hypocrisy and malevolence” at the hands of the Christian church.
They sing about their journey from men of faith to men of science in songs like “By the By” (which you can check out here) and “Altar Song.” They might have lost their faith, but they haven’t lost their altar boy sound, and many of their songs have an a cappella, solemn tone to them. The band shines when they steer away from the dreary, though, and show their fun side, like in the drum-heavy “White Walls” and the catchy “New San Salvador.”
These guys have impressive writing skills, and clearly enjoy discovering themselves and their musical style, but I’m not sure if they have quite pinpointed just what that is yet.
You can catch Archeology’s album release party on Saturday, March 20th at Backspace with Yarn Owl, The Ocean Floor, Oh Captain, My Captain, and Autopilot is for Lovers. $7, 8 p.m.
– Deanna Uutela