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Before They Were Famous: The Harlequins
Before They Were Famous exposes Austin musicians playing under the radar. You haven't heard of them ... unless your brother is in the band.
Meet The Harlequins. They're indie and they're Austin, but there's something else. Representing the epitome of raw sound and hearty emotion, their folky beats seep into the pores of everything present during a live performance. Setting up their tunes on a creative territory amid American electric rock and indie rock's mellowest tunes, the Harlequins formed in 2007. The group — vocalist/keyboardist Hunter Bates, guitarist Joe Mader and drummer Tyler Wiethorn - touch on influences as varied as '80s jangle pop to the sonic experimentation of Wilco, the Wrens, and My Morning Jacket.
Why they do it:
Bates started his musical career with punk-influenced bands, but his vocal range and tender heart found a higher calling within The Harlequins. For Bates, music isn't just something he does, it's who he is. "[A friend told me] there are two types of musicians; those who do it because there’s just nothing better to do (and maybe to get girls), and those who make music, because if they don’t something inside of them dies. That’s the type I am," Bates said. "I feel like our music has an emotional immediacy people can feel. The songs I write mean something to me, and people feel that when we play them. We use pop as a kind of accessible medium for a more original message," Bates said. Watching him sing is like watching a butterfly emerge from its cocoon. Bates looks at home nestled at the keyboard with a mic. "I feel like because I’m kind of soft spoken most the time and introverted, it’s where I get to show my character and express myself to the world," Bates explained.
The group weaves a beautiful autonomy of eclectic folk and classic rock, touching on earthy campfire harmonies. In a synth-obsessed era, it's a sweet relief to hear such simplistic melodies made original with poetic lyrics and creative guitar riffs. "We want to bring melodies back to rock and roll. So much rock and roll today has no melody, just all sorts of guitar effects and tricks and there’s just no substance," Mader said. "We don’t want to be gaudy, and try to keep things simple and let the melody rule."
What's in store for the future:
The group is in a transitional phase and seeking a bassist to replace Bill Stevenson (of the soul outfit Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears). They typically play at venues like Mohawk, Hole in the Wall and Club de Ville, where they have a cult-like following. The Harlequins are currently hard at work on their debut EP with hopes of spreading their music further.
"We think our music is good, we think people could like it, and we just want the chance for as many people possible to hear it," Weithorn said. "We’re invested in this together for the long term, and hope that we could have a good run of playing good shows."
Best bets:
"Seldom Times" : Absolutely perfect song to slow dance to in the rain. Nuff said.
"Sink or Swim" : Bates' voice is in full throttle, with a killer classic rock guitar melody and flecks of whimsical piano riffs.
The Harlequins [MySpace]
