ARTISTS

Grand Vapids

McKendrick Bearden, Austin Harris, Paul Stevens, Patrick Morales, Chris Goggans (on Guarantees)

Genre: Indie Rock / Folk Rock / Slowcore
Home: Athens, Georgia, USA
Associated Acts: Mothers, Variety Stomp, The Viking Process, Blackrune
For Fans Of: David Bazan & Pedro The Lion, Deerhunter, Low, Galaxie 500, Bedhead, Swervedriver

Press Photos at bottom of page

Biography

Formed in early 2014, Grand Vapids spent the course of a year recording its debut album ‘Guarantees’ with producer and engineer Drew Vandenberg (of Montreal, Deerhunter, Kishi Bashi) at Chase Park Transduction in Athens, GA. On the album, the sonic palette is wide with guitars that are laboriously crafted, a driving rhythm section, and synths that are densely layered and structured. The songs are at once intimate and expansive, exploring a fevered state of fear and wonder. The album was mastered by Joe Lambert (Wye Oak, Sharon Van Etten, Wild Nothing) in NYC.

While Grand Vapids' music could easily satiate the space between Yo La Tengo and Sonic Youth, there is a depth of feeling to these songs that moves beyond nostalgia and pushes the listener toward a state of mind where memory and wonderment intersect. It is a delicate and dense balance on a debut record that finds the band carving out its own musical identity. ‘Guarantees’ was self-released January 20th 2015 digitally worldwide and on limited edition vinyl via the band's own label Mumblecore, as well as on limited edition cassette via Furious Hooves on March 3rd 2015.

Singer and guitarist McKendrick Bearden spoke with PopMatters about the album: “We began writing and recording the songs that would eventually make up ‘Guarantees’ a little over two years ago. During that time we went through a lot of conflict and changes in our personal lives and even had a mutual friend who died. Emotionally, things became chaotic and I don’t think we ever really talked about how we felt with each other. We just kept writing and it became a way for us to control the chaos. As we kept working on songs together, it became evident that we were dealing with the same issues. We didn’t set out to write an album with a theme. There was no plan. We just really enjoyed working on songs together. But in hindsight, however vague or out of context it may be to the listener, a theme is present. On the face of it, this record is about loss, but at the same time it’s about seeking a guarantee, an idea or concept to hold on to that allows you to simultaneously look forward while looking back — something that, quite honestly, is evasive and mostly likely doesn’t exist.”

Grand Vapids’ 2015 debut LP ‘Guarantees’ proved a perfect postcard from the time when they were fresh and lean and full of nothing but beginner's hope, but now, nearly half a decade later, the long-awaited follow-up ‘Eat the Shadow’ presents a band that has resurfaced after dark years of coping with personal tragedy, identity crisis, and dysfunctional relationships. The first sessions for the ‘Rake’ EP and ‘Eat The Shadow’ LP took place while the band was still bursting out of its starting blocks. After dumping the results of these sessions they tried to re-record the tracks in various locations but nothing was saved. Finally, after regrouping and drilling down into clearer realms of focus, the band joined producer David Barbe (The Glands, Drive-By Truckers, Sugar), creating nine tracks of rebirth. Not a gentle sense of being born again into grace but a retaking of the reigns with one's teeth full of grit. Not a sense of ascendence so much as a clawing upward. This is as true for the rational, earth-bound details of the album’s production as it is for the emotional-sphere and depth of its songwriting. Developing out of very personal and difficult experiences, the songs on ‘Eat the Shadow’ tackle themes of identity, self-worth, mental health, and coping with reality. But ultimately, the album’s arc is one of isolation, reconciliation, acceptance, and an underlying optimism of letting go and moving forward. Taken from the press release for ‘Eat the Shadow.’

Grand Vapids have played many notable festivals such as SXSW, Savannah Stopover, Secret Stages, Athens’ Pop Fest, Slingshot Festival and AthFest. They have also shared the stage all around America with other great bands such as, but not limited to, T. Hardy Morris, Drive-By Truckers, Ought, Wild Nothing, Pure Bathing Culture, Mail The Horse, Diet Cig, Shana Falana, and even the ‘Adventures of Pete & Pete’ band Polaris.

Press & Accolades

“The band’s two songwriters’ personalities are distinct but complementary. Bearden’s tales of interpersonal chaos are delivered with David Bazan-like precision, while Austin Harris’ cloudy, layered space-pop vaguely resembles a cross between Bradford Cox’s muscular obfuscations and Lockett Pundt’s gentler work as Lotus Plaza.”
– Flagpole Magazine, review of ‘Guarantees’ LP.

“…they’ve honed a droning take on indie rock in the lineage of Galaxie 500, Low, and fellow Georgians Deerhunter. “Kiln,” from the band’s Drew Vandenberg-produced debut album ‘Guarantees,’ is a fine demonstration of that style, all somnambulant beauty and shimmering, scraping white noise.”
– Stereogum, premiere of “Kiln” from ‘Guarantees’ LP.

“With equal parts driving guitar riffs and catchy hooks, ‘Guarantees’ is an under-the-radar indie rock LP that, well, should be on everyone’s radar. This is approachable yet somewhat distant rock that draws you in with its melancholy brood — a perfect aural companion to have when the winter skies are still grey.”
– PopMatters, premiere of ‘Guarantees’ LP.