Grand Champeen preview

Grand Champeen
Hideout, Chicago
Thursday, May 17, 2007

Grand Champeen, it seems, aren’t fond of computers. At least not for recording purposes. Let us emphasize, because they sure do in their press materials, Grand Champeen’s Dial “T” For This was recorded and mixed directly to tape, and all sounds/instruments heard on the record were created by a living, breathing, human being, not software.

So screw you ProTools! Grand Champeen keep it real, G. Actually, they keep it reel.

So what does this mean for the record, the Austin-based group’s fourth full-length? It’s raw, occasionally sloppy, and overall imperfect, which seems to be precisely what the band were going for. Though they definitely have some Uncle Tupelo in ’em (specifically, frontman/multi-instrumentalist Alex Livingstone who has plenty of Jeff Tweedy in his delivery – Champeen aren’t an alt-country act. Songs like “To The Ideas” and “Can I See You Again” tip the scales far more to the rock side, but these Texans love a good hook (“Take Me Home”) and are suckers for a sugary chorus (“Olivia”) as well – as long as they’re recorded in fucking analog, of course.

Grand Champeen headlines a show that includes IE editor Steve Forstneger-endorsed Two Cow Garage

– Trevor Fisher

Click here to download Grand Champeen’s “Different Sort Of Story.”

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly