72nd and Central
Greenville, South Carolina, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2012 | SELF
Music
Press
72nd and Central is the debut album from 72nd and Central, the "culmination of a ten-year effort by frontman Chapman Suther." A decade's worth of patience and creativity has a lot riding on it, so how does 72nd and Central sound?
"My Weapon of Choice" kicks off the album with a red herring, just a couple of nondescript guitar strums before a blistering wall of sound falls upon the ears. The boys claim Tool, Nirvana, Modest Mouse and Brand New among their influences, and all are heard in this song, from the heavy-ass guitar play to the thick timber of the drumming. The album follows in sonic suit.
The guitar work is aggressive and impressive, sort of reminds me of Sunny Day Real Estate for some reason. Could be the texture, or maybe they just sound similar. The drumming is fantastic on this album, especially the licks on "Does He Know." Grunge is also a huge element on the tracks. The churning guitar riffs, crunchy bass rhythms that threaten to snap your neck and of course the drumming. Seriously the percussion on this album is beastly.
This is biased, (but then, so are all music reviews, right?), but what I enjoyed most about 72nd and Central is how the well the album emulates its influences. True, it doesn't add anything new, but the compositions are tight as hell. The smooth interplay among the musicians on "Mask of the People" adds to the overall feeling of paranoia conveyed by the song. Same with the next track, "This Place is like a Ghost Town," when subdued instrumentation, of less decibel-level than most of the album, build off each other rather than vie for the listener's intention. The result? It is a cohesive, if dirty statement, on the power of rock. - The Equal Ground
[excerpt]
"Their songs are reminiscent of some of the great bands of the 90’s, as one can hear the Nirvana and Pavement influences, and even some of Tool’s ethereal elements. Songs such as “This Place is Like a Ghost Town,” “A Crack in the Mirror,” “Contaminated,” and “My Weapon of Choice,” show that there were some folks out there who were smart enough to avoid the pop-punk, rap-metal, nu-metal bullshit that spewed forth from the radio all those years ago, and take their influences from the previous generation’s better bands, while not being copycats, and pushing the boundaries of their style of rock." - Wordkrapht, Greenville SC
[excerpt]
"Even the band’s choices of covers are eclectic — the Black Keys, the White Stripes, Modest Mouse, The Beatles — but it’s the original tracks, all seven of them on the band’s self-titled release, that showcase the group’s teamwork, as well as Suther’s world-weary vocals and melodic guitar playing. There’s a rough edge to 72nd and Central that’s intentional, giving the songs a ragged finish that speaks of both hunger and desperation, the sort of sounds made by an eager young band barely able to contain its energy, its plans and its sound." - The Daily Times, Maryville TN
Discography
"72nd and Central"
Independent Release, 2013
Photos
Bio
72nd and Central is the musical vision of Birmingham native Chapman Suther, who began playing live in Birmingham, AL in 2003. Before cementing the band's lineup, Suther carried his style through several band formations, and an extensive record of solo acoustic appearances, which spanned from Atlanta, GA to Las Vegas, NV and nearly everywhere in between.
Upon relocating to Greenville,SC after college, Suther looked for other musicians to keep with own signature "Classic Alternative Indie Acoustic Metal Rock" theme, and he found the missing pieces necessary to bring this to life in bandmates Joshua Padgett (bass/vocals) and Mike Adcox(drums) and they formed 72nd and Central (2012). The band combines the drive, angst, and power of Nirvana and Tool, with the free-spirited folk-punk of Modest Mouse, the emotional resonance of Brand New, and the pure-rock honesty of the Foo Fighters.
In its first year, 72nd and Central set out determined, playing at local venues and meeting and mingling with other aspiring local bands. Through its focused and attentive approach, the band further gained traction with area music fans and also appeared on local media outlets such as local media blogs, “We Are The Upstate,” and “WordKrapht,” and on 93.3 The Planet, appearing twice on it’s Upstate Unsigned radio program. 72nd and Central has received intermittent airplay on WNCW, WSBF Clemson, and WUTK Knoxville. The band has played such festivals as Fall For Greenville 2014, Thomas Creek Brewery’s 15th Anniversary Celebration, BeAtlanta’s “BeATHlanta Music Festival” in Athens, Georgia, and HeyLook Festival 2015, as well as hosting a benefit for the South Carolina Ovarian Cancer Foundation at the famous Handlebar in Greenville, SC. They have also shared the stage with such notable acts as Grown Up Avenger Stuff (Charlotte, NC), The Boxing Lesson (Austin, TX), J and the 9‘s (NYC) and Swank Sinatra (Atlanta, GA).
On September 7th, 2013 the band released its self-titled debut album which was recorded by Jared Burger at Greenville based 3 Big Guy Studios, and mastered by Randy Garcia at Ruby Sound Studios in Atlanta GA. Following this album were two singles, "Drift..." in April of 2014, and "Patience," in December 2014.
Band Members
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