FIVES

FIVES is a Baltimore MD band with an eye towards the national spotlight. They make modern pop with a lush perfect sound that is fresh but at the same time harkens back to 80s artists such as Tears for Fears. The video below is a send-up of stark visual images that remind the viewer of 80s brand storytelling but with a modern twist on love. - Huffington Post

FIVES' appearance on Good Day Baltimore - FOX45

Baltimore band kick out the pop jams on new single. - MySpace.com

FIVES is dynamic indie-pop-rock group hailing from Baltimore, MD with a chart-ready sound created by a lineup of five amazing artists: Marc Cashin, Lead Vocals; Matthew White, Keyboards; Nate Lanzino, Lead Guitar; Max Rosenstein, Bass; Billy Toti, Drums. Since the release of their debut EP, FIVES have been gaining national momentum performing to standing room only crowds at Austin's SXSW & Music Festival and opening for national touring acts such as O-Town and The Vespers. The EP 'Heart & Thunder' lives up to it's name as FIVES will take you by storm with meaningful songs and superior musicianship.

Starting with the title track, "Heart & Thunder," it is immediately apparent that FIVES are not your run of the mill pop-rock band. Yes, this is pop music, but it is not ordinary; it is extraordinary. Each member of the band is an excellent musician/performer and together, they are spectacular. The song opens up with some catchy vocal harmonies then Marc sings the opening line,"Wait a minute...I swear I've seen you before." Marc has all the makings of a great front man. He is an awesome singer who possesses a clear and natural tone; his voice is smooth and passionate without being over-the-top making his singing easy to listen and relate to. The background vocals, "heart, heart, heart and thunder" enhance the overall flavor of the song. The composition is excellent and stays interesting from the first note to the last without relying on cliches. Kudos to Nate Lanzino for a tasteful guitar solo that fits perfectly for the song. Check out the video of Heart & Thunder. It's a great introduction to the band's talent and performance charisma.

"Lovers in Lullaby" is the fourth track on the EP. This song has a slightly more alternative vibe with with sophisticated melodic and percussive motifs throughout, held together by the tight rhythmic playing of Billy Toti and Max Rosenstein. "I see what's on your mind. You and me lovers in lullaby. Neon Lights burn out bright." There is a nice bridge that builds with intensity. Marc demonstrates his full range in the song hitting and holding some great high notes before the song settles back into the chorus. "Lovers in Lullaby" demonstrates the ability of the band to write and play outside the box; in "Lovers in Lullaby," FIVES show that they are a band to take very seriously.

Next up is "You Go On." It opens with very nice harmonic chordal work on the keys (by Matthew White) and some percussive beats that set up a soulful groove. The song is about finding your way back to someone. It is very catchy and memorable, definitely hit material. For an additional bonus, there is a 32-bar instrumental section that is a complete composition within itself; it builds, showcases a great guitar solo with melodic keys, and winds out with some perfectly placed drum rolls before leading us to the songs ending. Marc's vocal performance never fails; he has just the right sound for this genre.

The last song of mention is "I Gave Myself A Day (To Think About You). Changing up the pace, this song is a ballad with modern lyrics that listeners can definitely connect with. "I gave myself a day to think about you,to think about all the one night lies that we went through and I'm losing my mind and drinking tonight alone'cause instead of loving me you at the beach taking pictures of your feet with your phone" Like many of FIVES songs there is a great groove and moving solos, moments to say "wow" throughout. "I Gave Myself A Day (To Think About You) is an intimate and engaging song, "You keep on pulling me down. I keep falling somehow" that will draw audiences in.

In Heart & Thunder, FIVES were motivated to create a collection of songs that spoke to the complexities of love, the "heart" of emotion and the "thunder" of conflict and struggle found in the humanity of our relationships. FIVES achieved their vision of creating meaningful music and they achieved much, much more; Many bands can put out meaningful love songs, but not any band can do it with the musical genius that the FIVES have displayed in this EP and this will surely garnish respect from fans of all genres and lead them to very big things. Heart & Thunder can be purchase on iTunes. You can learn more about FIVES at their website. - Noteworthy Music Reviews

Charm City alternative rockers FIVES have released what may be the best end of summer alternative rock EPs with, Heart & Thunder. Band members Marc Cashin (vox, guitar), Matthew White (keys, vox), Nate Lanzino (vox, guitar), Jake Tate (bass), and Billy Toti (drums) are on their way to a stellar music career if they stick together and weather the turbulence that is the indie music world. One listen to Heart & Thunder and you’ll know what I mean.

LYRICALLY: The song melodies are stellar, but the lyrics are even better. Throughout the entire EP we hear FIVES focusing on the various ways we as humans show our love for one another. Whether its eros, agape, philia, or storge, Heart & Thunder delves into the deep complexities of our emotions and how they are affected by the experiences we share with those we choose to do life with. While I like all of the songs on this EP, my favorite in the songwriting department is “My Gravity” because, it touches on the ups and downs, the fears and doubts, and the willingness to go through the flames if it means we can remain in connection with the ones we love. This shows the depth of the writer’s thoughts, and their fearlessness when it comes to being vulnerable and confessing his imperfections. “My Gravity” is a very well written song by FIVES.

MUSICALLY: As a record producer and musician, this is the area in which I am often the most critical of bands. But, to tell you the truth…I absolutely dig the entire release’s production. Every track is upbeat, and from the compositions and musicianship to the final mixes and sound design, you get nothing but extreme professionalism. I have nothing but praises to sing about FIVES for their work in this area on Heart & Thunder, and I doubt that any serious music fan or musician – regardless of personal preferences – will find any blaring flaws in this EP’s production.

VOCALLY: The vocal performances given by Marc, Matthew, and Nate are just as good as any Grammy-winning alternative rock band we’ve seen. The lead vocalist delivers every song in the right tone for the subject matter, and the backing vocals are well produced and performed. I would be lying if I said that you’re going to be blown away by the vocal range of the singers in FIVES, but I’d also be remiss if I didn’t say that these guys are still pretty dang good. - Review By: Shaine Freeman, Music Editor, I Am Entertainment

FIVES
"Time after time, FIVES moves each audience with their electric swagger. One of the best bands to come out of Baltimore in a long time."


"You Go On" -
"Cashin's voice SOARS on this infectious rock ballad."
"A career defining track."


"My Gravity"
"You can't help but groove a little." - Nick Frisone, Baltimore Media Blog

We talked to FIVES about New EP and what’s coming up in 2016!

With the release of their new EP for “Heart & Thunder” it’s easy to see why this band is garnering so much buzz. Just listen to the previews! This band absolutely bucks the trend in the current indie scene! The songs are lush and beautiful. Each in their own endearing way. And every track stands out in EVERY single way. This is a band that is made up of seasoned songwriters and honed musicians.

We got to chat with FIVES about “Heart & Thunder“, what they got in store for the rest of 2016, and a little bit about what inspires them musically, with their talent, their kindness, and their drive – we know we’re just seeing the beginning for FIVES.

Tell us a bit about yourselves, (your names, ages, where you’re from…) Is there a story behind your band name FIVES?

Marc Cashin, lead singer, Baltimore, MD
Matt White, keyboards, Washington, DC
Nate Lanzino, lead guitar, Annapolis, MD
Billy Toti, drums, Pearl Harbor, HI
Jake Tate, bass, middle of nowhere VA

FIVES: The story behind the band name is pretty boring. We let everyone put 3 suggestions into a hat and we drew one random name. It just happened to be FIVES. But it could have been Chimp Overboard or Mourning Would. We may have escaped some pretty bad names come to think of it!

How and when did you get started in the music and music industry?

FIVES: Marc and Matt have been playing music together for close to 9 years. We actually met in a different band and branched off to start something new. Matt was in 3 other bands previously – Harbor Lights (contemporary jazz) and Johnny Microwave & the Leftovers (50’s & 60’s rock’n’roll), and used to write music jingles for radio. He studied music composition at Indiana University. Nate is the co-owner of a recording studio called SongBuilder Studios, and has played in a ton of groups from bluegrass to metal. Billy and Jake have been in bands previously.


How would you describe your music, unique sound to those who have yet to listen and appreciate your creative talent?

FIVES: Our music has a lot of influences and the new EP definitely reflects some diversity in sound. We all come from very different musical backgrounds and grew up listening to different styles of music. We didn’t set out to sound like anything or anyone in particular but we’ve done a good job of blending what we each individually love to play. There is a combination of alt rock, pop, acoustic, maybe a dash of 80’s synth and a bit of R&B. Its a mostly an uplifting energetic album with themes about relationships – but even the songs that deal with the struggle to make relationships work aren’t sad or depressing.

You’ve just released your new EP Heart & Thunder how does it feel now that it’s out?

FIVES: It’s been a year of hard work and mixed emotions. There were moments of frustration and moments of excitement. It feels good to have that part over, but now its out there in the world and the responsibility to promote it is almost more overwhelming than the work that went into creating it. The real work is just beginning!

Who and what were your influences when making this record?

FIVES: We knew that this EP was a chance for us to grow as musicians and as a band in general. We wanted to showcase our ability but it was also important for us to write songs that are relevant to what’s happening today in music. There were a strange mixture of influences on this album: Mumford & Sons, Smallpools, X Ambassadors, Saint Raymond, The 1975, Modest Mouse, Phoenix, St. Lucia, Walk the Moon … you can probably hear a little bit of each of those artists in what we recorded.

You’ve got a strong presence on social media, which is your favourite platform to connect with fans? (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)

FIVES: We use Facebook a lot – that seems to be where we get the most fan connection. We started Instagram less than a year ago, so we are still trying to build a following – we try and do some more fun and casual stuff with the band there.

FIVES Official Facebook Page

You work so hard and you’re clearly very passionate about your career, what’s fun for you outside of music?
FIVES: Oh geez – collectively we all have different hobbies but do we have time for much else outside of music?!

Which artists are you listening to and enjoying at the moment?

Matt: Right now I am really digging COIN’s new single “Talk to Much”, Francis and the Lights, Run River North, and the new The 1975 record.
Billy: Cub Sport and Blood Orange
Jake: Subsignal and some early Everygrey. I love me some European prog!
Marc: My go to bands are The Killers, DMB, Mumford and Sons, Nickel Creek, OAR, and some John Mayer.

Aside from music, which we hope you’re making more of, what else do you have planned for the rest of 2016? Will you be taking a vacation?

FIVES: We have a couple of music videos planned for the new release and we are wrapping up a few summer tour dates. Hopefully, we will do a short east coast tour in the fall.

Any message you want to give to your fans and future fans out there? Or offer any services or offers of collaboration with others?

FIVES: We sincerely hope that people listen to some of our music and find a connection within. And we love to meet people at our live shows. We always encourage folks to come say hi and hangout. So check out our website – www.fivesband.com and take a listen, find a performance, and help support your local music scene!
There’s no doubt in our minds that you’ll all be able to find a piece of yourself in FIVES’s EP “Heart & Thunder” so be sure to check it out on iTunes and keep up with their social media:
Website: http://www.fivesband.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fivesband
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/fives_band
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/fivesband - TMN

With an infectious, summertime celebratory spirit is the infinitely catchy “Heart & Thunder” by FIVES. Everything simply works from the articulate lyricism to the emotional melody. Reminiscent of the best of the Postal Service, FIVES sings with a true sense of soul. Attention to detail is an absolute must as the many layers of sound interact so brilliantly. Texturally the sound has a light and airy feel to it as it builds up over the course of the EP. Songs interact with each other until they create a vast tapestry of sound, one that draws the listener into their carefully crafted world.

Audio Listening Link: https://soundcloud.com/fivesband/heart-thunder

FIVES waste no time in getting started as they begin in earnest. The groove starts up automatically with full energy. Synthesizer sweeps come in right as the rhythm starts up in earnest. Vocals start with a casual, almost flirtatious kind of nature. On the title track FIVES lets a nimble bass line bring everything together. Merging dance and rock together is the chaotic “Here We Go”. Much more introspective in tone is the mellowed out vibes of “Lovers in Lullaby”. Showing off their gentler approach the song has an intimate kind of feeling. Possessing a true communal spirit is the joyful triumph of “My Gravity” with a full bombastic sort of rhythm guiding the song forward.

Effortlessly merging elements of rock, electronica, and pop into a satisfying whole FIVES creates a perfect collection of jams with “Heart & Thunder”.

http://www.fivesband.com

By Beach Sloth - Skope Magazine

“FIVES are hooky and catchy in all the right places, while always remaining true to their own sound. What really sets them apart is their keen understanding of how their instrumental dynamics affect the mood and energy of each song. Heart & Thunder is a huge step up in terms of emotion, song structure, and musicianship—and they were already a great band to begin with."

Scott Marquart
Founder, StringJoy Strings
Nashville, TN - Scott Marquat, Founder StringJoy Strings

Washington, DC and Baltimore area band FIVES released a brand new EP toward the tail end of summer. Titled Heart & Thunder, the six-track effort mixes indie and pop rock offerings that are upbeat with sing-along energy, mellow and deliberate, or some kind of combination of both. There’s intricate guitar work, big, catchy choruses, the occasional dance-inducing groove, and more. Front to back it’s a truly solid release that should appeal to the ears on fans of everything from radio-ready pop rock to less-than-mainstream indie acts like the Dear Hunter. - Substream Magazine

"Heart & Thunder is a six-song EP that showcases a band with a life affirming type of energy."

"They don’t particularly sound like U2 but the songs are epic in that kind of way that make you say - ok maybe today can be a beautiful day.'” - No More Division

What a great power pop group FIVES is. They have a sound reminiscent of Rick Springfield (think “Jessie’s Girl”) or The Romantics, that wonderful, clean, innocent sound of 80’s power pop, while still being modern and original. Hailing from the Baltimore/DC area, FIVES was founded by singer/lyricist Marc Cashin and Matthew White, songwriter and keyboardist. The whole band consists of the following: Vocals, Guitar / Marc Cashin; Keyboards, Vocals / Matthew White; Guitar, Vocals / Nate Lanzino; Drums / Billy Toti; and Bass / Max Rosenstein. This is a great band. I think this is seriously what I needed. - AudioFuzz

Baltimore indie-pop/rock band, FIVES, dazzled us with their video for “Heart & Thunder,” taken from their EP of the same name. Comprised of Marc Cashin, Matt White, Nate Lanzino, Billy Toti and Max Rosenstein, FIVES specialize in showcasing a real representation of relationships – from the excitement of that first moment of eye contact to the struggle to find love in the first place, and of course, unrequited love – encapsulating the true meaning of the heart and the thunder. - The Daily Listening