House Fire Syndrome

Starting a band can sometimes feel like a struggle. Trying to find ways to promote your art while adhering to a shoestring budget can be a challenging obstacle for many new bands.

Listening to “Lies”, I get the feeling that for House Fire Syndrome, that scenario rings true. With only two modestly recorded tracks posted, and just a few hundred Facebook friends, this is about as early in the game a band could be.

But despite its modest recording, “Lies” transcends its digital form, providing a glimpse into the band’s persona. The song’s deliberately unembellished verses and choruses provide an egoless backdrop for its vivid display of lyrics.

The momentum of the song conjures a vision of cargo ships crossing an ocean. The vocals, like calm and steady ships, carry meaning and purpose as they navigate the torrential, rhythmic water.

I love discovering a band incubating in this premature stage of its career. It is a rare pleasure for me to be able to watch a group of artists evolve and grow. I relish the satisfaction of knowing that my contributions and support – whether I’m paying a cover or buying merch – directly nurtures their craft. We are collectively creating art.

So here is my plea: Someone in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area book some shows for House Fire Syndrome. I’ve enjoyed their recordings, but I’m hungry for that live show experience.

I want to feel the drums hitting my chest as Nathan price smashes his toms. I want to see the expressions on Greg’s face as he bellows chants of angst, confusion, and repeated failure. I want the opportunity to gawk at his gear and figure out how high or low he plays his guitar, or what pedals he uses to generate that classic, garage rock-style distortion. And does bass player James Davenport play with a pick, his fingers, or both?

A band at this stage of its career is always better live. So someone bring these boys up from Waco, put them in front of a loud and rowdy crowd, and let's see first hand if they can rock out the DFW area. - Travis Wright