Stellar Young

Albany, NY's Stellar Young are streaming their sophomore studio album, Vessels, which is the follow-up to 2012's Everything At Once, which premiered here on AltPress.

The record was recorded and mixed at Applehead Recording (Coheed And Cambria, Team Sleep) in Woodstock, NY with studio owners Chris Bittner and Michael Birnbaum and production from bassist Dave Parker. Guitarist and singer John Glenn shot and edited the music video for the lead single, "Nomad."

"Once ideas started turning into songs, we demoed everything in our apartment to help hear the songs from an outside perspective, which helped us develop them further. As time went on, we kept pushing the album release back and back, until the time came to raise funds to make this album a reality," says guitarist Erik Flora.

Vessels will be released on December 16, 2014 and can be pre-ordered from MerchNOW with an exclusive bonus track, "Amity." It will be available on Bandcamp for pay-what-you-want at that time, as well as standard digital retailers like iTunes.

Check out details of their upcoming record release show and a full stream:

WEQX presents...
Northern Faces (Equal Vision)
Stellar Young
The Slaughterhouse Chorus
When: 12.31.14 @ 8pm (21+)
Where: The Hollow Bar (Albany, NY) - Alternative Press

PropertyOfZack is excited to be debuting a new Stellar Young music video for “We Own Nothing.” The band has been putting up all of their music via a Pay What You Want model, so you should get familiar with it here. Watch the video premiere below!

"All the footage for the video was actually shot over a year ago (March 2013). Since then it was passed along to a few editors who each contributed an element to the music video, but for a lot of different reasons, it never was completed. I finally got some proper gear together and decided to take on the editing of the footage, which allowed all of us in the band to get involved in the editing process as well. I really think being able to have the whole band see the editing process helped the video become what it is.” -John Glenn - Zack Zarrillo

Featured Artist: Stellar Young

Stellar Young, previously dubbed The City Never Sleeps, is an alternative pop/rock quintet based in Albany, New York. Their knack for packing variety into a song--slick tempo changes, expansive bridges, riffs and beats that hate repetitiveness with a passion--without losing track of the driving melody has made them a favorite here at soundparlor. We've had the good fortune to see them live on several occasions, and we're pleased to report that their studio sound translates seamlessly to the stage--and oh yeah, they're also really nice guys who sell some pretty awesome t-shirts. Read on for our interview with bassist and producer Dave Parker, check out our review of their latest release here, and stream their last two albums in full below.


Stellar Young
from left: Kyle Hatch, Dave Parker, John Glenn, Curt Mulick, Erik Flora.


the soundparlor 10: an interview with Dave Parker, bassist and producer for Stellar Young


where are you from, where did you grow up, and where do you spend most of your time these days?

Well, we say we're from the Hudson Valley but we call Albany, NY our home now. John Glenn (vocals and keys) is originally from Austin, TX. He moved to Middletown, NY when he was a kid and met Erik Flora (vocals, guitar) and Curt Mulick (drums) in school there. Kyle Hatch (guitar) is from Voheesville, NY, which is near Albany, and I, Dave Parker (bass), am from the Kingston-Woodstock, NY area. We spend pretty much all our time in Albany, NY, where John, Erik, and Curt met me and Kyle a few years ago and formed the current lineup of Stellar Young.


was there a specific event, moment, or song that first got you "into" music?

I'm pretty sure we all had our moments at a young age. I remember a few moments in particular. My dad plays guitar and I remember being a kid and thinking that I wanted to do the same one day when my hands where big enough! I started playing the piano around age 5 or 6, I couldn't quite fret a guitar at that age! Another moment I had was while I was practicing the piano when I was a few years older. I used to have a Playskool cassette recorder and I would record myself playing and then listen back. I would always wonder why my recordings didn't sound as good as my Billy Joel cassette or whoever. I decided that I would keep recording and try to get better at it. I guess that's when my passion for production started. I eventually got better at it with the help of my dad's mixer, 4-track tape recorder, and mics. These days I act as the band's producer and engineer.


who were your biggest musical influences growing up?

This is actually a difficult question! (laughs) Too many things, I always liked a little bit of everything with a few exceptions.


what bands are "those bands" that you're listening to right now?

I've actually been listening to a lot of radio these days. There is a station near Albany called WEQX that plays a lot of good rock music and a bunch of Indie type stuff. Plus they play us sometimes! It's not all top 40 or anything, they call themselves alternative rock...or whatever that is.


what instruments do you play, and how long have you been playing?

I play bass in Stellar Young but I also play guitar and keyboard. I've been playing keys since I was 5 or 6 and guitar since I was about 14. I've really only been a serious bass player for the past few years but I've had a bass since I was about 15 and I've always played it a bit. I would always record guitar and keyboard parts and add bass parts to them so picking up the bass for Stellar Young was pretty quick and easy.


into what genre would you say your music fits? (and feel free to invent a new one if necessary)

I would say a genre that contains one or more of the following words--Indie Alternative Pop Rock. Yeah, something like that!


to what extent have you recorded and produced your music? any complete albums? any previous experience with the recording industry?

We have a few albums. The most recent album is called Everything at Once and is the only full album released under the name Stellar Young. We have two other albums (technically long EPs) under the name The City Never Sleeps. We changed the name of the band last September. We have recorded all our releases by ourselves so far. Erik Flora and myself went to school for audio recording. We had some extra help with EAO from Applehead Studio in Woodstock, NY; we recorded drums there because of their awesome drum room and we had the album mixed there as well. I've known the Applehead guys for quite a while--I've recorded a few other albums there over the years. The most notable are the Weerd Science records Friends And Nervous Breakdowns and Sick Kids. I was a producer for both as well as a live keyboard player in the group.


what is the ultimate goal that you've set for your m - Soundparlor

Best Indie Rock Band

Stellar Young

Led by astronaut-turned-singer John Glenn, Stellar Young have taken their game to new levels of creativity and professionalism since changing their name from the un-Google-able The City Never Sleeps and releasing Everything at Once this year in the wake of a successful Kickstarter campaign. They’re one of the hardest touring bands in the area, easy to catch at a free outdoor festival if not a small barroom gig - Metroland

Best New Band

The City Never Sleeps

These guys are baby-face young but you wouldn’t know it by the way they play. Having sprung up around last year’s debut Madison, The City Never Sleeps have become one of the busiest live acts in the area, scoring some high-exposure public gigs and an endless string of club dates in between. - Metroland

Best Local Indie Rock Band

1. Titanics

2. Stellar Young

3. Where's Alex

It’s the same winner as last year, but with a new name: Say goodbye to The City Never Sleeps and hello to Stellar Young. - Metroland

Best Local Indie Rock Band

1. Stellar Young

2. The Lucky Jukebox Brigade

3. Hand Habits

It’s the same winner as last year, but with a new name: Say goodbye to The City Never Sleeps and hello to Stellar Young. - Metroland

Metroland Readers Poll: Media & Arts, Best of 2012

Best Local Indie Rock Band

1. The City Never Sleeps

2. (TIE) Skeletons in the Piano, The Lucky Jukebox Brigade

There appears to be a passing of the generational torch with this category, as longtime reader fave Sirsy dropped to fourth below rising whipper-snappers the City Never Sleeps.
- Metroland

this was a user-submission, and it was a pleasant surprise to say the least. stellar young is a five piece out of albany, NY. the band was formerly known as the city that never sleeps, and along with the name change comes their new album, everything at once. what’s more impressive about this pop-rock outfit is that they self-produced this effort, with mixing and mastering handled by chris bittner and michael birnbaum (straylight run, coheed and cambria, more). vocally, he kind of reminds me of nate reuss (in the format, not fun) playing with a band like the reign of kindo. check back with me in a few weeks and i’ll have a different comparison, but for now, that’ll do pig.

everything at once is available for a ‘pay what you want’ fee, so feel “free” to give it a spin and donate accordingly. - weworemasks.com

Starting from scratch can be tedious, and difficult to say the least. It requires dedication and genuine effort that becomes a self-sustaining force, a motivator and a catalyst. The saying goes: shoot for the moon, you’ll land among the stars. But what if you were shooting farther? The story of (the now-more-than-ever-perfectly titled) Stellar Young is a similar tale. Once called The City Never Sleeps (adequately reflective of the undying energy of Brooklyn), Stellar Young were set with a new name but the same face and zeal. The band have catapulted themselves to new heights, with sights set farther than ever. And with a release like Everything At Once, they’ve proved that even the stars aren’t good enough.

So many facets of Stellar Young’s unique brand of indie rock were hinted well on Madison, but never to the degree featured on Everything At Once. The cohesiveness is fantastic, as every song flows well rhythmically or thematically, though this does not disrupt the sonic variety that early material achieved. Take, for example, “The Misses.” A gorgeous track, it blends dance synthesizer melodies, rock and roll percussion, ballad guitar lines and psychedelic vocals. As unorthodox as that sounds, the final product is beautiful, fluid and captivating. Everything moves together in a synchronized motion as harmonies swell and flutter through the waves of sound, creating an enormous sense of atmosphere. Intense emotionality rings high and mighty, and erupts on other tracks such as “Playing With Guns,” “Alright” and “Dorothy.” But there’s another prevalent dynamic to Everything At Once: its fascinating blend of Top 40-esque pop and alternative rock.

Keep in mind that such a description, on paper, sounds atrocious. It’s reminiscent of dime-a-dozen bands that germinate in every city, hoping to become big shots and tween heart stealers. Rest assured, Stellar Young aren’t that band. They do it right – way right. In fact, tracks such as “Restless,” “We Own Nothing” and “Speak Now (Good Man)” are upbeat, seat swayers that pay homage to the likes of The Format and Hellogoodbye. Present are the funky and thick guitar tones that feel playful and rich, perfect for summer drives and the mental montages that ensue. Clave and electric piano tones feel carefree and lighthearted, meshing perfectly with bouncy lead melodies. The manipulation of melody never feels empty nor contrived, situated perfectly on an emotional spectrum, be that on the far end of nostalgic and reflective or youthful and energetic. Never do these melodies fall below intricate, yet they remain highly enjoyable and addictive, indicative of natural songwriting talent. Perhaps this is the most endearing facet of Stellar Young.

And so Stellar Young land further than their own name suggests they would. While they leave the rest of us on the ground, it’s been enjoyable watching the youthful quintet take launch. With a constant growth of exposure – locally and on the web – they are poised and ready for 2013 to be their breakout year. It’s been a long time coming but I can only imagine the feeling is astronomical. - Mind Equals Blown

by Josh Potter on January 31, 2013

Drummer Curt Mulick is eager to recount the episode, as he was the only band member present in the audience for singer John Glenn’s first foray into stand-up comedy.

“‘Being a musician and a substitute teacher,’” Mulick quotes from Glenn’s material, “ ‘are both really great jobs if you hate money and love 15-year-old girls.’ . . . From there the whole thing crumbled.”

Under the stars: Stellar Young. Photo by Julia Zave.

Glenn’s the first to admit the line didn’t come off right and that it’s part of a larger issue he’s been working on for his band Stellar Young. As the group’s frontman, stage banter is as important a performance skill as vocal delivery and one that most bandmates admit he needs to polish. Guitarist Kyle Hatch recalls one rambling introduction to an upbeat song called “Animals” that culminated in Glenn’s rationale not to become a veterinarian because it mostly involved putting people’s pets down. So Glenn’s begun cross-training, working out comic material at open mics to feel more comfortable public speaking.

It’s only the bluntest example of the lengths Stellar Young are willing to go to perfect their craft. When their first record, Madison, came out in fall of 2011—while the band were calling themselves The City Never Sleeps—it landed like a foot on the gas pedal. They’ve since become one of the region’s busiest-gigging bands, working their way onto the lineup for LarkFest, Tulip Fest, the Capital Area Indie Fest at the Egg, and into most of the venues in town.

But it’s not just ambition that’s driving these guys; they have a plan. The house where three members live is customized for recording, the landlord having allowed the experimental carpentry it required to run cables from room to room. Last winter they launched a Kickstarter campaign to buy a touring vehicle—a medical van parked in back with a sign reading “Respect patients rights to confidentiality.” Every band member has an extra-musical role in the business and a weighted voting system was implemented when it came time to change their name and rebrand in advance of their new record Everything at Once. The fact the record is available for free on their Bandcamp page (stellaryoungmusic.bandcamp.com) is another part of that plan to put their music in the ears of as many listeners as possible, including Glenn’s students—which is really, he insists, what he was driving at.

Perhaps the band’s first calculated move came when Glenn, Mulick, Hatch and guitarist Erik Flora “faked an open mic tour” fresh out of college. Glenn, Mulick and Flora had been playing in bands since high school, covering the All-American Rejects and such, before college brought them to Albany. Between the lot, they’ve attended all of the local colleges at one point or another. It was on this plight to play all the local open mics within a week and a half that they met bassist Dave Parker, who’d recently returned to the area to work for Equal Vision Records after touring on keyboards for Hudson Valley prog-rockers Coheed and Cambria. Parker was looking for a new band and The City Never Sleeps was looking for a bassist to allow the classically trained Hatch to transition back to his preferred instrument, guitar.

“I got a little worn out from the heavy stuff,” Parker says of his time with Coheed. A “cool decade” older than the other guys in Stellar Young, he’d had considerable recording and touring experience before joining the group, including stints with hip-hop outfit Weerd Science. “I was looking for something that was a little more catchy and melodic. I wanted a singer that could sing and a band that was catchy but not cheesy-poppy.” Stellar Young fit the bill and it didn’t take long to realize that most members shared a constellation of influences. “Some of the stuff I grew up listening to was within their realm,” Parker says, naming Saves the Day and the Get Up Kids, “like, before emo was called emo.” The rest of the band adds Taking Back Sunday, Say Anything and Northstar to the list.

The hallmarks of these bands—earnest lyrics, emotive vocals, catchy hooks and propulsive drumming—are present on Everything at Once, but there’s something else, a certain chord-coloring or riffing sensibility that places the band outside this genre, often evasively dubbed post-hardcore. Parker’s prog past, Hatch’s mention of Incubus, and Glenn’s name-dropping Ben Gibbard help lead the way, but even fans of glossy indie pop like Phoenix might find themselves surprise fans of Stellar Young. The sound is squeaky clean, guitar tones dialed in for minimum crunch, with Glenn’s pitch-perfect vocals front and center. It’s a sound that’s earned a positive response opening for Sublime tribute band Badfish but can work in front of a sit-down crowd just as well. This is probably part of the reason why they’ve landed on so many bills over the past two years. As Hatch says, “We always partially fit with whoever we’re playing with.”
- Metroland

Despite the proliferation of DIY music production tools, it is still very rare to hear an unsigned band put out a "professional" sounding album. A lot of bands go crazy with the production aspects. Either things get mixed too glossy, or they don't utilize the tools enough. That is the first thing that struck me about Stellar Young. Everything At Once sounds great. They clearly cared enough about the resulting album to get shit done right.

Everything At Once is a shiny little indie rock record. The thing is filled to the brim with hooks. The band certainly has the chops to produce great songs. The album opens with "Playing With Guns," which is a great example of what to expect. Catchy indie rock informed by power pop. Follow up songs "Restless" and "The Universe Is A Bully" are more of the same. A little faster, but just furthering the feel. These songs feature great interplay between the guitars.

Musically, this album is really strong. The two guitars and keyboard play off each other very well. There is definitely a lot going on, but nothing becomes super overpowering. The vocals (lead and background) are the real show. The vocal interplay on the (kind of) dancey "We Own Nothing" are probably the best example of this. Everyone is playing their part to a T.

Overall, I don't have many complaints about this record. It might be a little long? The shortest song, "As You Go," is just this side of four minutes. The songs are certainly good, but the end product feels a bit too much for me. A 10 song record coming in at 46 minutes is a little much (for this type of thing). Granted, I don't listen to this kind of thing with much frequency. This is a minor quibble. If you want to listen to some well made indie rock that is heavy on the pop side of things, there is little reason not to give this a go. It is an enjoyable record that will probably put you in a good mood. - Team Reasonable

Stellar Young is celebrating the release of their debut full-length album, Everything at Once. The band is slated to throw their CD release party on Saturday night (February 9) at McGeary’s Pub in Albany, and it’s shaping up to be quite a bash.

Since it’s also Mardi Gras weekend, Stellar Young is mixing it up, transforming their release celebration into a semi-formal masquerade party. Mardi Gras masks will be provided at the door, if you don’t have your own. The bash will also feature cake, an exhibit of the album’s artwork and caricatures by Smallbany’s Dana Owens.

And the night will also feature a double-bill of bands – sort of. The evening will start out with Stellar Young playing a set of their older material when the band was known as the City Never Sleeps. Then they’ll be back to play a second set – performing their new album Everything at Once in its entirety.

Doors open at 9pm. And admission is just $5. - Nippertown

Snappy, high-fidelity albums play just as important of a role in my ever-expanding music library as any intentionally lo-fi, bedroom-recorded material. Understanding the idea that there can be room for is both is difficult for some to grasp, including my stubborn self for quite some time. Overall though, nothing really compares to blasting a well-engineered masterpiece of production in the living room, on a solid set of bookshelf speakers; all-the-while enjoying a tall, velvety glass of malbec.

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Not that I know much about individual music producers or the engineers working behind the scenes. I would think that this is the point of a sparkling, pristine production – convincing the listener that the sound is as true-to-life as it can get, without making your presence known. In the case of Stellar Young, the smooth combination of the band’s technical, catch-driven post-pop-punk (is that even a genre?) and the album’s slick production values make Everything At Once simply too hard to put down after just one sitting.

Match that with the fact that the band did it almost all by themselves, including raising funds through a successful Kickstarter campaign for a tour mini-bus, and you have one solid example of DIY determination at work. That’s not to say they didn’t have help from the outside, namely the production input and mixing prowess of Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner (Straylight Run, The Sleeping, Coheed and Cambria).

I’ll get this out of the way: Stellar Young reminds me of my pop-punk infested youth. At one point about a decade ago, it was all I listened to, all courtesy of the then-magnetic AbsolutePunk.net and EmotionalPunk.com. While the band surely evokes some of the emotions of obsessions-past, they undoubtedly offer up their own perspective on the genre, one that focuses less on superficial annoyance and much more on concrete substance. Yes, while Everything at Once contains some of the most hook-driven pieces I’ve heard in years, they’re well-conceived, well-performed and most importantly, not watered-down drivel accented by a nasally singer.

This album moves. It doesn’t bother remaining in the same place for too long, and for good reason. Vocals are far-reaching and multi-dimensional, guitars are quick and powerful, drums are thick and very expertly wailed-on. Compositions vary enough that you’re never left bored, wondering what you’ll have for dinner tonight. It’s as if there’s a master tempo knob getting turned back and forth throughout the 40-minute adventure, but the band always manages to remain relevant to the context of the album as a whole.

I won’t get into the details of each individual track (that’s what the Stand out tracks are for, crap-for-crap!), but will offer this: let the album settle in. I found on first listens that the singer can be a bit abrasive and remain in the same, relatively high register for extended periods of time. Don’t let me scare you into thinking this is a new and improved New Found Glory or anything… it’s just something to be aware of that will melt away over time. If it doesn’t, maybe you should just go to CVS for some whine medicine.

PS: I think this post could win the award for most-hyphenated-phrases-used-in-a-music-review. 20 by my count.
Sounds like: Fun, Paulson, The Novel Ideas
Stand out tracks:
“Playing With Guns“
“We Own Nothing“
“Animals“ - bandcampsbest.com

Lately, I’ve had a particular album on repeat, called ‘Everything at Once’ by Albany NY natives Stellar Young, who have actually posted their entirely independently-released CD on bandcamp for a ‘Pick What You Pay’ price.

Fun fact for you; they’re what you would call a “Do-It-Yourself” band- not only did they complete this record entirely on their own, but they raised funds through Kickstarter for a mini shuttle bus, and released/recorded their previous album ‘Madison’. These guys are passionate about music, and dedicated to doing all the hard work to see some results.

Their sound is very indie pop/rock, but they’ve also been said to have some jazz influence. The result is a really catchy, melodious, and seamlessly produced record that doesn’t overdo any particular genre, and makes you want to hit re-play once it’s over.

‘Everything at Once’ reminds me very much of a slightly more indie version of the band ‘The Script’. In fact, the vocals in Stellar Young are one of the highlights for me, because they are so similar (and yet still so unique) to those of The Script’s lead singer, Danny O’Donoghue.

My current favorites on the album include: We Own Nothing, As You Go, Playing With Guns, and Animals.

I highly recommend Stellar Young if you’re looking for some new tunes! You definitely won’t be disappointed by these talented indie-rockers.

Check out their music (and buy it with any donation you can) on their bandcamp page right here:

http://stellaryoungmusic.bandcamp.com

You can learn more about them on their official website: http://stellaryoung.com - confrontmagazine.com

It’s a dead horse, but we’ll beat it one more last time. Prior to playing Albany’s LarkFest last September, a popular band was known as The City Never Sleeps. With changes swirling around the band, and a new recording on the horizon, a name change was decided upon and announced during their set. They were to be known as Stellar Young.

Some local music pundits and fans were confused by the change, perhaps preferring that change never occurs. But the strength of the band’s collective convictions, and strong musical sensibilities, has proved that change was actually a rebirth.

With “Everything at Once”, Stellar Young has released a record that is nearly perfectly made, and not easily pigeon-holed. It is a 10 song set of catchy pop rock, with many ingredients measured in. Played from beginning to end, there’s a sense that it plays like a vinyl LP; there’s an ‘A’ side, and a ‘B’ side. Crafted as a collection of short stories, or perhaps as chapters in a novel, each song stands on its own, the whole connected with a thread of a theme. As the band has noted in their Tumblr and on Bandcamp, physical copies of the cd will include a booklet with illustrations and lyrics, and the final album mix itself will include intros and interludes. It’s a record that really deserves a vinyl pressing.

The band accepted an invite to come in to record Episode 163 of CRUMBS Cafe. Unfortunately CRUMBS.net lens man Rich Krissel was again otherwise occupied, so I took a few pictures of the band while they warmed up. You’ll note drummer Curt Mulick is M.I.A. – he had to work – so John Glenn (vocals/ keyboard), Erik Flora (guitar/ vocals), Kyle Hatch (guitar), and Dave Parker (bass) recorded acoustic versions of three songs from “Everything at Once”. “We Own Nothing” is a completely different, never before recorded version; “Speak Now (Good Man)” is simply straight forward; and an abridged “Dorothy” were played.

Afterwards, host Mike Guzzo and I sat with the band in the CRUMBS Studio and chatted. Of course, the name changed was touched upon, as were adding backing tracks to a few of Molly Durnin’s songs on her “Run” record, and whether wearing pj’s inside out has any effect on school snow days. We also learned that most major band decisions are made through the hand game rock-paper-scissors. However, that may change at the suggestion of a young fan of the band, my daughter Allison. I’ve heard the band is currently learning how to incorporate rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock into the process.

We also discussed the recording of the album and how the songs take a different life on stage. The band’s a live favorite, and has scheduled a string of shows so close together that it required a name – The Nor’East Tour. The (Kickstarter provided) Friendship Enterprise (band bus) will be deployed so they may travel in comfort, with the tour ending in Albany on February 9th at McGeary’s Irish Pub with their official cd release show. - Times Union

When an indie band calls themselves an indie band, that is just putting a blanket over their sound. Indie covers a variety of sub-genres, including pop, rock, and in Stellar Young’s case, jazz. Formerly known as The City Never Sleeps, Stellar Young is a 5-man band out of Albany. Conceived in 2004 and originally from the Hudson Valley area, all of the members have either known each other since school-age, or have some kind of kismet with a musical instrument.

Stellar Young consists of John Glenn (vocals/guitars), Erik Flora (Guitar/ vocals), Curt Mulick (drums), Kyle Hatch (Guitar), and Dave Parker on bass. The band released their first album Madison under their old name, The City Never Sleeps. They also have some amazing touring credits under their name, having played with Paramore, Badfish, Weerd Science, and The Features. Their new album, Everything At Once dropped on December 18, 2012 to obtain, well, stellar reviews. Madison was a pretty jazzy and poppy affair, and while Everything At Once sticks to the same formula, the production and the effort seem to be exceptionally well put together. Each track flows seamlessly into the next, while each song feels timeless and new every time it’s being played. Not one instance when I hit the “play” button did I feel as if it made a too much of a huge effort.

Everything At Once, Stellar Young’s 10-track LP is an uncluttered digital download with tunes like “Playing With Guns,” the first song on the album. The first listen had me thinking this could be another Fray wannabe group, only Stellar Young has so much more to their fusion of sound. Of course, Stellar Young isn’t as commercial either. What I heard was the guitar, rousing and arduous, with impressive melodies and bold drum lines. The harmonies of Glenn or Mulick were resplendent and effective, and that goes for all the tracks on which they sang together. “Restless,” a jocular and kicky tune, had me immediately up and moving. Their method to making music is just so skillful and neat; it was enjoyable to be able to hear all of the lyrics. Nothing drowned out Glenn. The instruments, besides the drumming which were produced at Applehead Recording, were all put down collectively at the band’s apartment. Dave Parker, Stellar Young’s bassist, produced Everything At Once. The bassist had the skill and proficiency of producing Stellar Young’s sophomore album as he had also some producing and performance credits with the band Weerd Science.

The track “Dorothy,” a well-heeded song, and one that got much airplay here at Inyourspeakers, is a beauty. True rock and roll at its core could define “Dorothy,” with the humming electric guitars, the cadence of the drums, and Glenn’s raspy inflection. It would be no surprise if this is the song that puts Stellar Young on the musical map once again to gain them more notoriety. From song to song, Everything At Once flowed so soundly. The exposition, arrangement and theme worked so very well for this LP. Piece by piece Everything At Once could be released as singles. If Albany will not recognize Stellar Young once more, there’s a good chance The Independent Music Awards or AIM Independent Music Awards (Association of Independent Music) certainly will. It’s only a matter of time.

Track List:
1. Playing With Guns
2. Restless
3. The Universe is a Bully
4. The Misses
5. We Own Nothing
6. Alright
7. As You Go
8. Speak Now (Good Man)
9. Dorothy
10. Animals - inyourspeakers.com

Still feeling the success of their late 2012 release, Everything At Once, Stellar Young decided recently to release a live acoustic EP on BandCamp.

The five-song EP, Live at WEXT and CRUMBS Cafe, features reinterpreted versions of songs from Everything At Once. Additionally, these songs are listed as “name your own price”, so feel free to download the live acoustic EP for free.

Stream and download Stellar Young’s new live acoustic EP here, and read a review of Everything At Once right here on Under The Gun. - Under The Gun Review

BY BRIAN MCELHINEY Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Brian McElhiney at 395-3111 or mcelhiney@dailygazette.net.
Songwriting is an ongoing process for Albany indie rock quintet Stellar Young.
The band, which went under the name The City Never Sleeps until October, released its fi rst full-length album and first recording under the Stellar Young moniker, “Everything at Once,” digitally in December.
They’ll be celebrating the physical album’s release with a Mardi Gras-themed show at McGeary’s Irish Pub on Saturday night, which caps off a weeklong New York tour that the band has dubbed the Nor’east Tour.
While the album’s 10 songs are ostensibly finished — and have been receiving positive reviews and airplay from WEXT-FM — don’t expect to hear the exact recorded versions when the band tears through the full album at its release show, which will feature two sets as well as the album’s original artwork on display by artist Amanda Marie Eilis King (AMEK). Many of the songs were still being written while they were being recorded last year, and the band’s members are expecting them to change even more as they continue to perform them live. WRITING NEVER STOPS
“If you play the same thing over and over and over, every single time, it gets boring, so I’d like to say we never stop writing,” guitarist Kyle Stellar Young CD release show WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday WHERE: McGeary’s Irish Pub, 4 Clinton Square, Albany HOW MUCH: $5; album available for $5 at show MORE INFO: 463-1455, www.mcgearyspub.com Hatch said while sitting with his bandmates in their Albany rehearsal and recording space (vocalist/keyboardist John Glenn and guitarist Erik Flora’s apartment).
“You kind of settle in on what you’ll take for the time being, record it that way, but months down the line you might be like, ‘You know, I’ve been hearing this the whole time, every time I listen to the CD now; I wish we did this.’ And then you try it and that’s what you start doing live. So writing’s a process you never fi nish.”
Stellar Young has been in a near constant state of evolution since Glenn, Flora and drummer Curt Mulick began playing together in 2004, while in high school in Middletown. At the time a quartet known appropriately enough as FourFit, the band — which then featured Glenn on guitar — began cutting its teeth with shows in the Poughkeepsie area.
Mulick was the first to reach Albany, attending The College of Saint Rose, the University at Albany and Hudson Valley Community College, where he met Voorheesville native Hatch, who was playing in another band at the time. Flora and Glenn were both in school at Oneonta, and the band began playing in that city. In 2007 they changed their name to The City Never Sleeps.
“We played like that for another year, until 2008, and that’s when we made the whole switch over to this lineup,” Mulick said. “Kyle came in as our bassist to fill in, and that was 2008.” GETTING TOGETHER
By 2010 the band had relocated to Albany, and Glenn and Flora began playing open mic nights in the area acoustically to get a feel for the music scene. Through the open mic night at what was then the Muddy Cup in Albany, the two fi rst met Dave Parker, former touring keyboardist for Coheed and Cambria and the band’s current bassist.
“I remember John and I would have many late night drunken conversations where John would be like, ‘I really just need to sing, and you should really play guitar for us, man,’ ” Hatch said.
In 2011, the band recorded an eight-song EP, “Madison,” named for the street in Albany, and began playing anywhere and everywhere they could in the Albany area. By early 2012, the group had performed at the fifth Exit Dome concert put on by WEXT and had embarked on its first Northeast tour in March. While on that tour, the band won Metroland’s Readers Poll for Best Indie Band.
But the band wasn’t quite through making changes yet. At that point, they were already discussing a name change, and when they began recording “Everything at Once” in the spring of 2012, the time seemed right.
“We talked about changing the name when Dave and I fi rst joined, but we never settled on anything then,” Hatch said. “I think because we didn’t really know each other all that well then; we didn’t fi gure out our sound or anything like that, so we were like, all right, it’s too soon to change the name. And then once we started talking about recording the full-length album, the fi rst official CD, we were like, all right, if we’re changing the name, it’s now or never.”
The band, with Parker producing, recorded “Everything at Once” from April to November of 2012. While some of the album’s tracks, such as “Dorothy” and “Animals,” are older songs, many are new collaborations showcasing the band’s more upbeat sound now, while still retaining the jazzy elements and pop hooks of “Madison.”
“The opening track on the record, ‘Playing With Guns’ we wrote after we had already started recording the - The Daily Gazette

Stellar Young stopped by the WMCX 88.9 F.M. studio this past Tuesday to talk about their tour and latest album release Everything At Once. John Glenn (Vocals/ keyboard), Erik Flora (Guitar/ Vocals), Curt Mulick (Drums), Kyle Hatch (Guitar) and Dave Parker (Bass) pulled up to building in their white mini shuttle bus, ready to hit the airwaves hours before their show later that night at The Trash Bar in Brooklyn. The band was featured on WMCX’s specialty show Alternative Riot.

I caught the indie-pop group in the563203_10151477546221796_1539550281_n middle of their “Nor’East Tour”. When asked how the road has been, Erik replied, “Pretty good, you know so far we’ve had the two dates, one out in Oneonta which is kinda like our home away from home and our second one was down in Woodstock.” Originally from Upstate New York, Stellar Young explained they were keeping this tour within the New York area.

“Actually the way this little tour came together, we were just trying to book shows around the area and they kind of all came together in the same week and we were just like, let’s call it a tour. I’m glad it came together the way it did so we can just hop on the bus and make a little trip,” said Dave.

“We all met each other in Albany,” explained John. When Curt, Erik and John met in High School they formed a band called The City Never Sleeps. Shortly after, they asked Kyle to join the band (who replied enthusiastically “hell yeah!”) and from there they were introduced to Dave, an ex-live keyboardist for Coheed and Cambria, at an open-mic.

When the final group released their eight-track album Madison, they were still The City Never Sleeps. However, they quickly realized people often mixed up the order of their name (Example: City Sleep, The City That Never Sleeps, The City is Sleeping). For John, Erik, Kurt, Kyle and Dave it became too much of a hassle and after two years they went with the name Stellar Young instead, figuring it would stand out more and would be harder to mess up.

When asked to describe their sound Kyle explained, “It’s kind of mixed, we all bring our own influences to the table, we all agree on indie rock with some pop-rock influences. I read a review a little while ago that called the new CD “Atmospheric indie rock with a healthy dose of pop” and I kinda like that. It’s indie rock but it’s got some nice catchy hooks so you’ll leave with a song stuck inyour head.”

“We definitely play with coloring of the chords and make it interesting, jazzy and you know it’s all over the place,” John added.

2506813868-1Everything At Once made its debut online December 18th 2012 and marked the first album release for the group Stellar Young. I asked the band how they formed their direction for this album to which Dave replied, “I think it was more of a continue to find our sound type of thing, rather than a real decision based on what we should do. There are some differences and also some similarities between this and The City Never Sleeps Madison album but I think this is a step further down the road rather than a left or a right.”

Even though they are constantly in the writing process. Stellar Young explained their focus at the moment is to expose new listeners to Everything at Once before they come out with another record. “Madison we were still kind of learning what our sound was and playing around and seeing what we could come up with. Everything at Once was more like ‘alright, we figured out what we’re about now,’” said Dave. After their show in Brooklyn, the New York boys headed to Nyack, Saugerties and last but not least, Albany on February 9th for their CD release party at Mcgeary’s Pub.

The digital version of Everything at Once is available on the Stellar Young’s website for name your own price (even for the price of zero if that’s what you can afford). For more on Stellar Young Erik told WMCX listeners, “Just go to stellaryoung.com and all of our links are listed on there, simplest way to find us.” - tristateindie.com

The following is a mini interview of generic questions that we posed to all bands that wanted to answer:

Stellar Young

http://stellaryoung.com
http://stellaryoungmusic.bandcamp.com
http://stellaryoungmusic.tumblr.com
http://facebook.com/stellaryoungmusic (all music is "pay what you want")
http://twitter.com/stellar_young
http://instagram.com/stellar_young

John Glenn - Vocals, keyboard
Erik Flora - Vocals, Guitar
Kyle Hatch - Guitar
Curt Mulick - Drums
Dave Parker - Bass

1. How did you get your band name?

John: It was actually a very funny process. We decided that we needed a change; we had new members, our former name (The City Never Sleeps) was just too long and easily messed up, etc. So we made a private group message on facebook where we all just brainstormed names. Eventually we sifted through pages, picked the top five, and took a vote on it using ballots in a box. Needless to say we picked Stellar Young, which was just meant to be a cool way of saying “all that is born from the stars”.

2. How did this band get started?

John: Well Curt (drums), Erik (guitar/vocals) and I have been playing music together since we were sophomores in High School in 2004. But I would say the band as it is now, started when we asked Kyle (lead guitar) to join the band a few summers back. He was Curt’s college room mate, a great friend of ours that we would always party with and we all respected him as a talented guitarist; so it just made sense. After Kyle joined, we needed a bassist and were new to the area, so we went around playing open mics as an acoustic act. It just so happened that one of the first open mics we played was at “The Muddy Cup”, where we met Dave. Dave was the missing piece to the puzzle. He’s produced both of our most recent albums and has definitely brought a lot to table as well as filling the role of “tasty bass”.

3. What bands are you influenced by?

John: What I think is interesting is that our influences are really all over the map, we all listen to everything and I’m sure that seeps into our sound. But I’d say our styles are a little more specific as far as influences and it’s easier to point out other people's styles than your own. Like Dave came from a heavy punk and prog-rock background. Kyle studied Jazz guitar but was also really influenced by bands like Dave Matthews and Incubus. Curt has always been into a lot of hip-hop and dance-rock stuff. And Erik has always been playing all kinds of emotional or energetic rock songs from Moneen to Death Cab, and lately he’s been on a big “Bon Iver” kick.

4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

John: That’s a great question, because not only do you want to tour with a band that plays good music but you want to tour with a band you think you’d mesh well with. Bands that have a similar energy on the stage and that you can be friends with off the stage. So I’m going to say either Gwar or Foo Fighters.

5. Best food to eat on tour?

John: There’s the easy stomach-fillers on the road, like trail mix and pizza, but my favorite food is spaghetti. I just gotta figure out the easiest way to boil water on the road!

6. Why should people listen to your band?

John: Because it’s sincere. We feel all the songs we play, and hopefully they’re as interesting and pleasing to listen to as they are fun to play.

7. If you could be any athlete, which athlete would you switch places with?

John: The athletes I’d most like to switch with are for reasons outside their athleticism. Like it would be awesome to switch places with Gordon Ramsey, be a respected cook and food critic, fly around the world eating all kinds of the most delicious foods. Or be David Beckham and make sweet love to Posh Spice.

8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?

John: I’d thank all of our families. I know all of us have come from families that are really supportive in their own way. Have either allowed us to practice in their home, or come to our shows, etc.

9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?

John: In a lot ways the Music Industry is cooler then ever. I mean, never before have we had as much access to music from all over the world. But the entire industry is in a state of transition and trying to figure out how it all works.

10. Memorable tour experience?

John: One time we played this show in Plattsburgh at an art gallery, and the last band that played stopped in the middle of their set and brought out this punch bowl filled with red liquid and a stack of solo cups. Then the band members went around handing the audience cups and telling everyone to grab some punch. Surprisingly almost everyone filled their cups (some more reluctantly than others including myself). After the punch was distributed the singer whipped out an old leather book and began reading this really dark poem about death. And at this point I started getting this uneasy feeling - absolutepunk.net

On December 18th, 2012, Stellar Young released their debut full-length album, Everything At Once. The entire band celebrated its release in the PPRAE Turntable.FM room with a digital listening party! Most of the band was at their headquarters, however, one of the members was at his dayjob, but still participated in the discussion and party on the mobile app! Truly a unique and exciting experience.

Stellar Young (cousin band of The Athletics) have since become part of our community; vocalist/guitarist Erik Flora pops in every once in a while to listen, chat, and spin his favorite tunes while at work- like the rest of us! When the band guest hosted Neeshcast #25, Erik expressed that PPRAE was better than Pandora Internet Radio because of the human element.

Everything At Once is available for “pay what you want” on bandcamp. It is also available at the traditional digital music stores (iTunes, Amazon, etc) as well as for streaming on Spotify.

Stellar Young - The Nor'East Tour dates posterAdditionally, the album Ampkicker dubbed “a quintessential pop-rock record,” is getting the physical CD treatment. Stellar Young are going out on The Nor’East Tour to celebrate, and concluding the string of dates with an IRL release party in their hometown of Albany, New York! Fun fact: the tour was actually named by one of PPRAE’s community members- Chewiie.

The physical CD comes packaged with a complete booklet of original artwork plus interludes to tie the songs together, for a seamless listening experience. It’s a beautiful, authentic package.

“It’s clear that Stellar Young writes music solely because it’s what they love to do,” Under The Gun Review deduced. That impression is made even more evident in their live show. They are, without a doubt, one of my favorite live bands. If Stellar Young is coming anywhere remotely near you on The Nor’East Tour, I strongly suggest you make the trip, especially at this juncture of the band’s career. With a perfect album like Everything At Once, Stellar Young can only blast off from here!

“It’s time to take everything we’ve learned and play as much as we can around the northeast/east coast and beyond. It’s looking like 2013 is going to be filled with travel; I can’t wait!” -Dave Parker (bassist/producer) - http://ppraemusic.wordpress.com

Upstate New York quintet, Stellar Young, is raising eyebrows across the Empire State thanks to their accessible, yet complex take on alternative rock. Bringing a atmospheric touch to an alt-rock scene cluttered with carbon copies, and adding a touch of pop sensibility to the mix, Stellar Young’s music is engaging enough to garner mainstream indie rock fans’ attention and intricate enough to please music snobs. So take a ride into the night’s sky and give Stellar Young a listen.

For Fans Of: The Police, The Canvas Waiting, Mutemath

(This Feature also Contains and Interview avail on the website) - Property Of Zack

When you listen to certain albums you get an overall feeling from it, be it sadness, happiness or a sense of hope. It has to be said with this album it definitely brings a feeling of happiness with it as the indie infused music is catchy and bounces along at a nice steady pace.

Opener ‘Playing With Guns’ starts the album off with children playing in the background, and some slow guitar feedback and synth sounds. Soon enough the catchy lyrics come flowing in as the indie infused guitar riffs run through the song and starts the album off on a high.

For the second track ‘Restless’ the fast paced, catchy guitar riffs come in fast leading into the rock sensibilities of the song it again flows greatly with some catchy vocals. Another track that keeps the listened hooked is the song ‘The Universe Is a Bully’ as it brings an echo style guitar sound and some synths it lets the song have an ethereal feel to it.

Songs like ‘The Misses’ and ‘Alright’ show more of a technical, slower side to the band as the synths are utilised to bring in a sombre feel; it allows the guitar work to really shine through both songs. With the sweet melodic vocals coming through both songs they are sung slowly but with plenty of emotion.

One of the albums finest songs has to be The Strokes influenced song ‘As You Go’ which starts off with some fast guitar riffs and heavy bass lines. As the fast paced high guitar notes are played over the sweet vocals it really shows off all aspects of the band. The chorus then comes in with “leave home and whistle as you go, (leave home now), go on and have some fun” it brings in a fun upbeat side to the song.

The album slows down for the ukulele and acoustic filled song ‘Speak Now (Good Man)’ which is a nice break from the indie infused rock songs. With some electric guitar sneaking in to build up on the melodic guitar sound it adds more layers to this folksy song.

The album finishes with the two songs ‘Dorothy’ and ‘Animals’ which again showcase some of the albums best guitar work as the well constructed guitar work runs through both songs. At the end of both songs there are catchy guitar solos mixed with some fast rhythm guitar and brings both songs to a great end. The album finishes with a sweet and enchanted xylophone and guitar mixed verse that finishes the album perfectly.

What Stellar Young have produced is a great, catchy, indie sounding album that could easily be enjoyed by everyone. The musicianship on the album is great as the guitarists are given the freedom to write some catchy and intricate guitar work. That being said some people may find that some of the songs do sound very similar and don’t offer anything new in terms of the indie genre. But who needs change when the old formulas can produce such great and catchy sounding albums like this.

3.5/5 - Already Heard

Band: Stellar Young
Album: Everything at Once
Genre: Indie/Rock
Label: Unsigned

It’s inspiring whenever a brand new band struts out onto the music scene with fresh, original music that stops listeners in their tracks. That’s how I felt when I first started listening to Everything at Once by Stellar Young, Albany, New York’s new favorite indie-rock band.

Everything at Once opens up with a song called “Playing With Guns”. The track slowly begins with the sound of children playing as a piano sets the tone for the rest of the album, accurately demonstrating Stellar Young’s relaxed yet catchy vibe. With its memorable vocal lines and unique energy, “Playing With Guns” is the perfect way to kick off this album.

Immediately following “Playing With Guns”, tracks like “Restless” and “The Universe Is A Bully” really pick up the pace of the album. I believe that these songs are meant to keep the listener engaged, fulfilling their roles effortlessly, giving the album a more well rounded personality.

Undoubtedly, Everything at Once’s single is “We Own Nothing”. The song has a quality to it that places the listener in a completely different atmosphere. I think the distinct vocals performed by John Glenn are incredible on this track, as his open, fun and inviting attitude grabs the listener.

“Alright” is definitely my favorite track on the album. The song is slower-paced than most of the rest of the tracks on Everything at Once. It’s also kind of obvious that Stellar Young wanted to explore this track more, musically speaking. The song really shows off the talents of Stellar Young’s guitar players, Erik Flora and Kyle Hatch, as their parts intertwine to create something truly beautiful.

The album closes with a track called “Animals”. It’s laid back and a bit bluesy at times. Again, during this song, the guitars put on an amazing performance throughout the bridge, slowly putting the album to rest until the song finishes.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that other tracks on this album, such as “The Misses” and “Speak Now (Good Man)” certainly help to round out Everything at Once’s personality. “The Misses” is a ballad of sorts while “Speak Now (Good Man)” is a poppier, bluesier tune. Every track is worth a listen because each track provides new surprises.

Everything at Once by Stellar Young ties together refreshing creativity with subtly innovative musicianship. Combining indie, rock, blues and jam band influences, it’s clear that Stellar Young writes music solely because it’s what they love to do. That being said, Everything at Once is an album capable of freeing your mind, making it a really enjoyable album worthy of sharing with the people you care about. Especially long drives with Everything at Once on repeat are highly recommended. Pick it up on Stellar Young’s BandCamp or stream it on Spotify.

SCORE: 8.5/10 - Speak Into My Good Eye

The pop-rock genre is one of the most readily slandered genres in the realm of professional music. I believe it is accorded greater rancor by many critics simply because it stands astride the gap between popular music and the edgier, artsy realm of rock. One could even argue that the creation of the, “indie-rock,” label is due in large part to the negative perception of, “corporate rock,” acts and the radio inundation they often enjoy.

However, when properly executed, pop-rock is one of the most captivating, inventive and alluring genres in all of music based on the complexity of crafting music that is accessible to the main-stream while staying true to the rock format. Bands like Fleetwood Mac, U2, Aerosmith (in the 90’s and 2000’s), Duran Duran, Def Leppard, Big Wreck, Matchbox 20, Coldplay and Fun. (and concurrently The Format) can be heralded for having curried gargantuan appeal by crafting memorable melodies and virulent hooks with a virtuosity that is second to very few.

Thus, when a new indie-rock act arrives on my personal listening horizon that has the innate, ineffable ability to write eternally listenable songs I suffer the urge to label them a pop-rock act. This is, in my estimation, high praise for a group because I am according them the title as a way of conveying my esteem for their art. It’s difficult to write a timeless song— and the repetition of radio station fodder is evidence of this fact. Sure, everyone’s tastes vary, and thus their estimation will as well… Taking that into account, it’s a lofty feat to create songs that traverse genre boundaries and create the sort of mass-appeal that lands you a spot on the all-time album charts. Many of the artists that have, however, are pop-rock acts.


I pen this lengthy introduction as a means to justify my statement (and soften the blow) when I say that Stellar Young is one of the best pop-rock acts I’ve heard in a good long while. The group recently released their first full-length record, Everything at Once, independently in December of 2012, and it is a stunning tapestry of styles, moods and influences that will hold you hostage from the moment you hit play.

Knee-jerk listeners will label the group a Fun. knockoff by virtue of the vocal similarity between Stellar’s front-man John Glenn (not the astronaut, as noted on the band’s FB bio) and Fun. vocalist Nate Ruess. However, there is a definite complexity and kinetic quality to the group’s material that makes them a great deal more raucous than their Ruess-fronted pop-rock contemporaries.

In fact, the group’s eclectic style makes it difficult to draw many adequate parallels to similar sounding acts— which simply deepens my admiration for them. At instants they assault the audience with Rush-like musical dexterity (as with their album’s second track, “Restless”), yet their more atmospheric moments smock of Coldplay’s better qualities (see, “The Misses,”), even evoking thoughts of Guster’s compositional approach with certain tracks (“We Own Nothing,” or “Animals,”). Compound this with Peter Gabriel-esque emotionality, Kings Of Leon guitar texturing and Big Head Todd & the Monster’s soul and you are close to approximating what you’ll hear on Everything at Once.





This is a quintessential pop-rock record; the hooks are abundant, the atmosphere soaring and anthemic, the instrumentation lush and evocative. Southern-rock guitar tones merge seamlessly with synth waves and glimmering vocal falsettos above fuzzy basslines and boisterous percussion to create a unique ambience from track to track. The record is so well-crafted that it’s difficult to point to specific tracks as exceptionally appealing. The album as a whole is a virtual pit of sonic quicksand that you can’t help but get immersed in.

The Albany, NY-based quintet has already established a firm foothold in their local region, being named Best New Band and the #1 Indie-Rock Band for the greater Albany area according to the Metroland 2012, “Best Of,” issue and 2012 reader’s poll. The group certainly warrants the accolades as well. It is very rare to encounter a group with such an appealing sound that isn’t already permeating the air-waves. Luckily, many of us will be getting in on the ground floor with this record.

Everything at Once is currently available via BandCamp.com as a name-your-own price download. The band feel this is appropriate given the DIY nature of their project and the vehement support they’ve received through sites like Kickstarter (which helped the band procure a mini-shuttle bus to facilitate touring), and is impressive from a completely independent act.

“People are going to download your music one way or another, so why not give them the highest quality download with the option to pay?” says Erik Flora (guitar/vocals). Erik goes on to explain that free downloads with the option to pay is the direction the music industry has headed, with bands such as Radiohead and Wilco paving th - Ampkicker.com

Albany, NY based DIY rockers Stellar Young have taken a distinctly Radiohead approach in releasing their first full length album. The band arrived at the decision to go with the “pick what you pay” model for a download of their rookie alt-rock outing Everything at Once much like the general on sale for In Rainbows in 2007.

“People are going to download your music one way or another, so why not give them the highest quality download with the option to pay?” says guitarist/vocalist Erik Flora . This sentiment is no longer uncommon in a diverse and changing world of music as artists like Stellar Young look to get their best sound forward in lieu of possible additional profits. The chase for digital fidelity, however, doesn’t impugn on even more forward thinking.

“Since the digital release is basically free we wanted to add some value to the physical release” explains John Glenn. The physical release of Everything at Once, with a street date set for early January, contains musical interludes as well as a booklet with illustrations by Amanda Marie Eilies King (of AMEK Studios).

Working with producers Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner, famous for producing bands like Straylight Run, Coheed and Cambria, and The Sleeping, Everything at Once grabs from the get-go as dark landscapes and atmospheres are explored set against precise backbeats, intricate guitar-work, and post-emo, rafters reaching vocals.

“This album is more of a cohesive thought than what we’ve done in the past” says Dave Parker. “By using a centralized theme, we aimed to create an experience when you listen to the whole album front to back which has also been the movement in our live show.” - Speak Into My Good Eye

Stellar Young has released their first full-length album Everything at Once online. (It will be available at midnight December 18). The band decided to release the album on their Bandcamp page for “pick what you pay” (even nothing) meaning you can name your own price for the album, even if that price is $0.00! Pre-orders for the physical release are available on their Bandcamp page as well.

“People are going to download your music one way or another, so why not give them the highest quality download with the option to pay?” says Erik Flora (guitar/vocals). Erik goes on to explain that free downloads with the option to pay is the direction the music industry has headed. Bands such as Radiohead and Wilco have paved the road for this movement. “Since the digital release is basically free we wanted to add some value to the physical release” explains John Glen (vocals/guitar/keys). The physical release of Everything at Once contains musical interludes as well as a booklet with illustrations by Amanda Marie Eilis King (of AMEK Studios). “This album is more of a cohesive thought than what we’ve done in the past” says Dave Parker (bass). “By using a centralized theme, we aimed to create an experience when you listen to the whole album front to back which has also been the movement in our live show.” The physical album will be released in early January, 2013.

Everything at Once was mostly tracked in the band’s apartment and produced by Dave Parker just like their last release Madison. However, this time the drums were recorded at Applehead Studios in Woodstock, NY and all of the tracks were mixed by Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner. Michael and Chris are known for producing bands like Straylight Run, Coheed and Cambria, The Sleeping, and many more.

Stellar Young is a prime example of the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) band. Between independently releasing Everything at Once, successfully raising funds on Kickstarter for a mini shuttle bus, releasing/recording their sophomore album Madison, hard work and dedication would be the best way to describe their music. - Times Union/ Crumbs Blog

Meet Stellar Young.

You may know them as The City Never Sleeps, as they were formerly called, but if you don’t, take the opportunity now. These Albany, NY boys are a listening MUST.

Comprised of 5 extremely talented musicians, Stellar Young features bassist Dave Parker who was once a touring keyboardist for prog-rock heavyweights Coheed and Cambria and an instrumentalist and producer of Weerd Science. He’s now settled in with his new band and booked some time over at the Applehead Recording studio to record and produce a new full length with the group.

The album, titled Everything at Once, will be released for free next week. As a teaser, we have a download of a single from the record called “We Own Nothing.” Check it out below. - Under The Gun Review

Today we're excited to introduce Stellar Young with an exclusive stream of their debut full-length, Everything At Once. It culminates many years playing music together, throughout college and beyond graduation to arrive at their current state: refreshingly catchy pop-rock that goes heavy on the harmonies.

This Tuesday, you'll be able to download it from Bandcamp for no cost or a donation of your choosing. A special CD release with added illustrations will arrive sometime in early January. “Since the digital release is basically free, we wanted to add some value to the physical release,” explained singer John Glenn.

Everything At Once was self-produced in the band's Albany, NY apartment by bassist Dave Parker, however drum tracking and post-production all took place at Applehead Studios in Woodstock, NY, best known for their work on Coheed And Cambria's latest album.

Check out the stream in its entirety below. - Alternative Press

See the Link for the Video. A similar segment also ran on FOX23 on 04/10/2012

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Tulip Fest showcases Albany's greenery. But this year, blooming flowers aren't the only way the city plans to go green.

CDTA will provide free shuttle service to help clear up traffic congestion in Downtown Albany. You can hop on from Elk and Hawk streets or the OGS Parking Garage. Once you're downtown, you can head to the new gourmet farmers market and green expo!

Don't forget the music. The two day lineup features music from bands like Fountains of Wayne, the group responsible for the hit “Stacy's Mom,” and The City Never Sleeps.

Speaking of moms, the 14th annual Mother of the Year award will be announced that Sunday.

Other yearly traditions include Street Scrubbing Friday May 14th and the Tulip Queen Crowning Saturday.

Spring may have sprung a little early this year, but that shouldn't stop Albany residents from coming out and celebrating good weather.
- YNN 04/10/2012

This article was also in print Wednesday, April 11, 2012

By Steve Barnes

ALBANY - The power-pop group Fountains of Wayne and tribute acts for James Brown and Stevie Wonder will be among the musical highlights of the 64th annual Tulip Festival, scheduled for May 12 and 13 in Washington Park.

Fountains of Wayne is slated to play the main stage, on the park's parade grounds, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. May 12, capping a day that also includes the coronation of the new tulip queen, a set by the Ohio-based dance-rock quartet Walk the Moon and a performance by the popular Capital Region rock-ska-salsa band Conehead Buddha, reunited after a decade's hiatus.

Other acts scheduled for Saturday are Atlanta indie rockers Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun; Albany's The LateShift and The City Never Sleeps; and North Country duo Barkeater. Bands scheduled for Sunday include Higher Ground: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder, Mr. Dynamite: The Explosive James Brown Show, Albany's own (but now based in new York City) John Brodeur and, all from the Capital Region, The Jenson Rhodes Band, Milestone and The Chronicles.

The full tulip festival schedule was announced at a news conference Tuesday by Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings. The city's strict rules about alcohol consumption, including a ban on bringing alcohol into the park, will be back this year. They were implemented in 2011, partly in response to the kegs 'n' eggs melee in March 2011.


Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Fountains-of-Wayne-at-tulip-fest-3471424.php#ixzz1sMeqFtv4 - The Times Union

This article was also in print, with photo.

By Steve Barnes. Wednesday, April 11, 2012

ALBANY - The power-pop group Fountains of Wayne and tribute acts for James Brown and Stevie Wonder will be among the musical highlights of the 64th annual Tulip Festival, scheduled for May 12 and 13 in Washington Park.

Fountains of Wayne is slated to play the main stage, on the park's parade grounds, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. May 12, capping a day that also includes the coronation of the new tulip queen, a set by the Ohio-based dance-rock quartet Walk the Moon and a performance by the popular Capital Region rock-ska-salsa band Conehead Buddha, reunited after a decade's hiatus.

Other acts scheduled for Saturday are Atlanta indie rockers Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun; Albany's The LateShift and The City Never Sleeps; and North Country duo Barkeater. Bands scheduled for Sunday include Higher Ground: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder, Mr. Dynamite: The Explosive James Brown Show, Albany's own (but now based in new York City) John Brodeur and, all from the Capital Region, The Jenson Rhodes Band, Milestone and The Chronicles.


Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Fountains-of-Wayne-at-tulip-fest-3471424.php#ixzz1sMe178KM - The Times Union

Published Thursday January 26th 2012. by Brian Mcelhiney

Indie Rockers
Jazzy indie rockers The City Never Sleeps round out the bill. Although three of the band's members – vocalist John Glenn, Guitarist Erik Flora and drummer Curt Mulick – have been playing together for close to a decade, the band didn't hook up with bassist Dave Parker and second guitarist Kyle Hatch until about a year ago.
Glenn, Flora and Mulick met while in high school in Middletown, first performing together under the name Fourfit in 2004. In college, Mulick met Voorheesville native Hatch, and eventually the original trio relocated to the Albany area and began playing under the name The City Never Sleeps, with Hatch in tow. Parker, who has toured with national act Coheed and Cambria as a keyboardist and continues to work with Coheed's drummer Josh Eppard in Weerd Science, joined up in the past year.
Wienk and Michaels first heard the band playing at the Local Legends Live show at the Empire State Plaza in September.
"They asked us to stop by the studio for an interview and a live acoustic set", Glenn said. "Then they asked if we would play Exit Dome, and we were honored. ... There's a bunch of good bands playing."
Exit Dome will kick off a busy year for the band. The five-piece is already hard at work on their third recording, the follow up to last November's eight track album "Madison". Like with that record, Parker has been recording the new songs in his apartment.
"Back in the day it would be that I would come up with the skeeton of a song, the chord progression and vocal line, but i would say now it's a lot more collaborative," Glenn said of the songwriting process, which combines influences ranging from jazz to hip-hop to hard rock. "We all kind of come together, Pretty much everything we play we write ourselves."
The band is also getting ready to tour the Northeast, with a new shuttle bus they're purchasing with funds from a recent Kickstarter project.
"We're looking at shuttle buses right now, in the process of picking the perfect one" Glenn said. "We're going to gut the interior and put in bunks. Curt works as a car mechanic, with electronics and repair work. We're looking to book a tour in March." - The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, NY.

published Sunday January 29th 2012. By Brian Mcelhiney

ROCKERS
Albany's The City Never Sleeps kicked off the show at 7:30 on a rocking note, powering through five songs of jazz-inflected indie rock. The vocals were the high-light of this bands set- lead singer John Glenn and guitarist Erik Flora traded off harmony lines throughout songs such as the bouncing, energetic "Restless" and set-closing stunner "Mistakes". Flora and fellow guitarist Kyle Hatch opened up the atmospheric sound even further with their guitars, at time trading off lead lines, at other times harmonizing with each other to create lush counterpoint parts. - The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, NY.

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

Speaking of Kickstarter campaigns, Albany indie rock band The City Never Sleeps have launched one such project to help buy a touring vehicle. We’re not talking a Chevy Conversion van, mind you. In their Kickstarter video, the band are quite specific about what they’re looking for: a larger, “shuttle-bus”-type vehicle, ideally deisel, that can be tricked out by mechanic/drummer Curt Mulick to not only haul their stuff but house the five-piece band during their March national tour. The band just released their debut, self-produced full-length, titled Madison, and this is the next step in getting it out there.

The band are looking to raise $5,000 in the next three weeks and are offering scaled incentives to those who contribute, ranging from $1 thank-you notes to $100 merch bundles (including a homemade robot costume) to the peak one-mile-of-travel-for-each-donated-dollar $1,000 level. You can access the band’s Kickstarter page through their Facebook profile: facebook.com/thecityneversleeps.
- Metroland

Upstate, New York's Stellar Young have announced an ambitious trio of EPs—a chiller, electronic "future" theme, "present" in their traditional pop-rock style and finally a "past" one in an acoustic, live-based setting.

Leading the series is future-themed the Spark Caught and its blissful lead single "Love Is Free," exclusively premiering today. The self-recorded release will reach iTunes, Spotify and Bandcamp on September 23, 2016.

Always up to something new, Stellar Young recently released Woodstock Sessions Vol. 5 as both an Amazon Movie and audio only. An ongoing series recorded at Applehead Recording in Woodstock, New York, its previous sessions include Team Sleep, hometown friends Northern Faces and Rich Robinson hosting a live, in-studio recording.

FROM THE AP ARCHIVES: Stellar Young stream sophomore album, Vessels

SEPTEMBER TOUR DATES:

09.27 - Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA
09.28 - Rockwood Music Hall - New York, NY
09.29 - The Saint - Asbury Park, NJ
09.30 - Gypsy Sally's - Washington, DC
10.05 - Smith's Olde Bar - Atlanta, GA
10.06 - The Nick - Birmingham, AL
10.07 - Springwater - Nashville, TN
10.08 - TBA - Memphis, TN
10.10/11 - TBD - OH
10.12 - Oasis - New Paltz, NY
Sponsored by Pamnation - Alternative Press