Artist description Recalls the "glory days" of independent rock. The band tempers it's progressive side with a punchy, melodic attack reminiscent of "strings" era SUPERCHUNK. (think Superchunk meets Fugazi, meets Flaming Lips, meets Unwound) The songs base themselves in melody and a pop sensibility. Mmmmm Melody

Music Style Independent RAWK

Musical Influences Yes, The Police, Fugazi, Unwound, Sonic Youth, Joe Cocker, Dave and Sugar

Similar Artists System and Station

Artist History System and Station started out in Boise,Id. Members Mike Rundle,Ryan Heise,and Dave Wall played in many Boise bands before getting together. When the band formed in Spring of 98'they decided to move to the midwest for touring purposes. toured/played with- Built To Spill on tour dates, Modest Mouse, Caustic Resin, PW Long, Alex Chilton, Shiner, Marky Ramone, 764-Hero, The Go, The Delusions, Pinebender, Lynx, Oxes, Sarge, and lots of others. Steady touring throughout the Northwest, Midwest, Southwest and some Eastcoast touring. CMJ festival 1999 and

Group Members Ryan FK Heise-guitar,vocals Mike Rundle-Drums Dave Wall-Bass

Press Reviews System and Station: Pictures Found in Paragraphs (Crustacean) reviewed:6.26.01 - MILK Magazine The times they are a-changin'? Maybe, as the man who turns sixty the day I write this once said - but I will irritate some MILK readers by noting the following: System and Station is a three-piece band, guitar, bass, and drums. As such, the guitarist, Ryan FK Heise, plays intricate parts halfway between rhythm and lead; David Wall, the bassist, likewise plays very active parts that incorporate high-register lines thickening the rhythmic/chordal canvas; and the drummer, Mike Rundle, takes a textural approach to his kit, also filling in the musical spaces between structure and surface. Oh, and add some high-pitched vocals from Heise, who also plays the occasional keyboard part. Clearly, this band's main influence is Rush - or maybe a less keyboard-drenched version of Yes. Back to reality: I doubt either of those bands is among System and Station's main influences - I suspect Sunny Day Real Estate would loom far larger, and the band is free from the goofier lyrical notions that were the seventies bands' weakest aspect. But what goes around comes around, and not only the instrumental features but some of the twitchier rhythmic and harmonic twists here do recall the old-fart, pre-punk seventies. Fortunately for System and Station, the band also never forgets the power of directness and emotional intensity - what once might have unironically been called "the power of rock" - and if they may have a mixed relationship with that "r" word, it's because of suspicion of the boneheaded market-grubbing perpetrated in its name, not because (and here's the other main weakness of your prog-rock folks) of a desire to be jazz musicians, classical theoreticians, or magick-wielding wizards with guitars instead of wands. No, I'll bet they look a lot like you and me, and they're content to let their considerable musical and lyrical talents prove their music's worth. This isn't opera, or even an off-Broadway chamber drama, but just life: open and thoughtful, but (as that sixty year-old once said) life and life only- Jeffrey Norman

Additional Info New record "Compiling the #7" out soon. The band moved to Portland, OR 8/1/01.

Location portland, or - USA

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