Artist description avandguard offers a fresh acoustic/electric collection of musings and commentaries mixing traditional elements of folk, country, and alternative

Music Style electric/folk country alternative

Musical Influences flaming lips, replacements, GBV's, beatles, bob dylan

Similar Artists flaming lips, wilco, GBV, willard grant conspiracy, alejandro escavedo

Artist History Kondol started playing at places like the TOP HAT and Brick in the Tacoma and Seattle WA.area. In 1980 he was asked to play drums in a band called the "Smoldering Remains"no one else knew how. After moving to Seattle he met Scott McCaughy (young fresh fellow, minus 5, REM).Scott was working at a record store at this time. He encouraged Kondol to put out his demos locally. A few demos later, after recording in expensive studios like historic Kaye-Smith studio (Fly like an Eagle-Steve Miller and Heart)in Seattle, Kondol followed McCaughey's advice and finished his first CD "Avand Guard" a few years later in his and his friends's (Robert Hammerstrom - cyze-o-graph studio).He has been recording since then.Currently Kondol is putting out a new cd. Tracks on Kondol's latest project album contain big indie sounding analog drum and guitar tracks recorded by John Vanderslices at his studio called Tinytelephone www.tinytelephone.com

Group Members Mike Kondol

Instruments everything

Albums avandguard, greener, woodgrain waves, 8trackmind

Press Reviews Robert Doerschuk (Keyboard magazine): Strong alt-country ties wrap around Seattle's Mike Kondol, but songs from his album Avandguard harbor something older in his sound too. "Tornados and Hurricanes" reaches all the way back to the Sixties, with its uncanny evocation of Buffalo Springfield in Kondol's quavering harmonies and gently eccentric instrumentation. The song's empty spaces and peculiar yet poetic lyrics ("I know I'm supposed to be behind you, but I'm not a rip in your jeans") trigger hallucinations from a time before grunge. More modern technology intrudes in the churning drum loops of "Calculated," though Kondol's near-tuneless, Dylan-like delivery preserves the retro feel. His references are a bit more elusive, yet also more comprehensible, on "Peace of Heaven." Here, the simplicity of the lyric and the easy-going groove reflect modest ambitions: In his nasal and imprecise way, Kondol asks but little from life -- "a little peace of heaven, that's all we need." He ambles through the tune, the instrumentation bare and sparely played. By aiming low, toward the vicinity of the lives we really lead, rather than shooting toward the moon, Kondol proves surprisingly persuasive, and more than a bit moving in his everyman eloquence. Rocket(Seattle music magazine)- Kondol is a professional songwriter. He sings and plays well. Is worth a listen.(Seattle Weekly)- Kondol on his way with his new CD "Avand Guard"Listen.com- "his strained voice is well suited for his jangly pop driven guitar" " Perfect indie pop " The Record Industry.com “your stuff is in a similar ball park in my opinion to Bob Dylan’s “Love & Theft), not a bad park to be playing in. Dean Palermo President, CEO Elettro Inc.

Location seattle, wa - USA

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