Not playing favorites
By Susan Pugh on May. 22, 2008
By Nanci Dodson, The Burg
The interview was to begin at 4. However, singer Tim Humphries and bassist Jake Hughes of the band Porcelain Smile are still en route from Christiansburg.
About 4:25, they roll into Starbucks and, after a deep sigh, Humphries exclaims, “You’ll never believe it! Men in chicken masks were holding up all the traffic on the interstate with Uzis!”
“They were holding the interstate hostage! You’ll probably see it on the news.”
The guys maintain their poker faces for a while until guitarist Jon May chuckles under his breath.
“Yeah, we really just got lost,” Hughes says with a laugh.
Named after a random song lyric written by a former member, Porcelain Smile formed in 2004. Today, the band consists of Humphries and May, Hughes, Jacob Greenwalt (guitar) and Brett Colvin (drums).
They’ll be making their debut in the Hill City Sunday at the newly opened venue the Pit, with material from their forthcoming - and first - full-length album, “Lovers, Liars, Jailors and Sailors,” set to drop June 13.
The guys describe their sound as Southern metalcore, although they agree that the genre wasn’t necessarily premeditated.
“We didn’t go out of our way to play Southern metal,” Humphries says. “We just started playing, and that’s what came out.”
Porcelain Smile has already shared the stage with other bands of Southern metal acclaim, such as Buffalo natives Every Time I Die, Birmingham rockers Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, and Wilmington outfit He Is Legend, to name a few.
“In the music business, it’s about knowing someone else,” says Humphries.
“But most of it’s just luck,” Hughes adds.
The upcoming album’s concept follows a sea theme. Hence, the reference to sailors in its name.
“The lyrical content ranges from sinking ships to pirates,” May says. (At which point a customer, who must have overheard, grabs Humphries’ shoulder and lets out a hearty pirate’s, “Arg!”)“All of the songs tell a story and fit together,” Humphries adds.
And, while most band members generally have a specific connection with at least one track, the guys in Porcelain Smile aren’t playing favorites.
“That’s kind of like picking a favorite child,” Hayes says with a laugh.
As for the writing process, the band worked as a team to compile the album, which took seven months.
“We all play everything, so someone would play a riff, then we’d base it off of that,” Humphries says.
When it comes to lyrics, Hayes says, “It’s kind of a hodgepodge.”
Although the band has yet to be picked up by a major label, they were able to record with producer Brock Hill (New Found Glory, Underoath) at Starlight Studios in Orlando, Fla. The album will be released via iTunes and District Lines, a distributing company online.
The guys are currently planning a tour throughout the Southwest, with help from members of Blacksburg band Far-Less.
In addition, they’re up for a spot on the Ernie Ball stage at the Vans Warped Tour when the festival stops in Virginia Beach on July 15. However, if they are picked by tour founder Kevin Lyman to be featured on the Kevin Says stage (a stage reserved for up-and-coming bands Lyman deems worthy), Porcelain Smile will be offered 10 more dates on the tour.
Dedication is something Porcelain Smile seems to grasp rather well. All five members are in college and work for a living. May drives from Bedford to Christiansburg for practice twice a week. For now, they will continue touring, and the band is excited for their Lynchburg appearance.
“We came to play music and kick ass,” Hayes says. “We’re just not very tough.”
So they’ll just stick to what they know.
IF YOU’RE GOING:
—WHAT: Anxious Arms, Porcelain Smile, Steal the Prize and Out of the Ashes
—WHEN: Sunday, May 25, Doors at 6 p.m., Show starts at 6:30
—WHERE: The Pit, 1417 Kemper Street
—HOW MUCH: $5/door
—INFO: Visit http://www.myspace.com/porcelainsmileband or http://www.myspace.com/lbc_pit
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