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The Orange Constant Peels Into Staple Sound With New Album May 12, 2020 00:07

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Georgia-based rock outfit The Orange Constant has self-released its third studio album. Featuring mostly newer material, Peel, was recorded over the past year and a half with Grammy-nominated producer John Keane with whom the band has previously worked with.

The LP digs into a familiar blend of vintage and modern rock and covers the group’s sonic spectrum; heartfelt anthems with catchy choruses ride alongside instrumental skill with psychedelic undertones.

Band guitarist and co-founder Nickalous Benson says the album benefited from a lengthier recording process and familiarity with Keane as the hometown producer.

“We’ve never before had so much time to pick at the layers,” Benson said. “You could sit back and reevaluate the music you recorded and decide if you really like it.”

The release marks the first full-length studio effort that includes all five current members of the band. 

Formed in Statesboro, Ga. in 2012 and transplanted to Athens, The Orange Constant steadily tours the greater southeast and has performed as far north as New York and west as Colorado. The new album is available for purchase or streaming on all major platforms and the band says it hopes to press vinyl this year.

Those who are interested can head over to the band’s Facebook page for a live listening party at 8:00 PM EST tonight (May 12th). They will be listening to the album in its entirety, as well as hosting a Q&A session with their fans.

Stream The Orange Constant's new album Peel via Spotify here:


Throwback: John Bell & Michael Houser Play "Driving Song" Acoustic December 17, 2015 11:28

 

In January of 2001, John Bell and Mikey Houser of Widespread Panic performed "Driving Song" during an acoustic session on the porch of John Keane's house in Athens, GA. Parts of this sequence were used in the movie The Earth Will Swallow You. The entire song was published on YouTube in 2014 by Geoff Hanson.  

The Earth Will Swallow You is a film by brothers Geoff and Christopher Hanson detailing the Widespread Panic's 2000 Summer Tour, though a substantial portion of the film is behind-the-scenes footage of studio sessions, traveling, and interviews. It includes footage from their performances at larger venues such as the Red Rocks Amphitheatre and San Francisco's Warfield Theater. There are also several clips from smaller venues and impromptu settings (New York City's Central Park).

Much of the concert footage highlights their appearances with other artists, including Taj Mahal, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Jorma Kaukonen, Merle Saunders, and Cecil "P-Nut" Daniels. Most of these artists are given a brief interview segment as well. Perhaps the real highlights of the film are the rare glimpses into the band's life off the road. Much attention is given to their recording in various studios (John Keane's studio, where many of their albums were recorded, bassist Dave School's house), time spent with artists close to the band (Vic Chesnutt, Col. Bruce Hampton), and, more importantly, one-on-one interviews with each member of the group.

Video by Geoff Hanson