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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:


The Orange Constant Dips Toes Into “Jamtronica” With New Single September 20, 2018 12:37

Photo by Shane Nelson
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Athens, Ga.-based rock outfit, The Orange Constant has released an instrumental track that nods to its electronic contemporaries. Nearing seven minutes long,  “Prisoner Reprise” captures melodic synthesizer lines, soaring guitar harmonies and explosive transitions that all dabble with the spirit of danceable, digitized music yet remain true to the group’s vintage sound.
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The single was recorded with hometown producer John Keane (R.E.M., Widespread Panic) who previously worked on TOC’s debut album, Time to Go, (2015).  Arriving roughly a year and a half after the release of the group’s second LP, Point of Reference, this new song embraces an area of the band that its members say is underrepresented in current discography. 
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“We just wanted to show everybody where we’re at and the last album didn’t have an instrumental” said Nickalous Benson, guitarist for The Orange Constant. “It’s a song with a hook but it goes through all these different phases. I think it’s really representative of where the band’s at right now.”

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Formed in the college bars of Statesboro, Ga. in 2012 and transplanted to Athens, The Orange Constant has spent the past six years performing across the southeast with national and international acts such as Perpetual Groove, TAUK, Ripe and CBDB. The band says it is eager to spread its sound to music fanatics across the country. 

Stream The Orange Constant's "Prisoner Reprise" here:

Watch The Orange Constant perform "Red Rider" at The Georgia Theatre here:


The Orange Constant Prepares For Big Night In Atlanta October 20, 2017 10:19

Athens-based The Orange Constant is gearing up for another big night at Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta on Saturday (10/21). This looks to be the band's final 2017 appearance in Atlanta, so rest assured that they have prepared accordingly. The band's last performance at Smith's was nearly a sellout, so we recommend purchasing your tickets in advance. Fans can also catch TOC at Savannah's Barrelhouse South and Tallahassee's 5th & Thomas next weekend.

The Orange Constant formed in 2012 in Statesboro, Ga. and quickly made a name for itself across the American southeast. Now residing in Athens, Ga., the group continues to grow a loyal fan-base that craves its vintage rock sound. TOC's debut album, Time to Go (June 2015), was recorded with Grammy nominated producer John Keane (REM, Widespread Panic) and garnered national praise from Relix Magazine which cited the work as a "confident and polished debut album...laden with connective riffs and melodious charm."

The band shares bills with nationally and internationally touring acts including Perpetual Groove, TAUK, The Mantras, and Atlas Road Crew and won the 2016 Flagpole Athens Music Award for best "Jam/ Funk" band. Its second LP, Point of Reference (March 2017), was produced by Drew Vandenberg (of Montreal, Kishi Bashi, Futurebirds) and has been described as “eclectic rock n' roll, everything from blissful southern rock and indie jams to urban funk.” 

The Orange Constant draws influence from many different styles, and fans are often drawn to their ability to meld progressive composition and improvisation with a pop-like sensibility. The band consists of Andrew Brantley (guitar/vocal), Nickalous Benson (guitar, vocals), Tyler Walker (bass, vocals), Chris Freiberg (keyboard), Sam Groveman (Drums). 

Watch The Orange Constant perform Perpetual Groove's "TSMM" here:


Disco Tendencies To Headline Smith's Olde Bar In Atlanta On Friday February 22, 2017 22:01

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Local Atlanta funk rock band Disco Tendencies is gearing up for a big night at Smith's Olde Bar this Friday night.  The band is fresh off the release of its 2016 release Birdhouse, and local fans can expect an evening full of energy and excitement.  Direct support will come from fellow Georgia-based acts The Orange Constant and LaGoons.  Music is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 PM EST and run until 2:00 AM EST.  For further information on this show and all of the latest updates, make sure to RSVP to the official Facebook page.  Tickets can be purchased in advance by clicking here.
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Watch Disco Tendencies perform "Wild Voodoo" at Aisle 5 on 11.11.16 here:
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Fresh off of the release of their debut album Birdhouse, Disco Tendencies are a band to watch in the Atlanta music scene. Drawing from elements of rock, funk and jam, they form an accessible sound that’s just as captivating live as it is on their album. Disco Tendencies’ songs work within a loosely defined, yet immediately recognizable framework, where songs are subject to a complete tonal shift at the drop of a hat. Listeners have likened the band’s sound to a range of acts such as The Black Crowes, Kings of Leon and Sublime.
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Comparisons to these bands may be primarily born out of the vocal style of front man, Alex Rogers, whose bouncy and talented delivery helps the rock band stand out from others within its circle. Electric guitar duties are shared between Matt Payne’s spot-on funky, bluesy riffs and Jeff Axelrod’s precise, yet unpredictable shredding capabilities. The rhythm backbone consists of drummer, Scott Dickson, and bassist, Gil Templeton, who have over a decade of experience together—working in lockstep to lay down groovy textures and frantic crescendos alike.
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Disco Tendencies generally play in bars and music venues in the Atlanta area. They’re known to bring a crowd with them, drawing everyone from young partygoers to local music fans with tie-dyes and grey ponytails. While the band plays shows and works on material for their sophomore album, the easiest way to check them out is at their website discotendencies.com or through Spotify, iTunes or Apple.
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The Orange Constant: Bio
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The Orange Constant formed in August 2012 and quickly made a name for themselves in Statesboro, GA. Now, The Orange Constant resides in Athens, GA and performs in venues all over the Southeast and continues to grow their fan-base with their contemporary yet vintage rock/jam sound. TOC recently recorded their debut album, Time to Go with Grammy nominated producer John Keane (REM, Widespread Panic) which was released June 19th. Time to Go has garnered praise from many publications, including Relix Magazine, who included TOC in their “On the Verge” column in the October-November 2015 issue. Shortly after, TOC joined the Homegrown Music Network whose roster includes acts such as Lotus, the Motet, Dangermuffin, and Big Something. In addition, they have played on bills that include Perpetual Groove, The Mantras, TAUK, Atlas Road Crew, and Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band. They are currently recording their second album at Chase Park Transduction with Drew Vandenberg (of Montreal, Kishi Bashi, Mothers) which is set to release in early 2017.
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The Orange Constant draws influence from many different styles to create a musical experience that is new and unique. The Orange Constant thrives on creating songs that differ from one another and possess their own inspired character. Their songs follow no specific writing format, allowing the band to run with any ideas that bring the music to life. Fans are often drawn to their ability to meld progressive composition and improvisation with a pop-like sensibility. The band’s lyrics often include content that reveals personal values and experiences. This allows the band to groove with meaning and depth. Being influenced by bands such as My Morning Jacket, Widespread Panic, and Incubus, TOC focuses their energy on live performances that resonate deeply with the audience. The band consists of Andrew Brantley (guitar/vocal), Lee Guentert (drums), Nickalous Benson (guitar/vocal), and Tyler Walker (bass/vocal).
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LaGoons: Bio
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Conjured in the summer suns of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, LaGoons breathe a breeze of fresh air into the world of jam music. Step into a show and you'll immediately hear their unique, goony sound. Deriving influences from Blues/Funk/Reggae and the Unknown, LaGoons are committed to the live concert experience. With each show the goal is to reach the highest level of energy possible, leaving plenty of room for improvisation and the listener wanting more.
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Founded in Tuscaloosa in 2013, LaGoons have recently nestled into their new home of Atlanta, Georgia. The band is working hard to spread their sound throughout the Southeast, breaking into North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, along with various parts of Georgia and Alabama with no plans of slowing down. They are currently recording their debut album, set for an April 2017 release.
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LaGoons are - Tommy Faust (Guitar, Vox) Clarke Chadwell (Bass, Vox) Dallas Dawson (Drums, Percussion) John Hooper (Keys, Organ) Quinn Mason (Alto Saxophone)

'Point of Reference' Marks New Sonic Territory for The Orange Constant January 26, 2017 12:09

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Athens, GA based eclectic rock band The Orange Constant (TOC) will be self-releasing their 2nd full length album Point of Reference on Fri. March 24th. The album was recorded at Chase Park Transduction in Athens during October - December 2016 with Drew Vandenberg (discography includes of Montreal, Mothers, Kishi Bashi), and was mastered by Joe Lambert (catalog includes Animal Collective, Local Natives, The Black Crowes).
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Containing songs written over a span of four years, Point of Reference displays a striking maturity in TOC’s songwriting. Compared to their debut album Time to Go, this release embraces more risk taking in the studio, fueled by Vandenberg’s experimental leanings. Although TOC has been labeled a jam band in the past, this release demonstrates that they are more likely to be inspired by 70’s AOR and contemporaries like My Morning Jacket than Phish.
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We couldn't be more pleased to premier one of TOC's latest singles, "Something We Can Use," which will be featured on March's release, Point of Reference. We recently caught up with Lee Guentert (drums) to discuss the new album and learn a little more about what we can expect from The Orange Constant in 2017. See below to read more and stream the single today. Make sure to check the band's official website and Facebook page for all of the latest updates on The Orange Constant!
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Listen to the exclusive premier of The Orange Constant's "Something We Can Use" here:
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Q&A with Lee Guentert of The Orange Constant
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Tell us a little bit about the recording process for the new album.
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Lee: For Point of Reference we decided to work with Drew Vandenberg, known primarily for working with experimental and indie acts such as of Montreal, Kishi Bashi, Mothers, and the Futurebirds. He met with us several times at our rehearsal space before we began recording to get a feel for the songs and pitch ideas for new arrangements. That was great because it helped us get to know him better, and kept our time in the studio more efficient. For our first session, we spent 10 days in the studio tracking the songs and adding overdubs. The four of us, plus our friend Chris Freiberg on keyboards, recorded all of the songs live. We then made edits to those tracks, added horns, more keys, vocals, etc. We were trying to keep the process as organic and traditional as possible, similar to how bands in the 70's recorded, while also implementing new sounds and styles that aren't common in the jam scene.

How was this experience different than that of the first album? 
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Lee: We learned a lot from John Keane and couldn't have asked for a better experience recording our debut Time to Go, but it was nice working with Drew because he is closer in age. The recording process (live tracking, adding overdubs,etc.) was fairly similar to the first album, but Drew was constantly pushing us to be weirder and to utilize more unique guitar tones and sounds. He also worked at a slower pace (in a good way), and wanted to try every idea before dismissing it. Overall, Drew took on a more producer-like role and shaped the songs more than Keane, while also keeping the experience creative and fun. We had a lot of good laughs in the control room!
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How would you say the new material reflects the overall direction of the band?
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Lee: In some ways I believe it fits the overall direction, but then again, genre shifting has always been a part of The Orange Constant. In many ways this album shows us at this point in time, just like how the first album represented that period. I think our live shows will continue to incorporate more jamming and improvisation, but our studio material will likely hone in on the songwriting and focus on exploring studio possibilities.
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Interview: The Orange Constant September 23, 2015 11:32

 

We recently caught up with Lee Guentert (drums) and Nickolaus Benson (guitar/vocals) of The Orange Constant, one of Athens, Georgia's most exciting young bands.  Check out our latest interview and listen to a few of the band's original tunes while you're at it!

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The Orange Constant came to life in September of 2012 at Georgia Southern University, playing various house parties around Statesboro, GA.  How did the band come together, and what stands out the most when looking back over the past three years?

Lee: The band came together through Andrew and Nick meeting in a music theory class at Georgia Southern. They started to jam and write outside of class with Nick's roommate Kyle. Lee met Kyle soon after and we all started hashing out original songs immediately in the basement of Andrew's town-home. Many things stand out from our beginning, but we distinctly remember that it was a struggle for us to come up with a band name. We eventually came up with The Orange Constant after noticing that our rehearsal space glowed orange at practice every day as a result of sunlight passing through an egg crate held over the window.

You guys have since relocated to Athens, GA, one of the South's biggest hotbeds for original live music. How big of an impact has this move had on the band?

Nick: By the time we had moved to Athens, we had already been living together for a year, except that in the old house Andrew slept in the dining room. Everyone having their own space has helped us relax a little more. Statesboro is a fantastic town for anyone starting a band because there is not much competition and interest in live music is starting to take off. Moving to Athens has reminded us that there is always room to improve, so we are practicing now more than ever. 

Who have been some of your biggest influences over the years? Are there any particular musicians/bands who you find the band being compared to by listeners?  How do you guys classify your sound?

Lee: Collectively , we draw influence from just about every genre of music, but each member has their own preferences. Some of our favorite artists are The Beatles, My Morning Jacket, The Allman Brothers, and Frank Zappa.  We are often compared to Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish, and Incubus, but we have heard just about every comparison under the sun. For lack of a better description, we classify ourselves as Alternative Jam Rock.

What has been your approach when writing new songs? Do you typically start with the chords or thelyrics?  How has the songwriting process worked within the band?

Nick: As a band, we don't really have a set formula for song writing. Typically our songs come from a seed. Every member contributes seeds at different times. A seed could be a guitar riff, couple of chords, bass groove, drum beat…etc. Once the seed has been planted, the other members come in and add water, some sunlight, and the occasional MiracleGro. If all goes well, we have a complete uniformed idea/song. Although democratic group writing is a common method, some songs are written primarily by one or two members. In those cases the other members try to enhance the preexisting vision. The primary lyric writers are Nick and Andrew, but every member has written lyrics to at least one song.

You recorded your first full length album, Time to Go, with Grammy-nominated producer John Keane (Widespread Panic, REM) earlier this year.  Tell me about how you guys got hooked up with Keane, and what that experience was like as a young band.

Lee: When we were researching studios he immediately came to mind as the best option, but due to his busy schedule we were not hopeful. We had attempted to contact him for months when one day we check our inbox to see a a message from John Keane. It turns out he was available the week we needed to record so it all worked out. Working with John was an incredible experience. He is a very patient and focused individual. He will speak his mind openly but will do it without offending anyone. He also has a gift at bringing out the best of each member and translating that into a lively and clear recording. If possible, we definitely would like to record with him again!

The Orange Constant has quickly broken out of the Statesboro and Athens scene and made its way into the Southeastern circuit.  Not many people understand how much goes into the business side of a band, much less a new band.  How has that worked for you guys thus far?

Lee: So far managing ourselves has worked out well. Up until recently we did all of the booking ourselves, but have since joined forces with William Bridwell of Airbound Entertainment. Adding him to our team has allowed us to contribute more time and energy into the music. Overall, we are comfortable developing in a grassroots sort of way, but we are also open to joining a record label or management agency if the right opportunity presents itself.

How is the rest of 2015 shaping up for the band.  What has you guys most excited?  Have any major goals/plans for 2016 been laid out yet?

Nick: 2015 has been great for us so far. The move to Athens was definitely a big step for us as well as our recent van purchase. As for the future, we have a show coming up at the Georgia Theatre where we're playing on the rooftop after Umphrey's McGee. This is exciting news because they are a huge influence on us as a band and it presents the opportunity to play to a crowd of new listeners. If all goes according to plan, we would like to release a new album out in 2016. That is one of the biggest goals for the year to come. After that, we just want to keep improving and building a fan base all over the Southeast.

The Orange Constant:
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Andrew Brantley (vocals, guitar, keyboard)
Nickalous Benson (guitar, vocals, keyboard)
William Goggans (bass)
Lee Guentert (drums)
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Official Website: The Orange Constant

Facebook: The Orange Constant

Instagram: The Orange Constant

Twitter: The Orange Constant