Formulaic rock stars and imitation punk-rock boys rule the airwaves with their derivative ditties and textbook teen angst, but as fads fade one musical force will remain—the ability to craft intoxicating songs rife with beauty, intellect, and empathy. And, this is why a four-piece rock act from Alabama will leave a long-lasting impression on music. They are Eyes Around—Michael Donahue (vocals, guitar), Neil Chevallier (guitar, vocals), Tim Morgan (bass) and Tye Hammonds(drums).
The music of Eyes Around is a cocktail of mastery accepting long-held truths about the power and theory of music. The band delivers thoughtful songs punctuated with climatic bridges and significant choruses that build with dream-wrenched layers of passionate vocals, a driving bass line, infectious drums, soaring strings, and two guitars, one raw, the other pristine. Lead singer and lyricist Donahue shares, “I like the sounds an orchestra makes, the honesty of Jeff Buckley, the spirit of U2, the vastness of Pink Floyd, the melody of the Beatles, the grit of the Pixies, and the smoothness of Zero 7,” and the traces of each resonate throughout the bands latest self-titled EP.
Without the support of a label, the band’s solid EP has earned them regional airplay on Alabama’s biggest rock station 107.7 WRAX Birmingham where the catchy “Say What You Will” has generated countless requests. The station has proclaimed, “Eyes Around embodies what the ‘alternative rock’ movement once stood for.” And if the alternative rock movement once embraced riveting live performances, Eyes Around delivers. The texture of Neil’s guitar, who has only been playing for a little over two years, rival the most brilliant moments of the Edge and Radiohead. The persistence of Tim’s bass lends comparison to Adam Clayton. Tye breaks drum pedals, and Michael scorches a room with fiery vocals. With humility, Tim quips, “We don’t have a stand out player in the band, and it makes us rely on each other to make great songs and music.”
The band's powerful chemistry has landed them spots opening for acts as diverse as R.E.M., Kid Rock, Acceptance, Saliva, Crossfade and Injected and the opportunity to play at Birmingham’s City Stages with bands such as Switchfoot and My Morning Jacket.
