Powerful, nostalgic, energetic The debut album from Richmond based group The New Outliers features a magical mix of rock with a touch of 90’s nostalgia to crea
Powerful, nostalgic, energetic The debut album from Richmond based group The New Outliers features a magical mix of rock with a touch of 90’s nostalgia to create a powerful indie-rock sound.
Rock n’ roll was at the forefront of popular music throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s, from Zeppelin and Floyd, to AC/DC and right up to Pearl Jam. Begin the Everything brings together all of that genre’s best elements. Melodic hooks, visceral bass and drum grooves, deep lyrics, and blistering guitar riffs are just a few of the trademarks of a band focused on their craft.
“It’s all about the music,” said The Outliers lead vocalist Steve Snider. Joining Snider are fellow veteran musicians from the RVA rock scene including Howard Eckstein on bass, Brett Fisher on lead guitar, Kevin Shell on drums, and Ryan Colton providing additional rhythm and lead guitar work.
Formed in 2010, The New Outliers have been quite busy, writing original music, performing live shows, even releasing an EP, all before commencing work on their newly released debut-album, Begin the Everything, out now through services like iTunes.
Snider noted that between the band’s beginning, and the release of their album, they revamped their lineup, bringing in Snider, along with drummer Kevin Shell and lead guitar Ryan Colton.
Recording for Begin the Everything began in the late fall of 2014 with final sessions finishing up the following spring.
The story behind the recordings is a lesson in ingenuity.
“We knew we wanted to record an album,” said Snider. “We also knew that with our budget, there was no way we’d be getting into a studio.” Snider continued “Even little bands like us can invest tens of thousands into recording an album, and we just didn’t have it.”
Instead, the band bought the necessary recording equipment and set up camp in a garage. “It was the garage that we always practice in, and it became the garage we recorded an album in.”
The sessions proved to be quite relaxing.
“We recorded on our normal practice nights,” said Snider, giving the band room to still spend time with their families. Within about 7 months, the album was completely on tape. “We went into this thinking we’re making a garage record… and it’s going to sound like a garage record.” Through Snider though, the band hired now drummer Ryan Colton to help record the album.
“It was virtually free,” recalls Snider, “I got the friend rate!” Eventually, the band realized the sound quality was turning out much greater than they anticipated.
As far as production was concerned, Snider recalls the band wanting to make a classic, unadulterated rock album.
“We wanted a no-frills, in your face… as pure as possible.” A quick listen to the music provides a window to the complex arrangements and thought-provoking lyrics that lie under the hard rock surface.
The richness of the music is a testament to how the band approaches their album-making.
Snider pointed out that everyone in the band plays a part when making music.
“For me, that’s kind of what gives us our sound, all of us in a room together, bringing something to the table… Even if I bring in an idea, we usually end up crediting the whole band.” Each member puts in their time on a song and as Snider said, “it becomes a whole new thing.”
One can hear several different genres within their music, including punk, alt-country, and pop. “Everyone brings their own musical influences to the table,” said Snider.
When asked about the music scene in Richmond, Snider thinks of it as a “love-hate” relationship. “We love the music coming out of Richmond,” Snider said, noting the Avers, among others, as a noteworthy band in the city. The “hate” aspect for Snider is getting people to come out shows.
“You have to remember, you’re competing with everything else going on that night.”
What’s in the New Outliers future? “We have something in the works,” said Snider. An EP will be forthcoming in the near future. At this point though, Snider pointed out, “We’re still at the ideas stage.”
If this album is any proof, Richmond will want to hear more from these guys very soon!
