Between Two Lions (EP), Press
April 2005
Louisville Velocity
April 13, 2005
Between Two Lions is Three Best Friends
by JOSHUA HAMMANN
There's not much clamoring out there for a one-man band.
It's tough to walk with that bass drum on your back, and well, clapping cymbals between your knees will never beat out a steady rhythm.
So Brent Engle recruited two of his best friends to turn Between Two Lions from a notion in his head and a collection of songs nobody had ever heard into a legit band.
Engle, along with drummer Eric Moore and bassist Todd Corley, have been playing and performing under the name Between Two Lions since late 2001.
All three guys, and manager Scott Estes, grew up together in New Albany.
In 2001, the three had been called Thieves, and included guitarist John Stein. Stein, however, moved to California in 2003.
It wasn't until the band was whittled down to a trio that it was able to play out.
Engle, Moore and Corley went into the studio about this time last year with Faulk Audio engineer Tim Haertel manning the board. As is the case with most young bands, money and studio time were short, so the band had just a week to record a nine-song EP.
"It was as much fun as playing out, if not more so," Engle said of his maiden voyage into a real studio. "It gave us time to be creative together, and it was a good experience for us."
The self-titled EP is nothing more than gentle, guitar-driven pop. Engle's voice, especially on "Thieves," is warm and intimate, and artfully takes the lead over his clean guitar lines and a steady, bouncing rhythm.
"Our sound has evolved a little bit," Engle said. "We were looking for the folk-country flavor in the beginning, but it's something a little more poppy and gentle now. It's basically pop and roots rock."
"The plan right now is to go back into the studio this fall," Engle said. "We have an enormous amount of new material to record. Hopefully, we'll have something by the end of the year to shop around. That's our goal right now."
Until them, you can check out Between Two Lions live April 27 during the Roots of Rock Battle of the Bands at Jillian's.
Full Article.
April 2005
New Albany Tribune
April 17, 2005
Three childhood friends use talent, passion to make a new band a success
by RONI MONTGOMERY
Between Two Lions is a relatively new local band, but their passion for music has thrived for years. Comprised of three childhood friends - Brent Engle, Eric Moore and Todd Corley - the band has a desire to "create music that people want to hear."
With years of training and practice, the New Albany natives have a rich history in music. Besides being the lead vocalist, Engle plays guitar harmonica, piano/keyboards and writes all the music and lyrics for the band. Moore, the drummer, is a classically trained percussionist who has played since he was 8 years old. And Corley, whose father and twin brother have played in popular local bands, is a seasoned bass guitarist.
"We've been into music our entire lives, and it just manifested into a band," Engle said. "We're your basic roots rock band with a poppy flavor. Our music has a gentle aspect to it. The band is a product of musicians with open minds to a broad array of sounds and styles."
Engle said the band formed in 2001, but didn't perform live until 2002. Their shows consist of their own original music, mixed with an array of cover material.
"It took about a year to build our confidence," he said. "Since then, we've played at local venues such as Headliners, The Main Street Lounge, O'Sheas, Wick's and the Main Menu."
In March 2004, the band recorded their first album, "Between Two Lions EP," at Faulk Audio in Louisville. It was released in December 2004, and is available at their shows, on the band's Web site - www.betweentwolions.com - and at cdbaby.com.
"When we created the album, we wanted to put together songs that we'd want to hear - songs that our friends and other people would like," Engle said. "We've been pleasantly surprised with the response. You never know what people are going to say. But, quite a few people have told us they really enjoy it. And we seem to have a steady base of fans who come to our shows."
Inspired by bands such as Whiskeytown, The Stone Roses and Television, the trio enjoys the creative process of making original music.
"I start the process by writing the songs, and we finish them together," Engle said. "When we finish a song it's usually very different from the original version. Eric and Todd are really talented musicians, so it makes it easy."
Even though the members have professional careers - Engle is a senior consultant for a telecommunications firm, Moore is an accountant and Corley is a systems administrator and owner of an information technology consulting firm - they take the band very seriously.
"We're going to keep playing as long as it is fun," Engle said. "If the band gets in the way of our careers, or if our careers get in the way of the band, we'll have to cross the bridge when we get there. We're not going to rule anything out. We just truly enjoy making music and know that people want to listen."
Between Two Lions will perform in Louisville at Jillian's Roots of Rock Band Battle at 9:30 p.m. on April 27, and at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom's Thirsty Melon Music Festival June 24-26.
Full Article.
May 2005
PulverRadio
May 5, 2005
PulverRadio Spotlight
by MICHAEL MCCLENATHAN
Between Two Lions is the name that Brent Engle uses when he puts on his rock hat. His friends Eric and Todd help out, too. This is rock from a small town in Indiana, and it sounds the way good rock from a small town should sound. It's not rushed, not obnoxious or overbearing, and it's very pretty.
May 2005
Louisville Eccentric Observer
May 11, 2005
Between Two Lions (EP)
by DOUG RAPP
New Albany�s Between Two Lions has released an EP of sharp and jangly pop tunes, like REM and later-day Lemonheads. Opener �Walking Awake� floats over the same somberly discordant chords Evan Dando used to croon over. �Pop Song� is, well, a catchy pop song, with backing woo-woos and lyrics like I�m feeling alone, I throw a Velvets record on because I�m digging the tone. �Put On a Shirt� sounds like an intriguing demo of John Mayer jamming with Shudder to Think.
The trio shifts into alt-country mode with �Anthem for a Heartbreaker,� and then rolls into Stonesish territory with �Tracey,� a sly ode to a girl who broke songwriter Engle�s heart not once, not twice, but three times.
The eight-song EP closes with �Twenty-four,� a reference to the 24 years since Engle poked my head in at this world rather than Kiefer Sutherland. The band kicks it up a bit more toward the end, charging into a Neil Youngish guitar solo. Engle has a lot of ideas based in some tried-and-true schools of rock, and it should be interesting to see how these guys evolve. Between Two Lions plays the newly opened Oasis (1506 Lake Shore Court, 412-2275) with Bloom Street on Friday at 10 p.m.
Full Article.
August 2005
Indie-Music.com
August 06, 2005
Between Two Lions (EP)
by DEREK BLACKMON
Finally, my faith in rock is slowly being restored. On Indiana-based Between Two Lions' initial self-titled EP, it appears that talent, in lieu of flashy make-up (vis-Ã -vis My Chemical Romance and The Killers) and bed-wetter lyrics (reference your least favorite emo band here), is once again the new rage.
With nine songs attached, it�s a bit of a misnomer to actually classify this as an EP, but my job now is to write about it, not to change how it�s marketed. Don�t be misled, there are a couple of tender songs here, but the sad bastard element seems to be kept at elbow's distance.
The opening track �Walking Awake� seems vaguely familiar to The Wallflowers� �Three Marlenas,� but Jakob Dylan is a second generation rock God, so this influence is welcomed with open arms. Lead singer and sole lyricist Brent Engle does sweet justice to what are seemingly introspective lyrics and Midwest sensibilities:
Is the girl of my dreams
walking awake looking for me
pinch me if she's there
if not let me sleep
let me die alone in my sleep
�Anthem for a Heartbreaker� will go down as the most overlooked and underappreciated alt-country song of the year. Don�t believe me? Listen to it and find one better and I�ll paint your house. This is the song John Mellencamp could�ve written twenty-five years ago, but he must�ve been too busy changing his name and lighting another cigarette. The fellow Hoosier could use it these days; he�s got to be sick of singing �Jack and Diane� by now.
Something about the melodious angst of �Twenty-Four� made me shudder. I admire a guy who can wax philosophical about his young life, but there�s something unjust about thinking you should be settled in your early twenties. That�s the time when being young is priceless. At this point you�ve learned to avoid the police, relationships, bar tabs and responsibility. These are the days you tell your kids about when you reach your forties! Ah, impetuous youth, where is thy sting?
The demo for �Slow Shine� rounds out this collection, and if this is merely the demo I either need to hear the final cut or this should be heard by anyone who�s ever been innocently in love. This is the most eloquent and beautiful track here. And they call it a demo! Foolish, I tell you. This is the finished product.
Trying to place individual influences on each song is completely unnecessary. Everything is inspired by something that came before it, whether it�s apparent or not. Between Two Lions� website indicates that a full-length release is expected later this year. If this is the case, we shall see whether these guys are a flash in the pan or America�s next favorite band. My nomination right now is for the latter. Mellow rock is more inviting than a bunch of black clad, Revlon sporting dilettantes prancing about and whining how they had to get record contracts because their parents cut off their allowance and kicked them out of the attic. Mellow down easy, man. Mellow down easy.
Full Article.
September 2005
Louisville Music News
September 01, 2005
Looking For a Niche
by JOHN BOHANNON
There are so many "indie" rock bands today, it's hard to distinguish one from another at times. It's becoming pop music all over again, because now even "alternative" music is starting to sound the same in many cases. When I was sent Between Two Lions' EP, I couldn't help but think the same thing. The New Albany, Ind., natives are playing music we've already heard for quite some time. But don't get me wrong - there is plenty of potential here. They are headed down the right path and they still have time to find where they are going.
Brett Engle is the creative force behind Between Two Lions and he is joined by longtime friends and collaborators Eric Moore and Todd Corley. On EP, the band recorded the songs live in the studio with engineer Tim Haertel at the helm, giving them a somewhat rough (but very real) sound. Engle writes songs about lost love ("Walking Awake," "Thief") and life ("Twenty-Four," "Put On a Shirt") that really are quite personal, which actually might have been better served by more careful production.
Apparently also in their catalogue they have an acoustic sessions album called The Tracy Sessions, which I would be interested hearing. Perhaps this is a band that decided to convert to electric, but whose true sound lies in a stripped-down acoustic vein, with spare accompaniment.
Between Two Lions seems as if it might be a band that hasn't quite found its niche. Their development evokes a vivid image of a band in the early stages of blossoming. If these guys just keep on doing what they are doing and keep on improving - who knows what lies ahead? For the time being, they've been compared with R.E.M., the Lemonheads and even John Mayer. If that's your cup of tea, this disc might just be worth a listen.
Find out more at www.betweentwolions.com. The band performs live September 8 at Air Devil's Inn.
Full Article.
Louisville Velocity
April 13, 2005
Between Two Lions is Three Best Friends
by JOSHUA HAMMANN
There's not much clamoring out there for a one-man band.
It's tough to walk with that bass drum on your back, and well, clapping cymbals between your knees will never beat out a steady rhythm.
So Brent Engle recruited two of his best friends to turn Between Two Lions from a notion in his head and a collection of songs nobody had ever heard into a legit band.
Engle, along with drummer Eric Moore and bassist Todd Corley, have been playing and performing under the name Between Two Lions since late 2001.
All three guys, and manager Scott Estes, grew up together in New Albany.
In 2001, the three had been called Thieves, and included guitarist John Stein. Stein, however, moved to California in 2003.
It wasn't until the band was whittled down to a trio that it was able to play out.
Engle, Moore and Corley went into the studio about this time last year with Faulk Audio engineer Tim Haertel manning the board. As is the case with most young bands, money and studio time were short, so the band had just a week to record a nine-song EP.
"It was as much fun as playing out, if not more so," Engle said of his maiden voyage into a real studio. "It gave us time to be creative together, and it was a good experience for us."
The self-titled EP is nothing more than gentle, guitar-driven pop. Engle's voice, especially on "Thieves," is warm and intimate, and artfully takes the lead over his clean guitar lines and a steady, bouncing rhythm.
"Our sound has evolved a little bit," Engle said. "We were looking for the folk-country flavor in the beginning, but it's something a little more poppy and gentle now. It's basically pop and roots rock."
"The plan right now is to go back into the studio this fall," Engle said. "We have an enormous amount of new material to record. Hopefully, we'll have something by the end of the year to shop around. That's our goal right now."
Until them, you can check out Between Two Lions live April 27 during the Roots of Rock Battle of the Bands at Jillian's.
Full Article.
April 2005
New Albany Tribune
April 17, 2005
Three childhood friends use talent, passion to make a new band a success
by RONI MONTGOMERY
Between Two Lions is a relatively new local band, but their passion for music has thrived for years. Comprised of three childhood friends - Brent Engle, Eric Moore and Todd Corley - the band has a desire to "create music that people want to hear."
With years of training and practice, the New Albany natives have a rich history in music. Besides being the lead vocalist, Engle plays guitar harmonica, piano/keyboards and writes all the music and lyrics for the band. Moore, the drummer, is a classically trained percussionist who has played since he was 8 years old. And Corley, whose father and twin brother have played in popular local bands, is a seasoned bass guitarist.
"We've been into music our entire lives, and it just manifested into a band," Engle said. "We're your basic roots rock band with a poppy flavor. Our music has a gentle aspect to it. The band is a product of musicians with open minds to a broad array of sounds and styles."
Engle said the band formed in 2001, but didn't perform live until 2002. Their shows consist of their own original music, mixed with an array of cover material.
"It took about a year to build our confidence," he said. "Since then, we've played at local venues such as Headliners, The Main Street Lounge, O'Sheas, Wick's and the Main Menu."
In March 2004, the band recorded their first album, "Between Two Lions EP," at Faulk Audio in Louisville. It was released in December 2004, and is available at their shows, on the band's Web site - www.betweentwolions.com - and at cdbaby.com.
"When we created the album, we wanted to put together songs that we'd want to hear - songs that our friends and other people would like," Engle said. "We've been pleasantly surprised with the response. You never know what people are going to say. But, quite a few people have told us they really enjoy it. And we seem to have a steady base of fans who come to our shows."
Inspired by bands such as Whiskeytown, The Stone Roses and Television, the trio enjoys the creative process of making original music.
"I start the process by writing the songs, and we finish them together," Engle said. "When we finish a song it's usually very different from the original version. Eric and Todd are really talented musicians, so it makes it easy."
Even though the members have professional careers - Engle is a senior consultant for a telecommunications firm, Moore is an accountant and Corley is a systems administrator and owner of an information technology consulting firm - they take the band very seriously.
"We're going to keep playing as long as it is fun," Engle said. "If the band gets in the way of our careers, or if our careers get in the way of the band, we'll have to cross the bridge when we get there. We're not going to rule anything out. We just truly enjoy making music and know that people want to listen."
Between Two Lions will perform in Louisville at Jillian's Roots of Rock Band Battle at 9:30 p.m. on April 27, and at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom's Thirsty Melon Music Festival June 24-26.
Full Article.
May 2005
PulverRadio
May 5, 2005
PulverRadio Spotlight
by MICHAEL MCCLENATHAN
Between Two Lions is the name that Brent Engle uses when he puts on his rock hat. His friends Eric and Todd help out, too. This is rock from a small town in Indiana, and it sounds the way good rock from a small town should sound. It's not rushed, not obnoxious or overbearing, and it's very pretty.
May 2005
Louisville Eccentric Observer
May 11, 2005
Between Two Lions (EP)
by DOUG RAPP
New Albany�s Between Two Lions has released an EP of sharp and jangly pop tunes, like REM and later-day Lemonheads. Opener �Walking Awake� floats over the same somberly discordant chords Evan Dando used to croon over. �Pop Song� is, well, a catchy pop song, with backing woo-woos and lyrics like I�m feeling alone, I throw a Velvets record on because I�m digging the tone. �Put On a Shirt� sounds like an intriguing demo of John Mayer jamming with Shudder to Think.
The trio shifts into alt-country mode with �Anthem for a Heartbreaker,� and then rolls into Stonesish territory with �Tracey,� a sly ode to a girl who broke songwriter Engle�s heart not once, not twice, but three times.
The eight-song EP closes with �Twenty-four,� a reference to the 24 years since Engle poked my head in at this world rather than Kiefer Sutherland. The band kicks it up a bit more toward the end, charging into a Neil Youngish guitar solo. Engle has a lot of ideas based in some tried-and-true schools of rock, and it should be interesting to see how these guys evolve. Between Two Lions plays the newly opened Oasis (1506 Lake Shore Court, 412-2275) with Bloom Street on Friday at 10 p.m.
Full Article.
August 2005
Indie-Music.com
August 06, 2005
Between Two Lions (EP)
by DEREK BLACKMON
Finally, my faith in rock is slowly being restored. On Indiana-based Between Two Lions' initial self-titled EP, it appears that talent, in lieu of flashy make-up (vis-Ã -vis My Chemical Romance and The Killers) and bed-wetter lyrics (reference your least favorite emo band here), is once again the new rage.
With nine songs attached, it�s a bit of a misnomer to actually classify this as an EP, but my job now is to write about it, not to change how it�s marketed. Don�t be misled, there are a couple of tender songs here, but the sad bastard element seems to be kept at elbow's distance.
The opening track �Walking Awake� seems vaguely familiar to The Wallflowers� �Three Marlenas,� but Jakob Dylan is a second generation rock God, so this influence is welcomed with open arms. Lead singer and sole lyricist Brent Engle does sweet justice to what are seemingly introspective lyrics and Midwest sensibilities:
Is the girl of my dreams
walking awake looking for me
pinch me if she's there
if not let me sleep
let me die alone in my sleep
�Anthem for a Heartbreaker� will go down as the most overlooked and underappreciated alt-country song of the year. Don�t believe me? Listen to it and find one better and I�ll paint your house. This is the song John Mellencamp could�ve written twenty-five years ago, but he must�ve been too busy changing his name and lighting another cigarette. The fellow Hoosier could use it these days; he�s got to be sick of singing �Jack and Diane� by now.
Something about the melodious angst of �Twenty-Four� made me shudder. I admire a guy who can wax philosophical about his young life, but there�s something unjust about thinking you should be settled in your early twenties. That�s the time when being young is priceless. At this point you�ve learned to avoid the police, relationships, bar tabs and responsibility. These are the days you tell your kids about when you reach your forties! Ah, impetuous youth, where is thy sting?
The demo for �Slow Shine� rounds out this collection, and if this is merely the demo I either need to hear the final cut or this should be heard by anyone who�s ever been innocently in love. This is the most eloquent and beautiful track here. And they call it a demo! Foolish, I tell you. This is the finished product.
Trying to place individual influences on each song is completely unnecessary. Everything is inspired by something that came before it, whether it�s apparent or not. Between Two Lions� website indicates that a full-length release is expected later this year. If this is the case, we shall see whether these guys are a flash in the pan or America�s next favorite band. My nomination right now is for the latter. Mellow rock is more inviting than a bunch of black clad, Revlon sporting dilettantes prancing about and whining how they had to get record contracts because their parents cut off their allowance and kicked them out of the attic. Mellow down easy, man. Mellow down easy.
Full Article.
September 2005
Louisville Music News
September 01, 2005
Looking For a Niche
by JOHN BOHANNON
There are so many "indie" rock bands today, it's hard to distinguish one from another at times. It's becoming pop music all over again, because now even "alternative" music is starting to sound the same in many cases. When I was sent Between Two Lions' EP, I couldn't help but think the same thing. The New Albany, Ind., natives are playing music we've already heard for quite some time. But don't get me wrong - there is plenty of potential here. They are headed down the right path and they still have time to find where they are going.
Brett Engle is the creative force behind Between Two Lions and he is joined by longtime friends and collaborators Eric Moore and Todd Corley. On EP, the band recorded the songs live in the studio with engineer Tim Haertel at the helm, giving them a somewhat rough (but very real) sound. Engle writes songs about lost love ("Walking Awake," "Thief") and life ("Twenty-Four," "Put On a Shirt") that really are quite personal, which actually might have been better served by more careful production.
Apparently also in their catalogue they have an acoustic sessions album called The Tracy Sessions, which I would be interested hearing. Perhaps this is a band that decided to convert to electric, but whose true sound lies in a stripped-down acoustic vein, with spare accompaniment.
Between Two Lions seems as if it might be a band that hasn't quite found its niche. Their development evokes a vivid image of a band in the early stages of blossoming. If these guys just keep on doing what they are doing and keep on improving - who knows what lies ahead? For the time being, they've been compared with R.E.M., the Lemonheads and even John Mayer. If that's your cup of tea, this disc might just be worth a listen.
Find out more at www.betweentwolions.com. The band performs live September 8 at Air Devil's Inn.
Full Article.
posted by Brent @ 11/18/2005 01:31:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home