In June 2003, Saosin released a much lauded five song EP, Translating The Name. Self-released on their own Death Do Us Part label, the EP featured many interesting figures in the music community:
- Anthony Green, lead vocalist, was once a member of Zolof The Rock And Roll Destroyer, a pop-rock Philadelphia band. He also had his own projects, including, Audience Of One and High and Driving.
- Beau Burchell produced the effort and played guitar, as well as wrote much of the music. He played in Trustkill Record’s Open Hand.
- Justin Shekoski played guitar and was a member of As Hope Dies.
- Zach Kenned, bassist, also played in Open Hand, and would later join Ashlee Simpson’s touring band.
- Pat McGrath, an ex-Slayer drummer, was behind the kit.
These five forces combined to form a potent attack that clocked in at approximately fifteen minutes. Green’s driving vocals, which were both beautifully sung and powerfully screamed, became Saosin’s most distinguishing aspect, even with the commanding drums and well structured guitars.
Saosin supported this EP with a brutal live show; Anthony Green became a favorite frontman in the scene. Online demos of new songs surfaced, and fans became blood thirsty for new Saosin material. In the midsts of major label interest, it would be Green who pushed Saosin’s career in the wrong direction.
Almost overnight, Saosin’s dreams were broken when Green decided he would rather stay in his hometown of Philadelphia and not return to California with the rest of the band to begin writing for their debut full-length. Citing personal reasons, Green and the band did not split amicably and Saosin was left without their most distinguishing (and most powerful) element of their sound.
Saosin frantically searched for a vocalist and found Cove Reber–an inxeperienced California singer with pipes so similar to Green’s that the band was convinced the demo tape they received was actually Green playing a joke on the band. Saosin auditioned Reber for some time, taking him on tour and giving him brief vocal oppurtunities while Philip Sneed of Story Of The Year filled in for most of the bands performances.
Reber became a permanent member of the band, and Saosin issued the single Bury Your Head, which was Reber’s first original song with the band. Despite very similar sounds in their voice, most critics and fans feel that Green’s voice was much more powerful and that his songwriting abilities far surpas that of Reber’s.
Two years after Translating The Name EP was release, the band issued Saosin EP, which was actually more like an extended single for Bury Your Head: the EP only features three new songs (including Bury Your Head).
Fast forward to 2006, and Saosin is now on tour again. I’ve seen them numerous times (in bar attics, Warped Tour stages, night clubs, bowling alleys) but now the chance arises to see them again…a few times, actually, as they will be playing a handful of dates close to the New Jersey area including Philadelphia’s North Star Bar, South Hackensack’s School Of Rock, and New York City’s Knitting Factory. Each venue is very small, with a capacity of only a few hundred people.
Saosin has their debut full-length due out on October 18 (tentatively titled Sound Raptors) on major label Capitorl Records. With the exposure this album will bring the band, this may be the last chance to see the band on such a small stage. At the same time, I’ve seen the same setlist of 7-8 songs many, many times over the last three years.
A few years ago, I would have jumped at the chance to catch the band three times in one week. Now, without Green, and without much new material, it’s a difficult descision to make. Luckily, ticket prices are no more than $15 per show, and I doubt that any show will sell out.
I can only hope that this fall the band’s debut full-length properly showcases the band’s potential that was hinted at three years ago.
Posted by Anthony Charles Ambrose 