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so many dynamos

so many dynamos Radio

General Info

  • Genre: Concrete / Electro / Pop

    Location St. Louis, Un

    Profile Views: 802738

    Last Login: 4/11/2013

    Member Since 6/24/2004

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    Patience. There's a pregnant pause at the beginning of So Many Dynamos' video for "Matter of Fact", a new song from their much-anticipated LP set to be recorded this August, that may seem unsettling for fans of the St. Louis-based group. Patience is a virtue previously considered unnecessary to its loyal, and ever-expanding, fanbase. We've come to anticipate the waves of sound to unfurl fast, furious, and blissfully manic. Barbed, intertwined guitar riffs and drum assaults barrel down on you at dangerous speeds, and rarely let up for the duration... all to the ecstatic pleasure of warm, fuzzy eardrums and sweaty dance-floor workouts. And yet, now 10 years, 3 LPs, and close to 1,000 live performances removed from their inception, their sound sweetly, assuredly, patiently... builds. Each rhythm, note, and melody is meticulously calculated, plotted, and layered. We see the song constructing itself for a minute and a half until it locks into a groove... and what a groove it is. Don't be afraid, friends: There's too much Thriller in their blood to stay away from the dance floor. The closest touchstone would be New Order's classic video for "Perfect Kiss", wherein Jonathan Demme lingers on each individual component of the song, building in long, deliberate takes, helping you appreciate where the song is taking you, and not just how quickly it gets you there. This may seem like an oddly specific detail, but it's a crucial one in understanding the craft, maturation, and patience So Many Dynamos have developed in their evolution as artists. Realignment. Referring to 2009's The Loud Wars as So Many Dynamos' watershed moment would be a drastic understatement. They've lost and gained two members in the last few years, with Aaron Stovall and Clayton Kunstel welcoming Nathan Bernaix and Travis Lewis to the permanent roster. But, that lone fact merely hints at the group's ubiquity in the intervening years. Defining itself as a pivot point of the local music culture in Saint Louis, it's been a variegated deluge of collaborations, residencies, experiments, and refinements. For instance, whereas detailed liner notes were included in The Loud Wars to notate all the intricacies of the album's dizzying clockwork, Dynamos have now allowed their work to breathe, contract, and expand in the presence of eager voyeurs. They've played host to improvisational electronic performances where a slew of artists, including the monolithic West Coast genius of Hawthorne Headhunters, assisted in stretching their palette to astral proportions. "Collaboration with other artists has become essential in finding new inspiration in how we think about writing and performing music", Stovall explains, "It forces you to listen. It forces you to choose what's right for the song and not just for yourself. It's a great way to step outside of your own expectations and limitations as a performer. It's all about seeing how far we're able to push one another, while at the same time, furthering our individual growth." It's audibly apparent that no direction went unexplored in their burgeoning soundscapes, all the while developing their graduate thesis that intellectual pondering and romantic longing aren't mutually exclusive, both sonically and lyrically. Document. That progressive, adventurous spirit is well-documented on their eponymous EP, which is set to be released digitally on June 26th. When asked why they decided to go self-titled for this particular release, Stovall said, "We've been virtually inactive in touring and releasing music for the past couple of years. Nowadays, bands are constantly challenged with retaining relevance in a world where music is consumed faster and more efficient than ever before. And with that, this EP, for most people, will function as an introduction to So Many Dynamos and as a prologue to the next LP. In keeping with the theme of introductions, we decided a self-titled release was the most appropriate." And, truthfully, introductions don't get much better than this; So Many Dynamos is an addictive 3-song exercise in the discerning pleasures of drum patches and synth filters, and it constantly reveals new facets on each repeated listen. They conjure a sound that achieves the euphoric heights of being both next-level and reverential simultaneously, in the spirit of bands like the Talking Heads, New Order, and LCD Soundsystem. There's a heady, physical amalgam of 80's R&B, Thomas Mapfumo-style guitar musings, and the early days of Factory Records 12" dominance. Live, they've augmented their lineup with auxiliary members to replicate the many bells and whistles (both literally and figuratively) of the heavily percussive twist on their sound. That twist, is something which will only be expounded on in greater detail with the upcoming LP and subsequent tours. There's a brief line intoned ponderously in the lead track of the EP, 'Analysis Paralysis': "Impossible may take some time, I know". If this is just a foregleam of the things to come, then impossible does indeed take some time. Nevertheless, this year you'll have the document that So Many Dynamos have found it. It's been worth the wait.

  • Members

    ..Clayton Kunstel.. - drums/percussion.... ..Aaron Stovall.. - vocals/keyboards/percussion.... ..Nathan Bernaix.. - guitar/keyboard/vocals.... ..Travis Lewis.. - guitar/keyboard....

  • Influences

    Talking Heads, Battles, Tears for Fears, Bernie Worrell

  • Sounds Like

Stream

  1. so many dynamos

    Listening to the @Cardinals game on this drive. Such a wonderful day!

  2. so many dynamos

    Looking forward to spending the day in my native land of Chillinois. It's a perfect day for a show outside! See you soon, Decatur.

  3. so many dynamos

    HUGE thanks to @kdhx and @citymuseum for hosting Midwest Mayhem and inviting us to play. We had SUCH a rad and rowdy time!

  4. so many dynamos

    Still need a few titles for songs on #safewithsound. Any suggestions?

  5. so many dynamos

    The record is finished! Can't wait for y'all to hear it.

Videos

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Comments

Post a comment...
  • Red Red Run

    Best name and good tracks. Great tracks. Hope you give us a listen!
    _Andrew

    2 years ago
  • Angela Gusler

    THANX SO MUCH FOR THE ADD!!  LUV UR MUZIK!!
     
    MUCH RESPECT!!   MAD LUVEE!!
     
    Angela Marie ;)

    2 years ago
  • sowrongitsjessica

    Ellow! How are you? (:
    Long time no speak..

    2 years ago
  • Eliza Strader

    Hope you had a great day!

    2 years ago
  • -Tick_Tock_Tick-

    You guys are one of my favorite band! I have everything you have done from Are we not drawn onward to new era? to The Loud Wars. I even have some of the stuff you guys did before So Many Dynamos like Saving Boy Wonder stuff and Target Market stuff. Its amazing to see you guys play and I'm coming to LouFest to watch you guys. So cool seeing something good from st louis

    2 years ago
  • .alejandro.

    Guys come down to San fransisco I've been waiting to see u for sooooo long and I'll smoke u guys out :D

    2 years ago
  • This Guy Mauricio

    new album anytime soon? :)

    3 years ago
  • Lauren Miller

    Come to Philly! Please? I'll show ya my tits! :D

    3 years ago
  • Paige Salo

    please please please get your fucking asses to vegas!
    im dying to see you guys live! :]

    3 years ago
  • Mari Mora.

    Come to Visalia again?(:

    3 years ago
10 of 3595More
Patience. There’s a pregnant pause at the beginning of So Many Dynamos’ video for “Matter of Fact”, a new song from their much-anticipated LP set to be recorded this August, that may seem unsettling for fans of the St. Louis-based group. Patience is a virtue previously considered unnecessary to its loyal, and ever-expanding, fanbase. We’ve come to anticipate the waves of sound to unfurl fast, furious, and blissfully manic. Barbed, intertwined guitar riffs and drum assaults barrel down on you at dangerous speeds, and rarely let up for the duration... all to the ecstatic pleasure of warm, fuzzy eardrums and sweaty dance-floor workouts. And yet, now 10 years, 3 LPs, and close to 1,000 live performances removed from their inception, their sound sweetly, assuredly, patiently... builds. Each rhythm, note, and melody is meticulously calculated, plotted, and layered. We see the song constructing itself for a minute and a half until it locks into a groove... and what a groove it is. Don’t be afraid, friends: There’s too much Thriller in their blood to stay away from the dance floor. The closest touchstone would be New Order’s classic video for “Perfect Kiss”, wherein Jonathan Demme lingers on each individual component of the song, building in long, deliberate takes, helping you appreciate where the song is taking you, and not just how quickly it gets you there. This may seem like an oddly specific detail, but it’s a crucial one in understanding the craft, maturation, and patience So Many Dynamos have developed in their evolution as artists. Realignment. Referring to 2009’s The Loud Wars as So Many Dynamos’ watershed moment would be a drastic understatement. They’ve lost and gained two members in the last few years, with Aaron Stovall and Clayton Kunstel welcoming Nathan Bernaix and Travis Lewis to the permanent roster. But, that lone fact merely hints at the group’s ubiquity in the intervening years. Defining itself as a pivot point of the local music culture in Saint Louis, it’s been a variegated deluge of collaborations, residencies, experiments, and refinements. For instance, whereas detailed liner notes were included in The Loud Wars to notate all the intricacies of the album’s dizzying clockwork, Dynamos have now allowed their work to breathe, contract, and expand in the presence of eager voyeurs. They’ve played host to improvisational electronic performances where a slew of artists, including the monolithic West Coast genius of Hawthorne Headhunters, assisted in stretching their palette to astral proportions. “Collaboration with other artists has become essential in finding new inspiration in how we think about writing and performing music”, Stovall explains, “It forces you to listen. It forces you to choose what's right for the song and not just for yourself. It's a great way to step outside of your own expectations and limitations as a performer. It's all about seeing how far we're able to push one another, while at the same time, furthering our individual growth.” It’s audibly apparent that no direction went unexplored in their burgeoning soundscapes, all the while developing their graduate thesis that intellectual pondering and romantic longing aren’t mutually exclusive, both sonically and lyrically. document· That progressive, adventurous spirit is well-documented on their eponymous EP, which is set to be released digitally on June 26th. When asked why they decided to go self-titled for this particular release, Stovall said, “We've been virtually inactive in touring and releasing music for the past couple of years. Nowadays, bands are constantly challenged with retaining relevance in a world where music is consumed faster and more efficient than ever before. And with that, this EP, for most people, will function as an introduction to So Many Dynamos and as a prologue to the next LP. In keeping with the theme of introductions, we decided a self-titled release was the most appropriate.” And, truthfully, introductions don’t get much better than this; So Many Dynamos is an addictive 3-song exercise in the discerning pleasures of drum patches and synth filters, and it constantly reveals new facets on each repeated listen. They conjure a sound that achieves the euphoric heights of being both next-level and reverential simultaneously, in the spirit of bands like the Talking Heads, New Order, and LCD Soundsystem. There’s a heady, physical amalgam of 80’s R&B, Thomas Mapfumo-style guitar musings, and the early days of Factory Records 12” dominance. Live, they’ve augmented their lineup with auxiliary members to replicate the many bells and whistles (both literally and figuratively) of the heavily percussive twist on their sound. That twist, is something which will only be expounded on in greater detail with the upcoming LP and subsequent tours. There’s a brief line intoned ponderously in the lead track of the EP, ‘Analysis Paralysis’: “Impossible may take some time, I know”. If this is just a foregleam of the things to come, then impossible does indeed take some time. Nevertheless, this year you’ll have the document that So Many Dynamos have found it. It’s been worth the wait.

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