Growing (band)

Growing is a drone music/ambient music band formed in Olympia, Washington, and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The group was founded in 2001 by Kevin Doria (electric bass guitar), Joe Denardo (electric guitar), and Zack Carlson (drums). Carslon left following their first album, and the band has continued as a duo since then. They play slow, instrumental rock with elements of noise and ambient music.

Their live shows are known for being very loud, playing straight through their set without break or pause; the bassist generally plays with his back to the audience, and the guitarist generally plays seated on a chair, much like members of kindred spirits Spacemen 3 did. They have released albums on labels such as Kranky, Animal Disguise, Archive, Megablade/Troubleman, and they are currently on The Social Registry.

At the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008 Growing released their first two releases for The Social Registry; a 7-inch single for the label Social Club series and a mini-lp entitled "Lateral".

Growing began work on a follow up full length for The Social Registry in early 2008 with Brooklyn producer Barry London which is tentatively scheduled for a fall 2008 release.

In April 2008 Growing embarked on a tour of Europe and The UK with the Japanese band Boris.

Equipment, Technique, and Composition

Joe is left-handed and Kevin is right-handed. In recent concerts, both Doria and Denardo use pairs of amplifiers for true-stereo guitar setups. Until recently, Joe has played seated, and Kevin played with his back often turned toward the audience. In recent (2008) concerts, Joe plays standing, and both move and dance about their stage.

Growing's music is based in heavily processed, droning guitar sounds. They regularly employ looping pedals the Ebow to extend the drone sounds seamlessly and indefinitely.

In addition to floor pedals, both Doria and Denardo process their guitars through instruments and effects not traditionally designed or marketed for guitar. These include touch pads and rhythm boxes, which allow extensive hands-on control.

In several interviews, members of Growing have described their preference for using these stomp-boxes, DJ effects, drum machines, and other music hardware for it's simplicity and hands-on effectiveness, rather than laptop computers (which have become a predominant tool among electronic musics) for their sampling and/or sound manipulation.

While most guitar loop performances involve building up many layers into a harmonically complex, single rhythm (with the option to solo over the loop), Growing's approach is quite different. Theirs involves contrasting, simple drones or motifs moving in separate looping streams (sometimes to play out of sync for textural effect) which can then be introduced and removed independently, for greater subtlety. This approach often involves using effect chains and looper-pedals in parallel, so that either player may capture multiple drones or motifs, which can then be manipulated and expressed independently. Joe describes this process in that "...basically, our whole band is volume pedals." With this approach, their playing can then compose seamless or dramatic transitions not usually achieved by only two guitars.

When pressed about their sense of composition and improvisation, Kevin has (in different interviews) stated that the writing process is very passive and "all jams," and Joe has stated that much of the transitions during performances are planned.

Discography

*"ANNODOMINI" (cassette) - Demo under the name 1000 AD
*"Modern Practical Incantations" (video) - self-released
*"Fear of Life/Death" (cassette) - self-released
*"Five Patterns" (cassette) - self-released
*"Dry Drunk On Woman" (7"/CDr) - Megablade/ Nail In The Coffin. Later repressed on CDr by Nail in the Coffin.
*"Five Patterns" & "Fear Of Life/Death" (Cassette) - Animal Disguise reissue of both self-released tapes in one package.
*"Above/ Below Sea Level" (double cassette) - Animal Disguise (2 cassettes meant to be played simultaneously on separate stereos; limited edition.)
*"Secrets And Sounds" compilation (CD) - Animal Disguise
*"The Sky's Run Into The Sea" (2003) (CD/LP) - Kranky
*"The Soul Of The Rainbow And The Harmony Of Light" (2004) (CD/LP) Kranky/ Animal Disguise
*"Early Stages" (CD-R) "Bootleg" release/ demo of early "Soul Of The Rainbow" material.Fact|date=March 2007
*Growing/ Mark Evan Burden split (CD) - Zum
*Growing/ Mark Evan Burden split (LP) - This Generation Tapes (300 white / 200 Black)
*"Live" (2005) (CD/2XLP) - Archive. Later pressed on 2xLP by Conspiracy Records
*"His Return" (CD/LP) - Megablade
*"BBC Session" (cassette) - Self Released. Later re released in the Live Series tapes.
*"Live Series I" (cassette) - Tapeblade
*"Live Series II" (cassette) - Tapeblade
*"Live Series III" (cassette) - Tapeblade
*"Live Series IV" (cassette) - Tapeblade
*"Live Series V" (cassette) - Tapeblade
*"Color Wheel" (2006) (CD/LP) - Megablade
*"Vision Swim" (2007) - Megablade/ Troubleman
*The Social Club Nº 8 (7") (2007) - The Social Registry
*"Lateral" (LP/CD) (2008) - The Social Registry
*"All the Way" (LP/CD) (2008) - The Social Registry

Total Life

Total Life is Doria's side-project. In 2005, he released his first album on Animal Disguise, which was limited to 150 copies and is now sold out. The cassette was reissued on vinyl in early 2007 in a series of 500. In March 2008, Total Life released a second album "Ken Bradshaw" on BrownSounds records. This release featured more propulsive, energetic rhythms with the usual "wall of sound" guitar riffs and drones.

External links

* [http://www.growingsound.com/ Official band website]
* [http://www.animaldisguise.com/ Animal Disguise website]