102.9 The Buzz
Throwing Gravity make rock 'n' roll for the masses.
There's something for everybody on the Nashville quintet's LAVA/Universal Republic Records debut, Wake Up. Singer and guitarist Nick James pens genuine anthems that evoke everyone from Foo Fighters to 3 Doors Down, while channeling a unique sensibility that defies all boundaries—even gravity. First single, "Bring Me Down," resounds with a robust refrain that's primed for arenas, fusing a razor sharp riff to a bombastic beat. Meanwhile, the heartfelt and hypnotic "Missing You" is undeniable upon first listen. On "Finally Over," ethereal keyboards color a hard-hitting groove, fueling the album's fire. Once Throwing Gravity pulls you in, they don't let go.
For James, Throwing Gravity is all about hooks. "I love anything that's catchy. That's what's in my blood," he exclaims. "I try to write songs with an epic form that you can sing along to."
It's impossible not to sing along to "Bring Me Down." The song began shaking up radio this past June, and it'll be available as a digital single on July 27th. "Bring Me Down" is the perfect introduction to the world of Throwing Gravity.
Regarding "Bring Me Down," James reveals, "It's about being stuck in a relationship that you're tired of putting up with. We've all had that experience, and most of the songs examine real situations. This one in particular shows the thin line between love and hate."
That honesty remains an integral element of Throwing Gravity's sound. Rather than shrouding songs in a haze of ambiguity, the band comes out and says what's on their mind, which is extremely refreshing in this day and age of musical mixed messages. "People can relate to our songs," Nick goes on. "It's not too hard to understand what I'm saying, and the message is pretty clear-cut."
Throwing Gravity began crafting that message when Nick first teamed up with producer Jon King [Augustana] in 2008. For nearly a year, the two worked on crafting the initial demos that would eventually become Wake Up. Throughout the process, the lineup was solidified with the addition of Jesse Triplett [Guitar], Greg McCool [Bass], Tom DuPree III [Drums] and Nick's stepbrother Chris Scott on Keyboards. With a tightly crafted demo in hand, Throwing Gravity hit the road for a national tour supporting Secondhand Serenade in late 2009. The massively successful jaunt saw them land in Los Angeles where, after an incendiary performance, Lava called for a private showcase. The label was so blown away that they signed them immediately after. No time was wasted and, in January 2010, the band retreated to a Nashville studio with King to record Wake Up.
Immediately, the songs began to evolve. Nick explains, "Playing together for a year, we improved the original ideas immensely. There are different characters in the mix, and it stirred the pot, bringing the music to the next level. Wake Up is always how I envisioned this band sounding. It was a breath of fresh air for me. All of these separate perspectives, styles and backgrounds make the album what it is." After completing the bulk of the album, they finished up three more tracks in Los Angeles with Josh Abraham [Velvet Revolver, Staind]. Chris Lord-Alge [Stone Temple Pilots, Paramore] lent his mixing talents to the project, adding his stamp. Wake Up became like an alarm clock for rock music.
From the jagged crunch of "Finally Over" to the rollicking "What She Wants," Throwing Gravity can do it all. The title track especially stands out for the frontman though. "It's like a sleeping giant. I love ballads, and it hits home. The main line of the song is, 'Wake up to something more.' We wanted to give the world an album that you could put on first thing in the morning and listen to all day."
Wake Up definitely showcases everything Throwing Gravity is capable of, but the live show truly illuminates how special this band is. "The live experience sets us apart," declares James. "This is the entertainment business; people want see something that they're going to remember. We keep it interesting, and we're always moving around on stage. The energy we put out makes fans come back."
Music is just as important as breathing to James and Co. They're completely immersed in it 24/7, and they wouldn't have it any other way. He continues, "Living in Nashville raises the bar, and it makes you want to up your game because almost everybody here is a musician. My whole family background is nothing but music too. This is what I was meant to do."
Ultimately, this record is for the people. "The whole reason we're here is because of our fans," add James. "We just want everyone really just to have a good time listening to the music."
There's no doubt that Throwing Gravity will soar into the hearts and minds of listeners everywhere.
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