Author Archives: MELODIME

03/16/2012 | IOTA (Arlington, VA) on March 24th | You pick’m We Play’m!

02/10/2012 | Rhode Diaries Part 1: A Certain Smile

I took the first driving shift at 9am. Sam and Tyg hopped onto their newly constructed bunks that had been completed just 2 hours before departure. I couldn’t tell whether it was sleep deprivation or a genuine feeling of contentment, but I spent the first 2 hours behind the wheel looking in the rear view mirror with a certain smile on my face. It wasn’t the normal kind of smile that you can see, but one you can feel real deep down in your chest. At the risk of sounding extremely corny, I kept thinking:

“we’re doing it”

We had the trailer packed with gear; bus stocked with cheap food; almost no money in our pockets; and that nervous, excited, hopeful feeling I used to get before little league baseball games. It was a dream… and we were living it.

It’s funny how those dreams change as you get older. I used to black out my bedroom and shine my reading light towards my make-shift stage while I belted karaoke as loud as I could for hours and hours on end. I started writing when I was 10 years old so that I could put on pretend concerts for thousands of invisible people until my mom called me downstairs for dinner. I never dreamed of ramen noodles for breakfast and pb&j for dinner. I never dreamed of living in the close quarters of a remodeled shuttle bus. And… I never dreamed of playing for tips in a podunk southern city for an audience of 20 or so, but that’s the dream I’m living now and I wouldn’t have it any other way. An arena audience of thousands means nothin’ without the miles put in to get there. Nowadays, I dream for the miles because then everyday feels like a victory. In the past two weeks we’ve slept on the bus; eaten the same cheap foods; been robbed; been rewarded; and as we make our way to the last show of the tour, I still have that same smile deep down in my chest. The smile that assures me we’re doing the right thing.

“I have done away with the false parades for the never coming trophy day…’cause smiles are born on days like today.”

01/13/2012 |

It was such an amazing experience getting to share the bill with one of our favorite bands, DecembeRadio last Saturday at the State Theatre. Thanks so much to everyone who made it out! Watching the crowd of these hometown shows continue to grow is truly gratifying for us so from the bottom of my heart, thanks for spreading the word and continuing with us on the journey. Here’s to the best fans in the DC area. We’ll see ya next time.

-Brad

08/2/2011 | “The Inspired Love Song” by Brad

Let’s talk about love songs. I feel like I have a lot to say on this matter at this point in time…

For me, the inspired love song is the easiest and most rewarding song to write. You take a guitar, a voice, a plethora of emotions that you haven’t had a chance to sort through–and the outcome is 3 to 5 minutes of lyrics that you have trouble taking credit for accompanied by chord progressions that just happened to fall from your hands in the urgent need to get the words out. The melody follows suit.

There’s only a handful of these inspired love songs that I’ve written and can list off the top of my head. “Portrait” being the first that comes to mind. I’ll do everyone a favor and bypass all the little details that led to the writing of this song. Just know that the life experience inspiration consisted of a 4 hour (completely unromantic) group hangout in Knoxville, Tennessee where a certain gal was present. There was no eye gazing, no one on one conversation, no kiss, no nothin’. Instead, there was a 20 year old kid who was in the rebuilding phase over the break up of his high school sweetheart that was thrown into a large group of strangers that unintentionally forced him into a box of shy silence. Yes, that kid was me. But there was a song. Thank God. Something I’m comfortable with. It wasn’t the love song that I later wrote, but a song I sang later that evening with that mysterious girl from Knoxville who was unknowingly lending me a hand to stand up again. Yup, she was a singer too–an amazing one at that. There was something extremely powerful about marrying my passion for music with a complete stranger at a time when all I wanted to do is hop back on my feet. And for the record, you always hop back on your feet. Life isn’t the Titanic movie and your high school sweetheart isn’t Kate Winslet (or Leo for the ladies). That can be tough to realize in the valleys of young love heartbreak.

ANYWAY, Sunday came and I made the 7 hour drive back home. I didn’t write a word in the car but that doesn’t mean the song wasn’t being written. I think the best ones require some time in silence before an instrument is picked up. That’s why route I-81 has become the best co-writer I’ve come across. When I had the chance to pick up a guitar, the song was born in a thoughtless 30 minutes. I had no control—and that’s exactly what it takes for me to write. I can’t do it when I try.

It’s validating experiences like those that keep me writing music. This whole “love” phenomenon is a pretty powerful thing. There’s no secret as to why an outstanding majority of songs written are inspired by love. The second you sit down and say, “I think I’m going to work on a love song,” you’ve lost in my opinion. You’ve already over-thought it before the first chord is even played. The true inspired love song comes from a place that you can’t put into words UNTIL it’s sung in song. Not the other way around.

I came across what I envisioned to be the “portrait” girl and because I had the opportunity to funnel all those “love” feelings that we have trouble articulating into the bars of a song, it actually changed the way I live my life. As heavy as that sounds—it’s very true.

“I think my happiness is from learning that you exist

Now I can take the risk on my mind

Instead of wasting my time.”

06/6/2011 | MELODIME Newsletter

Thank you so much to everyone that came out to the State Theatre for the packed out release of 3 Reasons For Fighting! We had a blast and it will surely be a show we remember forever. Your constant support and interest in the music we’re making makes all the work, trials, disappointments and victories alike TOTALLY worth fighting for! The event was professionally recorded, filmed and photographed so for those of you that weren’t able to make it we’ll be sharing glimpses of the night with you over the next few weeks.

Do you have the album yet?!?!? It’s on iTunes, ya know! :)

What’s Next:

You’d think this might be a good time for a lil MELODIME vacation, wouldn’t ya? Nah… we’re the band that never sleeps. 3 shows are happening this weekend including Celebrate Fairfax with Third Eye Blind! We take the stage at 6:15pm on Friday. We’re pulling double duty on Saturday starting with a grad party then heading back to Lion & Bull for a fun night of music, good people, and soda pop.

The rest of June is full of dates, including Roanoke and NYC so don’t be a stranger!

Again, thank you so much for making this weekend incredibly special to us. We love you guys!

God Bless,

MELODIME - Bradley, Sammy, & Tyg

Help spread the word and become a fan on Facebook to share our links with your friends! You can also tweet us @MELODIME! Thank you all so much for this continued support. We couldn’t do any of this without you!

05/30/2011 | Brad’s first blog- “Voice-less on Memorial Day”

So, I’m spending Memorial Day locked in my house because a singing-filled weekend mixed with lack of sleep has left me with a completely pwned voice. I love the word “pwned.” I wish Microsoft Word wouldn’t underline it in red when I type it.

The whole “vocal rest” thing has a tendency to bum me out a bit. I can’t sing which makes it tough to write songs, I cant eat or drink a bunch of stuff…but the main disappointment is that I can’t talk–which further means that I can’t be around people because I’m in no way disciplined enough to keep my mouth shut in company. Which leaves me where I am now–un-showered in the early afternoon listening to Bob Dylan records and watching a swarm of Falls Church folk walk to the Memorial Day parade outside my window. However,  I never look at this happening as coincidence. Here we are, 5 days away from our biggest show to date–the release of our coveted new album, “3 Reasons For Fighting” at The State Theatre. Everyone is thrilled for the release and feeling good about the future then God says, “Guess what, buddy? You can’t control everything…and you’re gonna sit in your house in complete silence until you realize that.” That’s unfortunately what it takes for me sometimes. That’s sometimes the only way He can get through to me. It’s the second that I feel like I have an ounce of control that the one thing that I use most in my life is taken away.

So if I was a completely saintly, unselfish human being I would probably say something along the lines of, “This form of conviction never ceases to put a smile on my face because I know that my future will benefit from embracing this silence and understanding my lack of control.” Don’t get me wrong, I believe all of that…but frankly, perfect concluding statements like that sometimes make we want to barf. The fact of the matter is I spend a lot of time on vocal rest feeling lonely and extremely annoyed, then go back to remembering why this happens, then go back to feeling lonely and extremely annoyed, and so on and so on. I learn the hard way or I don’t learn much at all. This life is a constant battle and it’s tough to take a step forward without taking a few steps back and sometimes being knocked on your voiceless rump. So, here I am on my voiceless rump coming to grips (again) with the fact that I have no control what-so-ever. The music is only as powerful as The One who creates it inside me…and my future with MELODIME won’t mean crap unless I’m constantly reminded of that. How’s that for a perfect concluding statement?

05/3/2011 | Introducing our new album – 3 Reasons For Fighting

Album Artwork - 3 Reasons For Fighting

We’re thrilled to finally unveil the title and artwork for our long-awaited album! The 13 song record has been titled “3 Reasons For Fighting.” It was an obvious title for us due to the re-occuring theme of various forms of fighting that are represented in each song. These types of fighting include fighting for love, truth, a voice, belief and many other stuggles we all encounter at different times in our lives. It wasn’t contrived subject matter, but rather the outcome of our own individual and collective struggles that we feel are a beneficial story to tell. Moreover, the record concludes with the song “Reasons” which summarizes these types of struggles through a story of a girl that retreats from life to discover her (3) reasons for fighting. She leaves town so that she may return rejuvenated and confident in her ability to face everything the world has to throw at her.

We’ve put together a preview track highlighting a few of the songs on the ablum along with a short background story for each. You can stream and download the track from our reverbnation or facebook page straight to your ipod until the album is released on June 3rd!

Tickets are NOW FOR SALE for our CD release show through The State Theatre website. Also on the bill is The Dirty Guv’nahs from Knoxville, TN and the newly formed duo Caroline County (DC area’s Matthew McGinn and YouTube sensation Julia Sheer). It’s SUPER important that you get your tickets NOW because the show WILL SELL OUT quickly due to the high profile of the acts on this bill, and we want the place filled with MELODIME fans!

In other news:

This past week we appeared on WGMU radio for an interview and a couple live performances of songs off the new album. If you missed the show, worry not. It will be downloadable from the station’s website shortly and we will announce when it is ready.

We also made out Philly debut this past Friday at the Legendary Dobbs. It was a great introduction to a new city and should be the start of a MELODIME trend! So rally your friends if you’re in the area next time!

That’s all for now, be sure to get your pre-sale tickets for the CD Release Show and we’ll keep you updated on more exciting things to come soon!!!

God Bless,

Bradley, Sammy, Tyg – MELODIME

04/7/2011 | CD RELEASE SHOW! – JUNE 3rd 2011

We have never been more excited than to announce our CD Release Show on JUNE 3rd 2011 @ The State Theatre in Falls Church, VA. We’ve been working hard on this album for over a year and the results are panning out to be incredible. We’ve spent many hours in the studio alongside Producer Jim Ebert and Studio Engineer Sean Russell, as well as Mixing Extraordinaire Micah Wilshire to create an album that tells an incredible story. If releasing this album is not enough for you, than let me also offer this… We’ll be playing with two VERY talented bands at the release party that you WILL NOT want to miss. The Dirty Guv’nahs from Knoxville, TN and Matthew McGinn will be performing! So mark those calendars or better yet, click HERE to get your pre-sale tickets at a discounted price.

04/6/2011 | MELODIME Mondays!

Each Monday we’ll be bringing you the latest news, releases, pictures, videos, weekend recaps, and all things MELODIME in our weekly newsletter. Help spread the word by getting your friends to join our mailing list.

What’s been happening:
We had a blast being a featured artist in this year’s Texas Rock Fest, an annual festival alongside SXSW. We had a great time slot on a big outdoor stage on Saturday evening. Despite being sandwiched between metal bands and introducing the crowd to this crazy instrument called a “piano,” it was a cool experience and there was a significant growth in crowd size by the end of our set. Immediately after our set we had to carry all our gear 8 crowded blocks (see picture to right) to our 2nd gig of the night in a club called “The Dorm Room.” Needless to say we were pretty worn out when it was all said and done, but thankfully Torchy’s Tacos was waiting for us when we finished.

Splitting up the long drive from D.C. to Austin, we played a house concert for some awesome folks in Kingsport, TN, stayed with friends in Knoxville, had amazing pancakes in Nashville, St Patty’s party in Memphis, a quick laugh at Hope, Arkansas (birthplace of President Clinton),  a cool show in Knoxville on the way back, and a repertoire straight outta the hymnal for Granny B. (Dave’s great grandma). All in all it was a great trip. Thanks to all those who followed us on our travels and for encouraging us along the way!

We didn’t skip a beat after the trip and followed it up with 2 final days in the studio. It feels great to be finished, after 2 years, with something we’re extremely proud of and feel confident people are really going to enjoy. Right now the record is in Charlottesville being mixed by the very talented Micah Wilshire. June 3rd is right around the corner and we can’t wait for you all to hear this!

This weekend we joined Carbon Leaf, Honor by August and Lloyd Dobler Effect for VaTech’s annual SUDFLOOD fundraiser. Playing in Blacksburg is always a good time because the crowd gets really into the music. Reuniting with Carbon Leaf was also cool and should be some more dates with them to report soon.

What’s Next:
This Saturday we’re heading back down to Roanoke to play at Corned Beef and Co. If you’re nearby, come on out. The place is way cooler than the name suggests! Also, in April we have a performance on WGMU radio, Shanandoah University, Lion ‘n Bull, and a trip up to Philly while finalizing mixes, mastering, artwork and duplication of the album (title to be announced soon!).

By the way, have you gotten the latest MELODIME apparel? Bracelets and new t-shirt designs for men and women are available now!

That’s it for this week of MELODIME Mondays. We’ll be back next week with a new set of updates for you. Hope to see you at the upcoming shows!

God Bless,

MELODIME – Bradley, Sam, & Tyg

Help spread the word and become a fan on Facebook to share our links with your friends! You can also tweet us @MELODIME! Thank you all so much for this continued support. We couldn’t do any of this without you!