Austin Sound

Though the Eastern Sea has gone through several variations in the past few years, both in lineup and sound, Matthew Hines has finally developed a quartet that gorgeously explores the contours of his songwriting. Their recently released self-titled debut EP is beautifully subtle but rich in harmonies and delicate unwinding textures, with touches of Iron and Wine or Seven Swans-era Sufjan Stevens. Yet there is also a mesmerizing force underlying the songs, hypnotic in Hines’ deft guitar work as he rolls through oblique personal narratives that suggest the Microphones and Mountain Goats. Catch the band for yourself this Friday, November 7, as they join a spectacular lineup of local bands for the Austinist sponsored Fun Fun Fun Fest pre-show at the Mohawk, including Brothers and Sisters, Foot Patrol, the Lovely Sparrows, and Leatherbag.

Profile: The Eastern Sea

Year Formed:

2005 as a solo act, but we consider the beginning of 2008 as the start of the band.

Members/Instruments played:

The lineup is currently:

Zach Duran – Drums
Jess Graves – Keyboards/Vocals
Matthew Hines – Guitar/Vocals
Kevin Thomas – Bass Guitar
Good Friends – Other Instruments

Former Bands/Side Projects:

The Brood, Playground (RIP), Alaska is for Players (RIP), Rhinosaurus (RIP), Olanos.

Albums:

The Eastern Sea EP, 2008, No Label.
Coming Early 2009: The Mountain 7”

Influences:

In no particular order and not limited to -

The National, Phoenix, Beulah, The Mountain Goats, The Notwist, Caspian, Broken Social Scene, Pedro the Lion The Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, George Harrison, etc. It goes on.

Strangest comment or comparison ever made about your music:

Definitely a myspace comment we once got, “i googled ‘songs that could probably fit in any independent film and/or montage scene of any movie where the main character is going through a tough decision’ and you guys came up, just thought you might want to know”

Or the Onion AV Club preview of our last show at the Mohawk,

“Although it occasionally wanders into the sort of emo preciousness that makes producers from The CW come calling, in a town full of sensitive types and their ’shitty acoustic things’, The Eastern Sea stands out for avoiding the shallow end.”

We tend to enjoy positive comments that come out as borderline insults.

Favorite local bands:

In no particular order and not limited to -

Brothers and Sisters, Old Coyote, Visitors, Belaire, Brazos, The Brood, Lovely Sparrows, etc.

Usually we get pretty into the bands we play shows with.

Favorite local venue:

Anyone’s Living Room or back yard. With the Mohawk or Beerland coming in a close second.

Upcoming shows scheduled:

Friday Nov 7th @ the Mohawk in Austin- The Austinist’s Local Music is Sexy VI Show (An official Fun Fun Fun Fest after party)

Thursday Nov 20th @ Lucy’s on the Square in San Marcos – w/ Pompeii

Saturday Nov 29th @ Walter’s on Washington in Houston – w/ Riff Tiffs

Shows over the next month that you’re excited to see:

11/8 The National @ Fun Fun Fun

11/14 Jedi Mind Tricks @ Emo’s

11/17 Vedera @ Stubb’s

11/20 Owen @ Emo’s

Some of your favorite albums from the past year:

Woo, tough question…but here’s a few

T.V. On the Radio - Dear Science
Broken Social Scene Present Kevin Drew – Spirit If…
Meneguar – Strangers in Our House
Mum – Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy
Earlimart – Mentor Tormentor
The Notwist – The Devil You and Me
Fleet Foxes – Self-Titled
Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala
Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust

Ideal band (past or present) to open for on a national tour:

The National, that would be a dream.

Austin Sound questions:
Where would y’all imagine the Eastern Sea being located geographically?

There are three, maybe four, possible ways to answer this question in my opinion. So here goes…

1. The Eastern Sea is an expansive ocean that represents the natural eastern border for Narnia, Archenland, and Calormen. Galma, Terebinthia, and the Seven Isles are all notable islands in the Eastern Sea. This is the traditional geographic location.
2. The Eastern Sea is what the Japanese call the Sea of Japan. But it is also referred to other names, such as the Korean East Sea, because of territorial disputes.
3. The Eastern Sea could also be Mare Orientale, a location on the moon. We have moon shirts by the way…
4. The Eastern Sea is generally located in Austin, Texas but sometimes its in Houston.

Over the past year, the band has expanded from a solo project to a quartet. How do y’all feel that’s changed the sound or direction of the band?

A wise man once said, “You can’t always get what you want.” And in the sense that a band really forces all members to compromise and make productive decisions together, he was totally right. All of a sudden, all decisions aren’t made internally. We have to communicate in a healthy way while simultaneously setting goals together, putting that thought into action, and studying for school. Btw, we’re full time students. It’s difficult to do…Maybe I should say, its difficult to do well. But when it happens, it’s rewarding and by all means, “You get what you need.”

As far as the music, the sound of the Eastern Sea has changed drastically over the last three years. It went from minimalist folk/country to children’s educational music to electronica. Now we lie somewhere in the middle of all of that; I would say that at the moment we spend more time finding nuances between dynamic levels than either trying to make people dance, or help them fall asleep. It’s all about testing the waters and doing things that are challenging. If there is one thing I can say about the new direction or sound of the band, it’s that we are never bored. And we are firm believers in the idea that a band’s enthusiasm, no matter what form it takes, rubs off on the audience as well as the general listener.

Song Introduction:

“The Menu” is a song about feeling foreign. And especially the difficulty of living with familiar people in foreign places. I spent the summer before last in Xi’an, China. At first, I couldn’t order food at restaurants without having pictures to point to. I couldn’t make conversation in Chinese because everyone wanted to practice English. I couldn’t make real friends. And after awhile, I started feeling like I was only watching scenery go by.

Sound Off:

This weekend a couple of us from the band went to a Halloween party at a friend’s house. The house rests on stilts because it’s on a pretty big hill and the deck is on stilts as well. Midway into the night, I was talking to a girl when the entire deck collapsed. I was near the house, so the floor simply fell out from under my feet. That was coupled by a dozen people falling on top of me. Super crazy. But in the end, only a few non-life threatening injuries were sustained. The moral is: Watch your back.

Mp3 from The Eastern Sea:
The Menu

Websites:
www.theeasternsea.com
Myspace