Whether it’s enjoying long walks on the beach or rocking out on stage, the members of As Cities Burn know how to get their groove on.
Formed in August 2002, As Cities Burn released its first compact disc in October. The self-titled debut is a five-song preview of this band’s musical capability. However, this CD does not even come close to the presence the band brings to the stage.
“Our live performances best represent us and what we want to come across in our music,” said Cody Bonnette, guitarist/back up vocalist and a psychology sophomore.
The other four members of the band include T.J. Bonnette, a mass communication junior, on vocals; Colin Kimble, a psychology senior, on rhythm guitar and backup vocals; Pascal Barone on bass and Bryan Dixon on drums. The band not only plays together, but lives together, sharing a three-bedroom apartment to ensure a close-knit bond between them all.
As Cities Burn, in an attempt to describe its sound, labeled itself as “indie/rock.” However, this description doesn’t do the band justice. Its sound is reminiscent of The Early November and a little bit of Thursday.
“We want to create music that touches and inspires everyone who hears it,” said Cody Bonnette. “We’re inspired by so much music, including ’80s hair bands. We just want to connect with people and let our listeners know they aren’t alone in how they feel.”
And reaching people is what the band accomplishes in the first song on the CD, titled “A Breath of Water.” Singing, “If I could just breathe water/ I would be one of them and wouldn’t feel so alone/ But I was never one for fitting in/ Because I know I’m still a world away from home,” band members let listeners know it’s OK to not be part of the crowd and not fitting in isn’t the end of the world.
As yet, the band isn’t signed. Not because offers haven’t been made, but because As Cities Burn wants to make it on its own. The band used its own money to make the CD, and this summer when the boys of the band hit the road, the cost will come completely out of pocket.
“If six people in a van, smelling of the worst smell, go on tour and play for only four or five people, then it’s all worth it,” said T.J. Bonnette, “because those five people heard our music; and in the end, we’ve accomplished what we set out to do when we created this band: have our music heard.”
As Cities Burn has played at the American Legion Hall, Ichabod’s, The Spanish Moon and the 85th birthday party of the boys’ grandma. The accompanying bands include Same Dull Star, Dead to Life, Victims of Modern Age, 238, Memory as Perfection, Chas Brosco and Underoath.
The band will play the American Legion Hall Jan. 24 with Same Dull Star. Then it’s on to the Edge Café in Slidell on Jan. 27 with Underoath. From there the band heads to New Orleans with 238 and Dead to Life, then on to Lafayette with Victims of Modern Age.
For more information about As Cities Burn, e-mail the band at [email protected], call (225) 819-1221 or visit the band’s Web site at www.ascitiesburn.com.