VERSE ONE:
Historical past.
The Rants began in a kitchen, spring of 2000. Drummer Ryan Teachout
(Red Thread, LeTriggers) joined that summer, in a restaurant. By the winter they were all together. Ian Saylor (vocals, guitar) Ryan Teachout (drums, vocals) Ken Williams (bass, vocals)
Returning to the same Ann Arbor studio, the band recorded for a solid week of summer and came away with the oddly inspiring Get Back Into It!(2001) Detroit's music weekly Metro Times said:
"... In the case of the Rants, retro is a subconscious theme, an impression, an abstraction. Its a journey back to the pre-ironic era when people actually got down at rock shows or the roller rink and left the chin-stroking and passive head-nodding to the nerdy music critics" AMEN.
From Chicago to New Orleans, New York to Nashville, adding and losing keyboard artists and bass players along the way, The Rants opened for underground legends including J. Mascis w/ the Fog, The Frogs, Jad Fair & more. Shared stages with Detroit Citys favorite new bands: pals; The Sights and the likes of Saturday Looks Good To Me, Easy Action, Thunderbirds Are Now, The Paybacks, The Cyril Lords, The Hard Lessons, The Riots and so on! Rejoice!
Throughout 2003 & 2004 The Rants released new music at the request of a number of area music compilations (| listed here |) as well as beginning songs for a 2nd LP & recording a 4 song EP Look Passive released on the indie label | We're Twins. | In Late 2003 the building housing their studio and a community of other local artists was purchased and overtaken by the YMCA; the subsequent evictions were punctuated by the complex curiously burning to the ground. Sessions for the second record moved to Flint, MI where they were completed in grand style among the hallway and the backyards of lead singer Saylor's home with new bass player Ryan "rav" E. Randall. The recordings were mastered that winter at the famed Sterling Sound in NYC by engineer | Mark Fellows | (Dangerously In Love: Beyonce, Goodies: Ciara). and the album now titled "SPIRIT!" is due 2006 on local indie power-house Cerberus Records.
Abridged Discography & Some Notes:
Full list in the discography blog | here. | UPCOMING:L.P. | "Spirit!" | is slated to be released 2006 on Cerberus Records |
PRIOR:L.P. | "Get Back Into It!" |
(Out of print) - Produced with engineer, musician, and former Rants member Mike Boyd. | In a matter of one week the brand new band wrote and recorded a minor classic in the musical history of the Ann Arbor area. With plenty of natural reverb & practically no overdubs its just good Raw Fun! Self-Released.
E.P. | "Look Passive" |
(vinyl only) for the Ann Arbor based Indie Label: We're Twins | in four short songs the band touches on everything from military force and etiquette to cocaine, terrorism and dancing.
©2005burro/losparanoias