Since May of 2004 the four sensational members of Lillydale have been treating the pacific northwest to their delicious brand of sharp, rousing, pop-rock & roll. They quickly evolved from the house party circuit to opening for nationally renowned acts like the Fruit Bats, Xui-Xui, and Okkervil River. Five short months after conception the band recorded a demo entitled "Erstwhile Confessions of a Butterfly Heart" which was later released as an ep. featuring hand screened artwork and a wax seal. Within a few months they sold out of their 500 copies without benefit of a record label or distribution. It didn't hurt that local radio station KEXP got wind of the band and added super-hit "Lighting Lanterns" to it's daily rotation and pod cast.
Their charming personal dynamic and explosive, passionate stage shows have propelled the band to play larger venues in front of bigger, more enthusiastic audiences. Lillydale have a penchant for over the top performance, often times incorporating confetti, glitter, and "proppery." An enchanting atmosphere is key to the Lillydale experience. Those who witness the band live are said to be forever drunk with whimsical splendor and unabashed happiness, with a renewed vigor for life and love.
In the Summer of 2006 Lillydale entered the recording studio with notable producer Johnny Sangster: (Mudhoney, Smoosh, Young Fresh Fellows et al.) What transpired over the next few months is nothing short of rock and roll reverie. The making of an album so grand in emotional scope that it can only be described as cathartic. The finished result, titled: "The Art Of Becoming One's Own Shadow..." is the bands feature full-length. It saw national release on February 6th 2007 courtesy of Seattle indie label Mt. Fuji Records. Since then the band has been playing non stop, touring the west coast and midwest with another tour planed for August... See you there.
Here's what folks are saying about Lillydale:
If anyone is looking for the next promising or up and coming band out of Seattle, you dont have to look much further then Lillydale, they've put together an excellent release that should put them on everybodys radar.
~John Richards~ KEXP
Lillydale are simply damned entertaining. The group has amassed an enthusiastic following, and understandably so: They put just as much energy and love into their stage show as every other aspect of their art, insists Josie. "It's amazing what you can do with a handful of confetti and some glitter."
~Kurt B. Reighley~ the Stranger
Thanks to the impressive ears of producer Johnny Sangster and frontman Joe Markiewicz's sensuous knack for crafting startling lyrical detail, the band has assembled a very thoughtful and occasionally theatrical collection of harmony-saturated everyman anthems that gracefully tackle themes of grief, failure, redemption, and resolution, all while miraculously avoiding cliché or overt sentimentality.
~Hanna Levin~ Seattle Weekly
Infectiousness comes easy for Lillydale. Long after the music stops, the melodies, choruses and peculiar nuances float through the inner ear in perpetual repeat. Were the power-pop disingenuous, silly or forced, these ear worms would be unwelcome. Fortunately, the Seattle four-piece knows how to use its pop powers for good. Since 2004's "Erstwhile Confessions of a Butterfly Heart," the young band also has learned how to capture the dynamic of its spirited live show in the recording studio. The result is a sprightly 10-song collection, rife with delights.
~Shawn Telford~Seattle P.I.
The Art of Becoming One's Own Shadow's the sort of album many bands work their entire careers for and never achieve -- an effort that sounds as if it couldn't come from any other outfit on the planet.
Lillydale might be on a tiny label, have little back story and boast few of the war stories long-toothed veterans, but it has it where it counts: The music. Who needs time to cut their teeth, grow up and move out when The Art of Becoming already trumps that?
~Ryan Diaz~Aversion.com
Wanna book lillydale? Contact: booking(at)lillydalemusic.com
