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Like Bells

About Me

Buy our album here .


Or on iTunes:
Press:
"The latest signing to Cleveland's Exit Stencil Records, Like Bells, aren't your typical band of instrumental rockers. They do more than pair a simple melody with effects pedals and stacks of amps to create dynamic moments of tension and release. On a number like "Yeti," this Oberlin trio is just as likely to follow a tense moment with a serene string movement as they are to flood eardrums with a flurry of loud. So when the big banging, clanging moment does come, it doesn't feel like predictable post-rock, but the just culmination of patient, piercing introspection."
--I Rock Cleveland
"Ohio's Like Bells have found the formula to break the boredom and expand the genre...they have created an indie gem full of life, Americana, thought, and movement."
--Orange Alert
"The first half of the disc delights and challenges with peaks and valleys found in the Takk-like "Atlas," "Yeti" and the highlight "Can I Say Something To You?" all speak to the universal language of music and its innate ability to move the soul. But stick around for "Fragments" and the set-closer "Certain Types of Conversation" and you'll find yourself having something of an orchestral rock bliss-out. As a fan of electronica and minimalist soundscapes, I don't think I've been this happy (on a personal level) with a record since last year's Muttering Retreats record. This is deliciously brilliant, ambient-minded stuff. Tune in and soar off."
--Cool Cleveland
"For being three (very) young guys, this release has a sage wisdom within its folds that cannot be gleaned from just one listen. From vocalist/violinist Garret Openshaw’s sulking strings on “Can I Say Something To You” to the highly personal, up-front drums tooled on by Will Mason on “Nothing Collapses,” the album leads a double life – half of its time spent lounging about very obviously carefree, the other half spent with a realized forward aggressiveness."
--Comfort Comes
"Impressive; well above average."
--Coke Machine Glow
"Predominantly instrumental, this trio of Oberlin College / Conservatory students don't shy away from a catchy melody and songs of pop-song length...utilizing their instruments to their fullest (violin /viola, guitar, drums, cpu) to create songs and arrangements that are both beautifully complex and accessible."
--The Pop Stereo
"Their songs quiver with ambient moods, prog-rock elements (like odd time signatures), wordless vocal lines, violin sawing, and above all, melodic creativity."
--Blogcritics.org
Biography:
Like Bells is an indie rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 2006 when the three were students at Oberlin College, their music veers from hard-edged, intricate rock to slower, plaintive meditations evocative of their rural Ohio roots.
Their debut LP was released in the spring of 2009 by Cleveland-based Exit Stencil Records, and was hailed by Cool Cleveland as "deliciously brilliant, ambient-minded stuff." The music blogosphere also responded favorably: Coke Machine Glow rated it a 72/100, Comfort Comes called their debut "a brilliant first attempt...Like Bells is ahead of the curve," and Orange Alert wrote that "they have created an indie gem full of life, Americana, thought, and movement." NPR has featured Like Bells' music on "Weekend Edition."
They have spent numerous weeks on the road across the Midwest and East Coast, including recently performing in the 2009 CMJ music marathon and at the Rooftop Film Festival. They are currently working on their foliow-up LP, to be released in the spring of 2010.
Contact: [email protected]

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 28/08/2007
Band Members:
Gabe Baker - Guitar

Garret Openshaw - Violin, Voice

Will Mason - Drums, Keyboards

photos: Ma'ayan Plaut

For booking contact [email protected]
Sounds Like:
Yeti from Like Bells on Vimeo .
"Fragments" by Like Bells
Record Label: Exit Stencil
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Back from CMJ! More shows, new album progress, etc.

We're back from CMJ; thanks to everyone who came out! Mystery of Two, Home and Garden, and Hot Cha Cha were great and it was a beautiful and fun-filled evening.Much progress has been made towards song...
Posted by on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:34:00 GMT

Cities We've Played

For the record, as of 9.5.09 we have played shows in the following cities:Cleveland, OHOberlin, OHKent, OHNew York City (Brooklyn and Manhattan)Jamestown, NYPittsburgh, PAPhiladelphia, PAZelionople, P...
Posted by on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:58:00 GMT

Like Bells profiled in the Cleveland Scene

Here is the full text of the May 20 2009 profile of Like Bells in the Cleveland Scene: THE CONSERVATORY KIDS  Oberlin's Like Bells ring in a bright future...
Posted by on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:53:00 GMT

Brooklyn Venue Change!

Hi all,The venue for our show on Saturday the 30th has been changed from Death By Audio to Shea Stadium. The show is a fundraiser for Showpaper, with Fiasco, Dinowalrus & Le Rug. Start time: 9 pm (We'...
Posted by on Thu, 28 May 2009 10:02:00 GMT

Tour in one week! (Help with a few dates needed)

Hey everybody, we're kicking off our month-long tour of the east coast a week from today. We're really excited about this and hopefully we'll see you at a show; we're really happy with the shows we pu...
Posted by on Thu, 14 May 2009 09:02:00 GMT

iTunes, Video, New Song, Tour Progress

Hey everyone,We've just added a new song from the LP, "Boiling Springs." Hope you enjoy...the entire album is now available on iTunes, as well as CD Baby and the Exit Stencil Records web page. We also...
Posted by on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:31:00 GMT

Now Booking Summer Tour!

Hey everyone,Tour booking for this summer is now underway in earnest. We've posted all of our projected cities and dates with venues TBA, along with the shows that are already confirmed. We're doing w...
Posted by on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:23:00 GMT

News 1/30/09

Hello friends,I just wanted to give you guys some updates on our band.  We've been getting some early press on the web, and there are mp3 downloads available.  If you want some tracks to share with fr...
Posted by on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:00:00 GMT

The Album Is Complete!

After three months of non-stop work, our first full-length LP is finally finished! We've uploaded a few tracks for you to preview until the album goes on sale. More on that later. Our thanks and grati...
Posted by on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:36:00 GMT

Exit Stencil Recordings

Hello friends,We are very excited to announce our upcoming album will be released by Exit Stencil Recordings (Cleveland, OH). Check out their website at www.exitstencil.orgLook for the full-length CD...
Posted by on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:13:00 GMT