“Moody, musical, melodic rock; reminiscent of the best of the 60s and 70s but utterly contemporary. The playing and singing are both inspired.â€
– Gretchen Peters, Scarlet Letter Records
Thief originated in the surprisingly-hip college town of Murfreesboro, TN and called on two talented artists in Nashville to form the psychedelic-infused groove-rock band, Thief. Thief without a doubt is the most original rock band in Murfreesboro which is creating a growing buzz followed by college students flocking to their local and Nashville shows. Their Mars Volta influence is apparent with their two-dimensional multi-part songs that often stray away from traditional rock and pop song formats of verse-chorus, verse-chorus. Guitar player Brennan Walsh, who also plays keyboard, incorporates tasteful and technical solos while bass player Ryan Hart drives the groove with a refined, smooth style. Drummer, Steve Janson keeps the difficult time signatures in tact due to the fact he was an orchestral drum major at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Completing the line-up Janson delivers alluring beats and is the fulcrum of the musical transitions. The three of them provide a musical core that could stand on its own, but Thief’s singer Matt Tubandt completes the package vocally and stylistically. The thin, long haired front man with his Robert Plant like aurora delivers powerful vocals in a wide range that sound both seductive and fierce. They serve as the vessel for his meaningful yet clever lyrics.
Thief is the final product of Matt and Brennan’s 8-year long musical partnership. They started playing together at thirteen and formed multiple bands throughout grade school. Through multiple bands and line-ups they were one of the most popular acts in the Franklin, Tennessee area where they shared the stage with artists such as Paramore and the Pink Spiders. As they began to mature, so did their music, and their fans followed. With the addition of Janson and Hart they escaped from the increasingly popular emo/rock scene to a classier and more technical rock band that appeal to teenagers as well as secondary classic rock fans reminiscing the days of Led Zeppelin.
Hart, who also produces local hip-hop acts, serves as their primary producer. He has produced all of their demos and their latest self-titled EP. They have caught the attention of Middle Tennessee State University’s Recording Industry program’s fraternity ODP. The fraternity loves to include Thief in their local shows due to their amazing crowd response and named Hart the best bass player award at local battle of the bands.
Thief’s growing popularity in middle Tennessee is just a preview of what is to come nationally and internationally.
