the maybe happening

Music:

Member Since: 11/26/2005
Band Members: Nathan Langston (violin), Jonathan Andersen (guitar), Parker Dutro (drums)
Influences: E.L.O., Andrew Bird, Nina Simone, Final Fantasy, Deerhoof, Ferocious Eagle, Hella, the Fucking Champs, the Pixies, the Violent Femmes, Velvet Underground, the Arcade Fire, Prince, the New Bad Things, The Melvins, Talking Heads, Dead Moon, Quasi, Neutral Milk Hotel, Binary Dolls, Roy Orbison, Menomena, Point Juncture WA, Paul Simon, Nirvana, Tom Waits, David Bowie, Dat'r, Black Francis, Johnny Cash, the Ramones, T-Rex, Nick Jaina, Bloc Party, The Knife, Ella Fitzgerald, Please Step Out of the Vehicle, the Teeth, Parliment Funkadelic, Vivaldi, Bach, Rachmoninoff, Schubert... you know, good music.
Sounds Like: ..The genius pop stylings of the Maybe Happening, who are basking in the glory of their brand-new record, Beyond the Bells. -- The Portland Mercury .... ...... ...... ........ .......... ........... ...... ......... ....... .. ...... .... ....... ....... .... ... ....[Beyond the Bells] is an excellent collection of shambling, almost theatrical pop that builds on The Maybe Happening's burgeoning mythology. Using narrative as a jumping off point, the band has constructed an album that feeds happily off its emotional context to create grandiose arrangements, which illustrate the rise and fall of its characters. Their work has actually grown in scope as a wide smattering of guest instrumentalists appear on the album to help illuminate the orchestral undertones of the band's music... The Maybe Happening have been playing together in one form or another for more than five years now and, rather than slowly divesting them of their collective will, the years have only tightened the group as a creative unit. It has allowed their music to take on "a life of its own," and we are all lucky enough to get caught in its wake. --The Vanguard .... ...... ...... ........ .......... ........... ...... ......... ....... .. ...... .... ....... ....... .... ... .... I'm sure it must be the time of year, but something about the quick, tightly strummed guitar and rustling, snowy-sounding cymbals that open the Maybe Happening's "Hot Night" are reminding me of Christmas music at the moment. Imagine Dr. Dog playing "Silver Bells" and you've got the right idea. The rest of the song's jangly, funk-ish guitar—which takes a brief time-out in favor of some floating bubble sounds—is (like the band itself) just plain fun. --Willamette Week .... ...... ...... ........ .......... ........... ...... ......... ....... .. ...... .... ....... ....... .... ... ....The Maybe Happening somehow manages to pull off a quasi-math rock vibe using only guitar, drums, and violin—and they make it work. Toss in some Isaac Brock-ish vocals, and you've got a fun-time Portland band. And it's just danceable enough to help you shake off that freezing rain. SM --The Portland Mercury .... ..... ....... .... ..... ...... ..... ....... ..... ...... ........... ... .... ......... ..... .... .. ... .......The Maybe Happening has a stupid band name, but goddamn are they some hella spicy indiepop! It's spirited, exciting, stompin' stuff that brings all sorts of messy (messy-good, though) basement orchestration into its mix of real-deal guitar riffs (squealy!), and Decemberists-ish vocals. Love that violin sawin' too. Check these dudes out!-- The Portland Mercury.. ..... ........... ...... .. .... ............ .. ... ............ ....... ...... ...... ....... ......... ........ The stripped-down sound from these three Portland indie boys manages its own kind of awkward sweetness. Nathan Langston's violin in particular gives their songs richness.-- The Oregonian ... .... ...... ....... ...... ..... .............. .... ... ......... ........... .... .... ... ......... ........ Whatever your take on this band you can surely conclude you've rarely, if ever, heard anything like them. -- Music Liberation Project
Record Label: Indie
Type of Label: Indie