The Redaction

The heart of The Redaction’s recently released full-length album, When I’m Through Making Peace, is shaped by growing up across the South. The guys in the band found the Southern experience to be a tapestry of contradiction and harmony—and the birthplace of America’s greatest music—jazz, blues, gospel, and rock and roll. So they crafted a record that is both a chronicle of disillusionment and an optimistic story of reconciliation with yourself and your world. “This isn’t exactly a concept record,” says drummer Jared Lace, “but when we put the album together, we thought about the common progression of experiences we’ve all had over the last few years—going from a place of almost stubborn confidence, to a feeling of loss and confusion, and finally to a place of peace and hope.”
When I’m Through Making Peace is a pop/rock record, but also something more organic. “This record is who we are,” says bassist and piano player Mike Jeter, “crafted by us, written by us, and produced by us. In that way, it’s also an indie record. First and foremost we are songwriters and we bring these songs to life with your basic rock arrangement—guitar, bass, drums and a little organ or piano. There’s nothing programmed on this record – it’s as authentic as we could make it.”
It’s that basic rock formula that is the foundation of The Redaction. Says lead singer and guitarist Andy Yates, “In Montgomery, the rock that’s on the radio, even to this day, is classic rock. So I got my musical education at the feet of bands like the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix. People in the South have never stopped listening to that stuff – singable melodies, strong hooks, and the guitar-bass-drum arrangement. I guess at its core, it’s Southern music—rhythm and blues.”
These musical influences are evident in The Redaction’s music. It’s in the way they play: Andy’s blues-driven guitar, Jared’s melodic backbeat, and Mike’s soul-inspired bass and keys. It’s in the way the band writes: focusing on strong melodies, clear hooks, and judicious repetition. And it’s in the topics they choose to explore: coming of age in a stifling place, the conflict between wealth and peace, and how to make sense of religion and faith. Take a listen to When I’m Through Making Peace, and you’ll see how it comes together. From the guitar bends of “The Next Big Thing,” to the jazz-inspired bass line of “Just You Wait and See,” to the pulsing rhythms of “You Won’t Return”—it’s classic and fresh, contemplative and carefree all at the same time.
Before producing its current album, The Redaction released its Brand New Year EP in 2006. The single from this record, "Southside," won an on-air contest on Star 94, an Atlanta top-40 station. This win earned The Redaction a spot at the Starfest music festival, where the band opened for artists including Train, Pink, and Nickel Creek. They have spent much of the last couple years touring the Southeast US.