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The Absent Arch

About Me


The Absent Arch - Keep Calm & Carry On
Our very first full-length record. With shrinkwrap and a UPC code and everything. We're as excited as you are. $10, plus $2 shipping if you live far. Just click on the button below. It's a link to Paypal. It's a painless process, a minute or two (literally) with no sign-up needed and all credit/debit cards and checking accounts accepted.
Track List:
1. Weathervane
2. Forest
3. Little Kids
4. War Window
5. No Titles... None at All.
6. Tatters & Thimbles
7. We Are Fishermen
8. Namesake
9. Texas, 1935
10. Ants
The Absent Arch — War Window
War Window, our five-song single previewing our upcoming full record, is now available. It includes rough mixes of three songs from the record--'War Window', 'Little Kids' and 'Ants'--plus a live recording of 'Weathervane' and 'Devil's Blues', which Will recorded in his bedroom all by his lonesome. We think $3 is fair ($2 shipping if you're far away from us), although if you find us at a show and buy us beer, we'll give one to you for free. Lots of them, maybe.
Track List:
1. War Window
2. Little Kids
3. Weathervane (Live at the Turf Club)
4. Devil's Blues
5. Ants
Best fan quote to date sent to our MySpace inbox, re: April Turf Club show:
"Waldo, when you hit the deck rocking out on the violin, I nearly shit my pants laughing. You rule- high 5."
Best description of band member, by band member (Anthony, speaking of Waldo): "He's the Wade Boggs of aggressive folk viola." (see photo, top left).
Here's what we put in our press kits (not that we've made many, but still): The Absent Arch plays music with roots in restlessness. Echoes of traditional folk blend with melodies from a singing-and-grinding viola, whispers and noises from electric guitars, synthesizer harmonies and drum polyrhythms. The Absent Arch redefines the traditional songwriter performance into delicately textured songs ranging from pop and folk to electronic.
Enjoy the video below done by Northern Outpost.
Thanks for listening.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/9/2005
Band Website: www.theabsentarch.com
Band Members: Will Markwardt—vocals, guitars.Brian Voerding—keyboards, trumpets, guitars, and thankfully no more drum machines.Jonathan Waldo—viola, etc.Anthony Poretti - drums, Rhodes.Joseph Wojtysiak - bass (upright/electric/slide).Will Garrison - banjo, vocals, studio zipper.
Influences: People who make noise and then learn to turn that noise into music.

Sounds Like: Every band and musician we've ever heard and loved or been fascinated with. We're never sure, and that's honest. Listen. Maybe you can tell us.
Record Label: none.
Type of Label: Unsigned

My Blog

the onion give ’keep calm’ an A-

The Absent Arch, Keep Calm And Carry On(Self-released)To ward off chills this winter in the absence of a space heater, there's an easy substitute: Play The Absent Arch's debut album, Keep Calm And Car...
Posted by on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:38:00 GMT

’keep calm’ makes critics poll for top local albums of 2008

'Keep Calm and Carry On' came in at 18 on the critics' top 20 local albums of 2008 among quite a spectacular line-up. We are humbled and thank every one of you for your support.Here's the list:1. Atmo...
Posted by on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:30:00 GMT

will gives his top 25 to culture bully

head to the link. it's much cooler over there. with pictures and everything!Will's Top 25 of 2008. Culture Bully, tally ho!
Posted by on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:35:00 GMT

city pages live review

The Absent Arch heat up the Triple Rock Filed under: Concert Review The Absent Arch's Will Markwardt. Photo by Alexa Jones.In my column this week, I wrote about the firs...
Posted by on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:17:00 GMT

the onion (decider) interview

Max Ross November 19, 2008 It's an understatement to say that Will Markwardtlead singer of ...
Posted by on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:34:00 GMT

city pages interview

Absent Arch love that dirty basement sound New album combines polished folk and lo-fi charm By Andrea Swensson Published on November 17, 2008 at 4:55pm The first time I saw the Absent Arch, they were ...
Posted by on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:23:00 GMT

culture bully interview & exclusive mp3 for donorschoose.org

A short interview we did with culturebully.com on music and arts education. A link to the official page, the mp3 and more information on donorschoose.org and how you can help out is at the bottom of t...
Posted by on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:36:00 GMT

keep calm & carry on out now!

So after ten months of hard work and care, our album is finally finished and out!As of now it is available through us (either at shows or in person, seriously come stalk us we won't care). In about a ...
Posted by on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:33:00 GMT

gearwire.com interview (part two)

The Absent Arch Talk About Live and Recorded Sound Using Oddball Instruments Will Markwardt of Minneapolis' The Absent Arch has played a number of instruments in the band despite his current focus on...
Posted by on Wed, 28 May 2008 15:13:00 GMT

gearwire.com interview (part one)

Will Markwardt of Minneapolis' The Absent Arch Talks About His Guitars and Keyboards Will Markwardt of Minneapolis' The Absent Arch started playing music about five years ago with Jonathan Waldo (viol...
Posted by on Wed, 28 May 2008 15:10:00 GMT