With the recent release of Audioslave's debut album -- a combination of Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine - the end of 2002 has brought the return of the so-called supergroup: a grouping of members of music's elite into a single band. Although they aren't yet up to the scale of Rage or Soundgarden, the emergence of Zetamale onto the regional scene certainly continues this trend as an assemblage of some of the finest musicians the area has to offer.
The band returns to Tokyo Rose this Thursday for an encore performance, following a strong show there in late October with Charlottesville band Bottom of the Hudson. The atmosphere of the venue suits the band's style well, as the song's personal nature is communicated well to the audience.
"We really love the room at the Tokyo Rose," Hollowell said. "It's intimate and inviting for both the crowd and the band."
This particular performance will include a more extensive set than the previous show, as the band introduces further songs not included on their recently released demo.
Composed of Daron Hollowell (vocals, guitar), Cornbread Compton (piano, organ, synth), Ash Bruce (drums), Nick Wurz (bass) and Justin Bailey (guitar), various members of the group have played for or are playing for bands as diverse as Engine Down, Bats & Mice and Submerge. This would seemingly result in a schizophrenia of styles, but the opposite is true because the influence of past bands figure into a cohesive and thoroughly charming result.
"As we've started working as a band, it seems that more of a kind of pop influence has been working its way into the new songs," Hollowell said.
This incorporation, however, certainly hasn't come at the expense of quality. Hollowell's songwriting is intelligent and provocative, and the use of his voice as his master instrument further enhances the songs' substance, particularly those included on the demo.
The musical prowess of other members of the band is what ultimately makes the music work. Although Compton drums for his other band, Engine Down, his delicate use of the piano and keyboards on songs such as "Blue" distinguishes Zetamale's music from that of its contemporaries. Compton attributes much of the smooth incorporation of less traditional sounds to the demo's producer, Bryan Hoffa of the Broken Hips, but no production could be effective without the masterful musicianship that Compton embodies. Zetamale has been Compton's first opportunity to play keyboard in a band, an opportunity that plays into the no boundaries approach the band has adopted.
"When we started Zetamale, the whole idea was to not put any limits on ourselves stylistically or creatively," Hollowell said. "Because of that, I think it's ended up sounding pretty different than any of the bands we've been in before and allowed us to stretch out, either because we were playing a different instrument or just trying to do something new."
Complete with Bruce's subtle but effectual drums, Wurz's steadiness and Bailey's flawless harmonizing and guitar, the band gives the false impression of one that has been working together for a long time -- but in truth, the band was borne of Hollowell's solo project merely months ago.
The demo is an elegant demonstration of the range of the band's capabilities. While "Blue" is an amiable pop-rock ballad, "Trouble" is an ethereal piece of art that by itself warrants speaking Zetamale and Coldplay in the same sentence. The tracks deal with relatively heavy subject matter, with everything from post Sept. 11 to adultery, but are not at all heavy in their execution. The ability of the band to retain such vibrancy in each track is a testament to the maturity present in the demo.
Although the band has received significant label and media attention, it remains focused on pushing itself to reach new creative levels. Recent success, however, fortunately has afforded the band the resources to make this possible.
"I think it's hard for me to think of any specific ambitions when it comes to something so creatively rewarding, but I think the main thing is we just want to take this as far as it can possibly go, to challenge ourselves in new ways. And that goes for both creativity and the business side of being a band," Hollowell said.
That the band has become so quickly unified has effectively ensured further anticipation of future records and concerts, as its vision continues to coalesce.
"We're very excited about the songs we have written as a band and the direction they're going," Compton said.
And if the past few months provide any indication, this particular supergroup is only going up.
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