Major-label rock hits The Union

by Chas J. Hartman
THE POST

It’s always wonderful when a major-label act decides to make the trip to Athens. Saturday night, The Glands is coming to The Union. And don’t be fooled by the band’s allegiance to Capricorn Records, because The Glands serve pure, unadulterated indie-rock.

Think about any poppy British rock band being molested by the low-fi guitars of Pavement, and that’s exactly what The Glands sound like. While this band hails from the once-hot Athens, Ga. music scene, R.E.M. or the B-52s isn’t what’s in store. Singer/Guitarist Ross Shapiro is quite an eclectic songwriter, but he doesn’t bother himself with writing radio-friendly tunes.

Before delving into the details of their major-label debut or the mind of their drummer, it’s necessary to know just how much buzz this band is receiving. How often does a band get a nine out of 10 rating from Spin magazine? Spin also called the 14-track album an "indie-rock masterpiece."

And what does indie-rock mean anymore? The guys in The Glands aren’t even sure.

"Indie-rock is a little different now," drummer Joe Rowe said. "There really isn’t any (indie-rock) in the traditional sense anymore. "

Indie-rock in the 1980s and ’90s signified a penchant for fuzzy-sounding guitar riffs, no-nonsense vocals and punk ethics. Indie-rock today is more centered on melodic guitar picking, self-loathing lyrics and too many wannabe rock stars. The Glands certainly have no problem performing fast tempo rockers, but they also pride themselves on writing hypnotic melodies.

"The Glands", that much-hyped new album, features perfect music for cruising and contemplating life. For the best of the latter, one needs only to listen to "Fortress" and "Ground." Songs such as these should serve as the perfect complements to those hard rockers at tomorrow’s show.

A band at this current level of popularity thrives on small college towns. While this short tour has made stops in Los Angeles and San Francisco, it contains numerous Athens-size locales.

"Most of the shows have been small college settings," Rowe said. "If not for those small towns, then we’d have nowhere to play. The support of college radio is also a necessity."

When The Glands formed in the mid-‘90s, they encountered a rough music scene in Athens, Ga. After the R.E.M. explosion of the ’80s, record labels flocked the town, signed numerous bands and really sucked the scene dry. Before The Glands could ever dream of recording an album, they had to wait for the re-emergence of a local music scene.

"It (the ’80s explosion) was hard on the scene up until now," Rowe said. "There’s been enough time now that the Athens music scene is getting a fresh perspective."

Despite the fact that The Glands are a major-label act, there isn’t a shred of rock star ego on stage. Fans and newcomers can expect to watch an inspired band tomorrow night.

"People hear you’re on a major label and think you’re super popular, but that’s not the case," Rowe said. "We’ve just been given a chance."

"I think that we’ve made two great records and the fans will enjoy our live show," Rowe said. "I guarantee they won’t be disappointed."

The Glands open for San Francisco’s very own Me First at 10 p.m. tomorrow night at The Union.