Event

THE MEMORIALS w/ Amrita, Lovanova

The Memorials were spearheaded by Grammy Award winning Bay Area drumming prodigy, Thomas Pridgen. After years of Thomas recording and performing with The Mars Volta, he turned his attention to forming his own group, incorporating a range of styles as diverse as the experiences of the bands members. Instead of becoming another rock bands' heartbeat, Thomas' focus was to collaborate with extremely proficient musicians who could fill a void Thomas has heard in rock music throughout his life. Thomas reached out to friends and former students of the esteemed Berklee College of Music, Viveca Hawkins (vocals) and Nick Brewer (guitars), to join him in his newest endeavor. Recording with his friends yielded a family vibe that enabled a comfortable, yet intense recording process. The group's assets were rounded out with the addition of a bass, organ, synthesizers, and multiple percussive elements.

"For me it was important to put a band together with my friends, and the record is a rollercoaster. Some songs are hard, but will make you cry by the end," says Thomas of the Memorials' self-titled debut.

The passion and intensity of the recording sessions is audible, as they combine a vast array of sounds atop Thomas and Nick's compositions. Nick's sprawling guitars and Thomas' thick drums serve as the core of the sound, while Viveca's voice brings it together perfectly. The result is intelligent and calculated, exhibiting diverse pop sensibilities within songs that really rock out. The progressive compositions highlight each musician's incredible talent, while creating textured tracks of a band naturally in its stride.