In the days before the Internet, bands would do all sorts of things to scrape together money for the studio: work second jobs; gig their asses off; turn in empties for nickels.
Amherst’s Orange Television has the luxury of doing what so many of its contemporaries are now able to do: harness the power of micro-fundraising sites and social networking to raise the necessary funds. The quartet is currently in the midst of a kickstarter .com campaign, pledging copies of a forthcoming release in exchange for a few bucks to pay the studio bills.
The band—guitarists/vocalists Howie Feibusch and Nate Martel, bassist Myles Heffernan and drummer Monte Arnstam—started up two and half years ago, and says the time is right to take the band to the next level.
That’s not to take anything away from their earlier release, an EP the fellows decided to produce on a throwback medium: cassette.
“The cassette idea was born out of the fact that most people don’t value CDs or digital music,” explains Feibusch. “They’re not walking away with a product that they think is worth something. Everyone has tons of music on their iPod or burned CDs. The cassette is a product that has value.”
Not to worry, though, digital-only music fans: the cassette comes bundled with a complimentary download of the tunes for your listening pleasure.
The band’s music is inspired by some of rock history’s most popular bands, like The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, along with contemporary heavy hitters in the vein of Primus and Tool.
Asked to put together a dream bill for an Orange Television gig unconstrained by time or space, the foursome has a difficult time winnowing things down, but is able to agree on a few definite yeses: Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Soundgarden and Neil Young.
In addition to recording, Orange Television’s immediate mission is to build on the strong following it has worked hard to garner from New York up through Vermont.
“Fans connect to the live energy and presence of the band,” Feibusch says, “and many fans are already familiar with the songs.”
Wonder if they heard them on cassette?
Orange Television plays The Stone Church in Brattleboro July 2. For songs and show listings, visit http://orangetelevision.tv.
