Soft Reeds
Soft Reeds is the bastard son of dreams gone awry and inspiration rediscovered. The byproduct of his affair with disillusionment, front man Ben Grimes brings legitimacy to illegitimacy. After the break up of his previous band, The Golden Republic, Ben left Kansas City for Nashville. His exodus was one of disappointment with the music industry, youthful rebellion, and artistic endeavors. After the ordeal of a major label fiasco, he was trying to get away from being a musician. But the musical environment of Nashville compelled him to write again. He would soon leave Nashville and return to Kansas City to start a new project: Soft Reeds.
Setting up in Kansas City’s Crossroads District, Ben built a small studio and created an EP ( Three Songs by Soft Reeds). At this point Soft Reeds transformed into a band. Grimes recruited Josh Wiedenfeld (drummer), Phillipe Leitner (bass), and Jordan Johnson (Rhodes/guitar). Shortly thereafter Jordan Johnson left the quartet, and was replaced by Dan Talmadge. In the fall of 2009 they began recording their debut album “Soft Reeds are Bastards.” Comprised mainly of songs and ideas taken from Grimes’ Nashville experience, Wiedenfeld also lent his hand with co-producing, engineering, and writing arrangements.
The music is brimming with pop melodies, rousing guitar, and clever instrumentation. The rhythmic beats alternate and pulsate with themes of alienation and connectedness. Lyrically, it is a cheeky account of perspective gained. Signing with the record machine in June of 2010, Their debut album Soft Reeds are Bastards will be released on July 13th, and will be available on iTunes. A supporting tour is in the works for the fall.
Albums:
Soft Reeds – Soft Reeds Are Bastards
Brave New World
This Affair
The City & The Stars
Hemel Dalingen
The Sirens of Titan
Bleeding Hearts
Thick of Thin Things
Wasted Time
Bastards
Despite Straight Lines
Press:
“Soft Reeds Are Bastards is a daring, arresting rock record” The Pitch
“Soft Reeds are Bastards, Grimes takes the glam-rock blueprint of The Golden Republic and masterfully merges it with a folksy, indie-pop backdrop” – Ink
“In one of the most candid and devastating lyrics of the year, singer, Ben Grimes notes, “I’m getting tired of this affair/and now you’ve gone and done that to your hair.” Like the roots of most failed relationships, it is simple, crushing and detail heavy.” – 32feetpersecond
All content © The Record Machine Press 2010.