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Dexter Freebish pleased to be singled out
By michael bruntz
Thursday, Jun 03, 2004 - 09:59:52 pm CDT
There's usually that moment of realization in every Dexter Freebish concert when members of the audience discover whom they're listening to.
After a few lines of "Leaving Town," the single off Dexter Freebish's 2000 release that received significant airplay, people realize they're hearing "that band."
"We'll play 'Leaving Town,' and I'll say, 'How many people didn't know this was us?' and 10 or 12 hands always go up," said Freebish lead singer Kyle, who goes by only his first name. "That's why we're out here touring and trying to reconnect the dots."
The band will be in Omaha on Saturday at the Ranch Bowl, 1600 S. 72nd St., in support of its independent album "Tripped into Divine," which was released in January.
Reconnecting with fans is a long process when you go nearly four years between albums.
The band's 2000 pop-heavy debut "Life of Saturdays" featured "Leaving Town" and "My Madonna," both of which received heavy airplay.
"Leaving Town" beat out 27,000 other submissions to win the 1999 John Lennon Songwriting Contest song of the year. The honor helped the band ink its first major recording deal with Capitol Records that year.
After the success of "Life of Saturdays," the band was ready to record its follow-up, but changes at Capitol Records left Freebish in limbo and waiting to record.
The hiatus gave the band time to write new songs for the follow-up album. In just a year, Freebish was sitting on about 70 songs while waiting to hear from the label.
The band asked to be released by Capitol, Kyle said, but was rebuffed and finally made it into the studios to record "Tripped into Divine."
The changes at Capitol left the band and producer Matthew Wilder with significant control over the band's sophomore album. The label again dragged its feet after the album was completed, and the band again asked for its release.
Capitol Records and the band had a "mutual kind of departure," Kyle said, that allowed the band to keep the album and release it independently in January.
The new album is a departure from the three-minute pop-rock songs that appeared on the band's debut.
The ups and downs experienced over the past four years helped shape the album, Kyle said.
"It's a more spiritual, deeper side than what we tapped into our first album," Kyle said. "Positive things come through the darkness. We took some of those experiences and made an album out of it."
The band is now trying to regain the momentum it enjoyed before the hiatus. Kyle said Freebish is getting back to its old fans, while picking up new ones along the way.
The Austin, Texas, natives knew they would have a tough climb back when they hit the road this spring.
"We did the best we can, with the old fans," Kyle said in a phone interview during a day off in Phoenix. "We knew it was going to be a challenge to get control of our career back."
After its second album, the band is basking in the newfound control over its destiny. Kyle said Freebish is comfortable not being attached to a major label, and isn't actively shopping itself.
He initially got with the band after responding to an ad in the Austin Chronicle looking for a singer. It was the first time he'd answered an ad, and the first time he'd been in a band.
The group carved a niche for its brand of pop-rock in Austin clubs often frequented by blues artists.
Dexter Freebish got its name from a now-closed roller coaster in Houston called the Dexter Freebish Electric Roller Ride. The name's origin seems fitting considering the band's foray through the music industry.
For now, Freebish has chosen to take the independent route that bands like Tonic and Sister Hazel also have taken. The band is just happy where it is.
"Where we are right now is a good place to be," Kyle said. "It's nice being in control."
Reach Michael Bruntz at 473-7254 or mbruntz@;journalstar.com
If you go
What: Dexter Freebish, Pomeroy, theory:. and Lojic
Where: Ranch Bowl, 1600 S. 72nd St., Omaha
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Admission: $8
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