Sometimes, the right people are already in your life - you admire each other’s music and become friends outside the music scene, but the same people who enter your life may not be in your band… yet. This certainly seems to be the evolutionary story of Transmission Fields, a band born out of the songs of Lee Neitzel and realized within the entranced rhythmic musings of Jason Perkins, the grinding rock bass of Jason Weiss, the aural perfection of Neil Hunter’s guitar riffs, and the sonic wizardry of keyboardist/guitarist Jay Garrigan. The members of Transmission Fields paths’ first crossed when Lee Neitzel moved to Charlotte in 2004 from the harsh edges of the Chicago music scene, where the musical landscape proved to be both highly competitive and opportunistic. After relocating to Charlotte, Lee began writing songs and playing acoustically in a music scene that seemed to be both communal and inviting. Lee soon met Jay Garrigan one night as the latter’s band, Poprocket, was promoting a show by playing a quick three-song set at a Charlotte bar. After hearing the first riff, Lee became a Poprocket fan and the two struck up an ongoing friendship based on a mutual admiration of each others’ songwriting. Ironically - since Lee and Jay were the first two members of the band to meet - Jay was the last to join Transmission Fields. Lee Neitzel then met drummer Jason Perkins while shooting photos of The Situationals, a local Charlotte rock outfit. Lee quickly formed a band called Lee Neitzel & The Black Sea with Jason Perkins on drums for an opening slot on a show Jay Garrigan had put together to support his own solo work. Both bands were short-lived, but afterward Lee Neitzel began to seek out potential band members who were interested in forming an atmospheric indie pop band and weren’t afraid to experiment in sounds. Perkins - a blazing hot rock drummer with a rhythmic ability steeped in finesse - was an automatic natural fit. Jason Perkins then suggested to Lee that his bandmate (as they were then both in the post-rock band, Holster), bassist Jason Weiss, fill out the low end. Transmission Fields - for all intents and purposes - was thus borne. Soon after, the band put together their first record “Words, Numbers and Phonetic Sounds” to much local and some regional critical acclaim. Six guitar players later the band met guitarist Neil Hunter via an ad on Craigslist. Neil’s exacting tones and technical expertise on the guitar made him a perfect fit for Transmission Fields. Both Lee and the Jasons agree that it seemed that Neil Hunter was a member of the band from the very first time they played together. Transmission Fields is now very happy to find a home in Spectra Records, a strong indie label with a global reach and nurturing artist environment. While Transmission Fields collectively feel a bit like rookies outside of our home of Charlotte, NC, we feel we have tremendous potential and have been given an opportunity of a lifetime! We’ve already begun to bust our collective asses, and while we have no idea or clue about the façade of money or fame, we really are excited that more people will get to hear our music – which to us is really the whole point of joining Spectra Records – we’re very eager to share our music and performances. Look for us and see what we are doing at transmissionfields.com. |
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