Southern rock band sheds all genres

Manchester Orchestra isn’t an orchestra ‘mdash; it’s a rock band. And the five members certainly… Manchester Orchestra isn’t an orchestra ‘mdash; it’s a rock band. And the five members certainly aren’t from Manchester ‘mdash; they were born and raised in Atlanta. The band’s name isn’t the only thing that’s a bit misleading. The band’s music has been labeled as everything from Christian rock to emo. But to Jeremiah Edmond, Manchester Orchestra’s drummer, labels and misconceptions just get in the way. It’s really all about the music. ‘We know what our influences are,’ said Edmond in an interview with The Pitt News. ‘Whatever people think we are, you can’t call it inaccurate.’ Founding the band back when all its members were still in high school, Edmond and singer Andy Hull were simply Southern kids with a love for passionate, genuine rock’n’roll ‘mdash; so much so that by Hull’s junior year they began making their own. In 2006, Manchester Orchestra released the esoterically titled I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child, which started the band on a slow climb to some serious cult recognition … very slow. The album was a collection of tracks with deeply personal and often spiritual lyrics and music that split its time being lush and gorgeous or rough and rocking, all the while maintaining an emotional core not unlike the Smiths. But as great as the album was, few heard it ‘mdash; that is, until it was rereleased nationwide in early 2007, after which both music fans and critics began paying attention to Manchester Orchestra. No one knew exactly what to call the band’s beautifully introspective rock gems, and comparisons to anyone from Saves the Day to Bright Eyes followed. ‘Often, people will compare us to something never even listened to.’ If you hear an influence on the record, though, it’s likely we were listening to that. Weezer? Yup, we were listening. Hopefully it’s not a rip-off,’ said Edmond. A rip-off? Not exactly ‘mdash; Manchester Orchestra creates a rock symphony all on its own. And with next year’s sophomore album already recorded, the band is looking to expand its reach far beyond its currently small indie crowd. ‘It’s just a better record. It’s smarter, it’s broader,’ said Edmond. ‘The natural progression you might expect from the last record has been pushed a little further. Our favorite track right now ‘mdash; we call it ‘Tony the Tiger’ ‘mdash; and it’s got much more of a groove.’ Edmond and company are now preparing to take their musical vision back on the road, headlining a tour with similar emotional powerhouses Kevin Divine and the fantastic Dead Confederate, all to prepare for the spring release of their second disc. And speaking to The Pitt News just before Thanksgiving, Edmond rattled off the many things he was thankful for. ‘We’ve got a record that we’re extremely proud of. We made the record we wanted to make. We’ve got people that believe in us and are supportive,’ he said. ‘That’s all you can ask.’