Taking time from the road, CLOSE YOUR EYES will be stopping by Victory Records HQ this Friday, May 7th to chat live with fans at 1PM CST / 2PM EST. The band will be answering your questions, so come prepared! You can RSVP for the live chat at: www.ustream.tv/channel/victory-records.
About CLOSE YOUR EYES:
Giving every ounce of their being over to everything that they set their minds to, CLOSE YOUR EYES blew the top off of the Abilene, Texas music scene and has brought their high energy, passionate brand of hardcore to the masses. With one listen of their Victory Records debut, We Will Overcome, audiences everywhere will notice the authenticity of this spirit-filled, hardcore outfit.
Shane Raymond (Vocals) and Brett Callaway (Guitar/Vocals) first met at Hardin-Simmons University. Being the only two “hardcore” kids in the cafeteria connected them immediately. This encounter stirred the realization that the pair had a common ambition; to write and play music of their own.
“We started searching for other musicians to round out the lineup,” explains Callaway. “Some of those members lasted longer than others. Our first bass player might have played five shows with us at the very most. After a couple of tryouts and one disaster of a show where I let someone else play guitar so that I could play bass, we recruited Sonny. He really complemented the rest of the group and that’s the point where we began to grow.” After some tumultuous, additional member changes, guitarist Andrew Rodriguez stepped in and David Fidler took over on drums. That’s when CLOSE YOUR EYES hit the ground running.
CLOSE YOUR EYES has been going strong with their current lineup for over two years now and includes: Shane Raymond (Vocals), Brett Callaway (Guitar/Vocals), Andrew Rodriguez (Guitar), Sonny Vega (Bass), and David Fidler (Drums).
CLOSE YOUR EYES channeled the energy of classic DIY, hardcore punk and took it a step further by applying real melody, clean vocals and incredibly catchy hooks; never sacrificing the ferociousness that accompanies genre. The band finally found their footing after taking the bare-boned power of a band like COMEBACK KID and mixing it with the melodies of RISE AGAINST and A DAY TO REMEMBER, all while infusing their shared dedication to their faith.
With this massive sound and inspirational lyrics, it was no surprise the band receives such an intense response to their music and especially their live show. Speaking about the progression of the songwriting in his eyes, Shane explains, “It took me a long time to find my ‘voice’ and the things I really wanted to write about. Right around when we wrote ‘Song for the Broken’ I discovered that I could use lyrics to really express what’s in my heart.” One of the band’s biggest lyrical focuses comes from highlighting the ‘broken’ and needy people in the world. “It doesn’t take a specific religion to see that a lot of people in America are hurting. I really started having a heart for these people and saying, especially from a Christian standpoint, that we are being selfish.”
Make no mistake, although heavily influenced by their Christianity, the group don’t plan on selling out their faith in exchange for their fame. “We don’t hide who we are, but a big reason we don’t emphasize the fact that we’re a Christian band is because we don’t want our faith to be our primary marketing point. I would prefer if someone approached me after hearing our lyrics and questioned if we’re a Christian band, because then I can say ‘I am a Christian… and this is why’.”
Be sure to catch CLOSE YOUR EYES when they come through a town near you. Dates are as follows:
With – The Overseer and Kid Liberty
May 5, 2010 Zanesville, OH, US @ The Shot Shot
May 6, 2010 Westland, MI, US @ THE TOKEN LOUNGE
May 7, 2010 Elgin, IL, US @ Mad Maggies
May 8, 2010 Buffalo, MN, US @ The Vault
May 9, 2010 Iowa City, IA, US @ Blue Moose
May 10, 2010 Sioux City, IA, US @ JEFFERSON COMMUNITY CENTER
May 11, 2010 Omaha, NE, US @ SOKOL UNDERGROUND
May 13, 2010 St. Louis, MO, US @ Fubar
May 14, 2010 Camdenton, MO, US @ The Warehouse
With – It Prevails
May 31, 2010 Denver, CO, US @ CERVANTES
Jun 1, 2010 Salt Lake City, UT, US @ The Outer Rim
Jun 2, 2010 Garden City, ID, US @ Brawl Garage
Jun 3, 2010 Spokane, WA, US @ The Blvd w/ It Prevails
Jun 4, 2010 Olympia, WA, US @ Black Lake Grange
Jun 5, 2010 Portland, OR, US @ SATYRICON
Jun 8, 2010 Sacramento, CA, US @ Javalounge
Jun 10, 2010 Canoga Park, CA, US @ The Colbalt Cafe
Jun 11, 2010 Phoenix, AZ, US @ The Old World Brewery
Jun 12, 2010 El Paso, TX, US @ Sidewinders
Jun 13, 2010 Midland, TX, US @ The Pine Box
Jun 14, 2010 San Antonio, TX, US @ The White Rabbit
Jun 15, 2010 McAllen, TX, US @ The Incubator
Jun 16, 2010 Houston, TX, US @ The Junction
Jun 17, 2010 ARLINGTON, TX, US @ LIVE @ PHIL’S
Jun 18, 2010 Abilene, TX, US @ ABILENE CIVIC CENTER
Jun 20, 2010 Conway, AR @ SOUNDSTAGE
Jun 21, 2010 Memphis, TN, US @ The Abbey
Jun 22, 2010 O’Fallon, IL, US @ RJ’s
Jun 23, 2010 Iowa City, IA, US @ The Picador
Jun 24, 2010 Buffalo, MN, US @ The Vault
Jun 25, 2010 Mankato, MN @ WHAT’S UP LOUNGE
Jun 26, 2010 Frankfort, IL, US @ The Lighthouse
Jun 27, 2010 Grand Rapids, MI, US @ The Underground
Jun 28, 2010 Southgate, MI, US @ THE MODERN EXCHANGE
Jun 29, 2010 Bushnell , IL, US @ CORNERSTONE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Jun 30, 2010 Bushnell , IL, US @ CORNERSTONE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Jul 1, 2010 Bushnell , IL, US @ CORNERSTONE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Jul 2, 2010 Toledo, OH, US @ Frankie’s
Jul 3, 2010 Jackson, MI, US @ The 789
Jul 4, 2010 SANDUSKY, OH, US @ LYMAN HARBOR
Jul 5, 2010 Williamsport, PA, US @ The Game Room
Jul 6, 2010 Albany, NY, US @ Bogie’s
Jul 7, 2010 Haverhill, MA, US @ Anchors Up
Jul 8, 2010 Windham, CT, US @ The Franco American Club
Jul 9, 2010 Long Island, NY, US @ The Lindenhurst Moose
Jul 10, 2010 Manville, NJ, US @ MANVILLE ELKS LODGE
Jul 11, 2010 Wilmington, DE, US @ Mojo 13
Jul 13, 2010 BURLINGTON, NC, US @ SAINT MARK’S CHURCH
Jul 14, 2010 Summerville, SC, US @ SUMMERVILLE AMERICAN LEGION
Jul 15, 2010 Savannah, GA, US @ Sweet Melissa’s
Jul 16, 2010 Tampa, FL, US @ Transitions
Jul 17, 2010 West Palm Beach, FL, US @ Ground Control
Jul 18, 2010 Orlando, FL, US @ H2O
Jul 19, 2010 Marietta, GA, US @ Swayze’s
Jul 20, 2010 Madison, AL, US @ MULTIPLEX
Jul 21, 2010 Herrin, IL, US @ HITTS
Jul 22, 2010 Flippin, AL, US @ The Warehouse
Jul 23, 2010 Tulsa, OK, US @ The Wolves’ Den
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