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The Amateurs began in San Francisco in September 2004, the brainchild of guitarist & vocalist Keith Waggoner and drummer Stephen Garver. The duo tirelessly developed the nascent Amateurs' sound self-producing demos with whatever recording apparatus they could get their hands on. Soon after its inception the project moved to Los Angeles where during the recording of their EP "Hope For The Best, Expect The Worst", The Amateurs became a 3-piece after inviting violinist Shannon De Jong to join up full-time. Recorded by Manny Nieto (Mars Volta, The Breeders) at the Rock Block in Eagle Rock, the 5 song EP inspired kind words and paved the way for multiple West Coast tours and one national tour.
Buoyed by the success of their EP and their tours, The Amateurs decided it was time to develop the sound further. Serendipitous living arrangements and shared interests lead to the addition of guitarist Anthony Puglisi. With the line-up finally solidified and the wheels of the tour van barely cool, the decision was made in April 2006 to begin writing a full length record.
The Amateurs' sound is all at once familiar, yet difficult to pin down. Huge drums and twisting guitars sometimes call to mind Zeppelin-inspired jams while the violin pushes the sound closer to the realm of fiddle-driven Fairport Convention. There are hints of classic artists like Fleetwood Mac and The Who and contemporary artists like Wilco and Midlake. But The Amateurs distill their influences into something that transcends a simple rehash of what they like to listen to. There are even shades of classical music especially apparent in their haunting, sprawling instrumentals. One listen makes it clear that The Amateurs revel in beautiful harmony, textural interplay, and dynamic crescendos.
After ceaseless preparation, The Amateurs entered the studio in late November 2006 to record what has become their first full-length effort, "Speak Easy." Enlisting the production talents of local mastermind Dave Trumfio (Wilco, Grandaddy), San Francisco mainstay Scott Hirsch (The Court & Spark), and Manny Nieto, The Amateurs captured something that is as rocking as it is sincere. Recorded live in 4 days, "Speak Easy" is not only a gratifying surprise, but a testament to the power of four individuals clearly focused on their collective vision.
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