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The Divide
NYC, NY, USA |
An anomaly in the New York City rock
scene, The Divide found themselves
surrounded by a curiously devoted and
respectful audience. Alex Theoret,
vocalist and guitarist for the band
remarks, "Whether to attempt to follow
suit of a current scene or to try
something more natural and quote
end-quote, original, is a decision all
bands have to make". A choice for
The Divide, where the latter of the two
paths was taken...
The Divide was formed in 2003 by
childhood friends Alex Theoret and
Jon Spanos (drums) in the bowels of
New York City's lower east side,
understood as the city's major musical
breeding ground for rock. With the
help of bassist friend Eric C, they
quickly were cutting their way through
the musically saturated city. It wasn't
long before the boys came across
fellow musical deviant Bart Lucas
(formerly of Saint Azimuth). With Eric
handing the bass off to Bart, the three
piece was complete and ready to hit
the road to nurture their buzz and
build their regional fan-base.
The assault was on the northeastern
US, which eagerly adapted to the
musical dynamic of the band.
Beautifully mesmerizing melodies, a
signature of the band, lay atop a thick
and intricate belly of music keeping
the audience thoroughly entranced. "I
hope we create something strange"
murmurs Alex, followed by a number
of the most passionately distorted
chordal hits until... silence.
Absolute silence.
"Rarely has a room such as a packed
CBGB's been dead silent after a band
finishes a set", spurts NYC street-team
leader Dave Leftwich, "And this
happens every time they play- until of
course, the crowd catches a breathe
for the cheer".
The foundation of the music is formed
by Jon's timing and odd hit
combinations, reminiscent of a
postmodern Jimmy Chamberlin
(Smashing Pumpkins) and Neil Peart
(Rush) bastard child. Jon's hits are
wrangled by Bart's bass stack spewing
a "groovy" yet driven rock sound,
making sense of an undulating
rhythmic beast. Grit and mass is then
added with Alex's homemade SG
cranked through a stack driven by two
frankenstein modified Marshall and
Ampeg amplifiers.
In mid 2005 The Divide built an
analogue studio and recorded their
debut entitled Beautiful Disaster,
released January 2006. This seven
song EP is highly regarded by fans and
industry professionals alike. The
professional production captures an
intensity of the band which is rarely
accomplished by independent
recordings. The Divide doesn't rely on
the EP to communicate their message
however. Every show performed by the
group is a spectacle and an emotional
journey unique to any other show,
keeping the audience watching,
wanting and coming for more. |