A Rock and Roll String Band

The Senate, Seattle’s foremost purveyors of “face-melting acoustic riffage,” formed in 2002 when Oliver Franklin, a rock-and-roll guitarist with a classical background, went to a local coffeehouse to hear a solo set by African drummer-turned guitarist Nick Drummond.

Though Nick and Oliver had been high school classmates, Oliver was unprepared for what he heard that night.

“Nick’s music was memorable and technically accomplished, and he had a rhythmic approach to the guitar that I had never heard before,” says Oliver.

The two nineteen year-old musicians swapped songs after the show, and soon began writing and playing shows together. Jazz bassist Andrew Pulkrabek, Oliver’s grade-school friend and frequent musical collaborator, went to one of their early shows and heard something new as well.

“I had no idea acoustic instruments could rock so hard,” says Andrew.

In 2005 Nick and Oliver invited Andrew to play with them at a benefit concert, and the band’s lineup was completed. The members’ diverse backgrounds in music ranging from Afro-pop to heavy metal to musical theater proved to be an asset as they began to develop their sound. Using acoustic guitars, an upright bass and three voices, the Senate began writing nuanced and aggressive music grounded in polyrhythmic grooves, three-part vocal harmonies and a heavily percussive playing style.

“We talked about finding a drummer, but it turned out we didn’t need one,” says Drummond.

The Senate’s songs range from simple and introspective to driving and chaotic, a stylistic breadth mirrored in lyrics about sex, death, power, love, war, and drinking in space.

The Senate will release its first full-length recording, “Live at Solstice,” at a party at the Triple Door in downtown Seattle on March 11, 2008. The ten-song record includes a DVD of the band’s live show, recorded in September 2007 at Cafe Solstice in Seattle’s University District.

“Our fans have been amazingly supportive of our live shows,” explains Drummond, “so when they asked for a live experience they could take home, we listened.”

The band has won opening slots for Everclear, the Paperboys, Vicci Martinez, and Handful of Luvin, and placed first in Washington State University’s 2007 Battle of the Bands. Its first recording, the EP “These Cold Winds,” was produced by former Nirvana engineer Tom Pfaeffle in 2006.

With powerful walls of sound built by only two acoustic guitars, an upright bass, and three voices, The Senate’s catchy songwriting, tight arrangements, and unorthodox instrumental techniques create a dynamic musical hybrid that continues to push the boundaries of acoustic instrumentation.

The Senate: Face-Melting Acoustic Riffage

Nicholas Drummond

Guitar & Vocals

Nick Drummond is an African drummer turned guitarist and songwriter who likes circular grooves, spontaneity, and singing naked in the sauna with friends. He enjoys being outside, being inside, and being upside downside as well as long conversations in the doorway. In his free time Nick enjoys writing in the third person and drinking good beer. He enjoys jamming with new friends and old friends alike, and would like to know you.

Oliver Franklin

Guitar & Vocals

Oliver Franklin comes from a musical household and has been making noise with whatever’s handy since he was ten years old. His heroes include Tom Waits, John lennon, Saul Williams and all artists who can tell uncomfortable truths beautifully. He also enjoys dense books and whiskey.

Andrew Pulkrabek

Basses, Vocals & Beatboxing

Andrew Pulkrabek is a multi-disciplinary performing artist with roots in music, theater and vaudeville. An early obsession with Elvis Presley led Andrew to defect from choir and pick up the bass at the age of eleven, a somewhat comical choice given that he was barely five feet tall. A steady diet of jazz, heavy metal and early Motown records helped Andrew grow into his instrument, and he soon discovered the joy of playing music fast and loud, much to the chagrin of his teachers. He also enjoys assimilating trivial information, hippies, and abusing the suffixes “-age” and “-tude.”

Legal

Taping Policy

Audience taping is permitted at all Senate shows on the availability of space and agreement of the venue. For purposes of this policy, performances by individual band members of The Senate will be treated as Senate shows. Guest performances by band members with other artists will be governed by that artist’s policy. When The Senate is performing at a festival or other event featuring multiple bands, that particular event’s policy may override The Senate’s customary taping policy. All taping is limited to audio only – no video is ever allowed – and with microphones only (no soundboard patches). Anyone found taping in violation of the above policy will be removed from the venue and unauthorized recordings will be confiscated.

Since there are no designated tapers’ tickets at general admission shows, entry to the taping section is first-come first-serve. Taping will be permitted on a space-available basis. When the section is full, no additional recording equipment will be allowed into the show. If you wish to tape at a general admission show you have the best chance of getting a spot in the section if you are in line to enter the building when the doors open; this time is always listed on the band and/or venues website. If all of the space is taken before you enter the venue, you will not be permitted to bring recording equipment in with you.

The enjoyment of the audience in attendance at a concert always takes precedence over recording efforts. This means that at no time should tapers ever require other patrons to be quiet or otherwise interfere with their enjoyment of the show.

Thank you,

The Senate