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The rhythms of hip-hop provide a placemat for nervously melodic splendor and a melting pot of genres. What are we to call this compellingly oddball mélange of rock, rap, jazz, reggae, and other influences, all in sway to some of the most mirthfully self-conscious streams of consciousness you’ve ever heard? We could call it attention-deficit-disorder rock. Or maybe we should just call it Forrest Day, the Bay-area bandleader who’s releasing his self-titled full-length debut on the Ninth Street Opus label.
Cohorts include guitarist Terrell Liedstrand, a bandmate of Day’s since they were both 15, and bassist John Sankey, another high school buddy. Keyboard player Nick Wyner also came on board when the band was founded in 2006, and Jasper Skydecker joined up as their first full-time drummer a year later. When they went into the studio together for the first time, it was with several years of live performances under their belts and a chemistry that Day wanted to capture—and ever-so-slightly digitally tamper with.
“We hit analog tape with everything, but then dumped it into ProTools to manipulate it there,” says Day, who produced the album himself. “So a lot of it is like a big marriage between actual performance and then, in editing, turning some of the songs into loops—though it doesn’t really sound like it, because it’s so analog-sounding.” Day also points out that “there’s not a sample on the record. We brought in real violin players, who were in the room with real saxophones.”
Day’s amusingly confessional songwriting dabbles in social commentary about corporate greed (“Hoarders”) and our overmedicated society (“Meds”), among other concerns. But he returns again and again to everyday struggles common to itinerant musicians and non-musicians alike: bad bosses, lost jobs, debt collectors, and the girlfriend as muse or unwitting patron of the arts. There’s an elaborate work ethic apparent in these meticulously crafted tunes that would seem to put the lie to lyrics that talk about being dreamy, uncertain, and aimless. What we have on this striking debut, then, is a collection of incredibly focused anthems for an unfocused generation.
Band Members:
Forrest Day: Songwriting, Lead Vocals, Sax..
Terrel Leidstrand: Guitar, Vocals.
John Sankey: Bass.
Nick Wyner: Keyboards, Vocals.
Jasper Skydecker: Drums.
Nathan T. Winter: Live Sound
Quotes:
“...one of the strongest albums to come out of San Francisco this
year.” - The Huffington Post – July 2011 by Robin Wilkey
“This is the sound of experimental indie rap universalizing its
relevance while compromising none of its tenets. With this debut, Forrest Day
succeeds in concocting songs that are meticulously crafted enough for the heads
but emotionally honest enough for those done with the over-saturated genres
that just won’t die.” - Kata Rokkar – Nov. 2011
"The ambiance-filled, impeccably produced, mischievous, unique,
brutally honest sound is going to take the world by storm." - Tri-City Weekly (Eureka Times Standard)
– Aug. 2011 by Miles Cochrane
"...every time they hit the playground they fearlessly try
something new. That’s how I think of Forrest Day, whose joyous songs sound like
they were constructed in Tom Waits’ mad scientist laboratory by Oompa-Loompas
hopped up on bennies." - New
Times SLO – July 2011 by Glen Starkey
"Poverty, unemployment, love and frustration act as keynotes in
Day's analysis of everyday life, and as a performer, he pulls no punches when
it comes to expressing himself." - Boise
Weekly - July 2011 by Trevor Villagrana
“Forrest Day defines eclectic...The music is new, it’s unusual, and it
personifies the spontaneity and free spirit of jazz, while pulling elements
from hip-hop and rock.” – KCRW – Oct. 2011 by DJ Jason Kramer
“Raise your hands and praise Forrest Day and their seven piece band
that can mix up genres of jazz, hip-hop, punk and make it their own unique
sonic blast...a definite fun time live.” - San Francisco Chronicle - Sept. 2010 by Tony Dushane
"Forrest Day is one of the most talented, hard working groups and
they’re out there pounding the pavement proving themselves one show at a time.
Each time the crowd grows, the band gets even better, and if you’re lucky you
get to hear a couple new tunes." - The Bay Bridged – Feb. 2009 by Jake
Butler
“Snazzy, fast melodies and randomly odd pairings with saxophone and violins make for an "ear-gasm" of sound, not normally heard on your everyday album.” -Hybrid Magazine - Feb. 2012 by B.J. Robinson
"Simply destroying expectations." – SF Weekly – July 2010 by Ian S. Port
“An odd rap-rock pastiche that defies modernity and resists genre
altogether.” - East Bay Express, June 2010 by Rachel Swan
“And the crowd? Well it goes wild, duh. And then Day picks up a sax,
and launches into some sort of psychedelic jam session, if such things can
include saxes.” - SF Bay Guardian, Sept. 2010 - Caitlin Donohue
“Ever since the Bay-area artist blew me away with a performance at the
Whisky, I’ve been a huge fan, and the release of his debut full length on
October 11th just further reinforced what I already knew: this is an artist
worth noticing.” - LA Music Blog – Oct. 2011 by Kristin Houser
“...this genre-bending Bay Area outfit manages to pack so much into 45
minutes, that it's very possible that no review could ever do the album
justice.” - Kik Axe Music – October 2011 by James Zahn
“Idiosyncratic. Original. Novel.
Call it whatever you like, but let this be known: Bay Area musician Forrest Day
is easily one of the most captivating individuals the cultural-rich locale has
ever produced. Yes, ever. Throw him in the mix with RHCP, Sublime, Jane's
Addiction and Green Day, this genre-bending wizard is something else
altogether. Self described as indie-soul-experimental, Day is a musician with
more swagger than most hip-hop artists and more melodic flair than most chart-toppers.
There's a dash of reggae, jazz, rap and rock that is indubitably unique and
nothing short of mesmerizing. On his eponymous 14-song album there's boat loads
of bravado, bluster and brilliance. And hot damn is it something.” -
AbsolutePunk.net – Oct. 2011 by Gregory Robson
“Attempting to pigeonhole Forrest Day’s musical alchemy is next to
impossible. He raps. He sings. He plays saxophone. He’s been known to wear a
dress occasionally. He’s pretty much impossible not to notice. Meanwhile, Day’s
backing band — also called Forrest Day — kicks up grooves that might be rock
one minute, funk the next, even ska when the pistons are firing. The resulting,
off-the-hook live show is creating a grassroots buzz for this eclectic Bay Area
group, which seems destined for bigger things.” - Idaho Statesman - Feb. 2011 by Michael Deeds
"Ever have the feeling you don't know a damn thing? As I watched the
grassroots band Forrest Day bring down the house at The Great American Music
Hall in San Francisco last Saturday that's exactly what was going through my
head. With each track, different yet recognizably the sound of Forrest Day, I
felt myself being more mesmerized and feeling less worthy of being a music
lover/aficionado of all genres since I hadn't known of them until that
night." - KRYS (Blog) – June 2010
“Forrest Day’s album is so full
of blending genres, fierce musicianship and true songwriting artistry - there
are endless good things to say about this album. If you like funk, rock, rap,
folk or just music in general I insist you take a look at this album. There is
something on it for anyone to enjoy immensely, and if you have the prerogative,
feel free to listen to it all the way through. You’ll see that Day has your
ears in mind when he puts a track listing together. His LP constantly unfolds
thematically until the last song is over. It’s as if you’re listening to a
musical novel written by life. There’s no tricks. Just music, in all its power,
defying convention and capturing greatness.” - Ology.com – Oct. 2011 by Thomas
Ciccone
“The lyrics felt much more than just a voice, but like a comedic truth that brought a smile to the audience.” - The Daily 49er - Feb. 2012 by Janine Zuniga
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