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The Sun Herald recently spoke with EGYPT CENTRAL lead singer JOHN FALLS about the band's self-titled debut album and the connections the band has made in South Mississippi over the last two years. EGYPT CENTRAL will play Thunder's Tavern on Sunday, along with Rev Theory and Drowning Pool. The following is a transcription the interview.Q: Your debut album is finally out, after being postponed for many months. Do you feel like a weight has been lifted off your chest? A "Definitely. It's the ultimate relief I think, for the band. We can walk into Best Buys all over the country and see it on the shelves. Finally. It's like, after everything we've been through you can finally take a deep breath. But then once you did that, you still have all these other things to get underneath your belt. It's just one chapter to the book you've finally got written. " Q: What kind of response have you been getting from the album? A "An awesome response. It's been selling amazing at this point. The single went up to the Top 20, so now we can say we have a Top 20 record. It's consistently selling every week and people are buying it and telling their friends about it and it continues to spread. It's moving at a good rate, but things could get better and we could take things to another level. That will be the plan when we take out the next single." Q: You've been touring off this album for what seems like forever. Any word on a follow up? A "We don't have a timetable on that yet, but it's a topic we talk about a lot. We're antsy as well and we've had these songs for a long time but we're still delivering these songs to people for the first time. In reference to the masses, people are still hearing about this for the first time. We did the whole circuit, now we're out with Drowning Pool right now. For the Biloxi area and Tallahassee, Fla., those markets have had us for a lot longer. Almost as long as Memphis has, and have had us more frequently. For everyone there, it's like, 'OK, what next?' They're itching for new stuff, but once they started playing 'You Make Me Sick' in Biloxi, we got a whole bunch of fans we had never had before, and it was like, it just doubled itself." Q: The band's fortunes seem to have improved in the last several months. Has life gotten easier for EGYPT CENTRAL? A "Things have definitely gotten better for the band. I think it's a constant grind at the same time, though. It wouldn't be us if things weren't tough, but things have definitely gotten more comfortable for us in the past year. We're not all sleeping in the same hotel room now."
EGYPT CENTRAL is a five-piece rock group formed in 2001 by vocalist JOHN FALLS in their hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. They spent 8 months writing before ever playing a show. They practiced seven days a week for 8-14 hours a day, without a break in between. They continued to practice long hours until they had the music exactly where they wanted it. They started playing around Memphis and immediately became a favorite band in their hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. After seeing them perform, the band caught the attention of former Lava Records CEO Jason Flom, he was so impressed with them that he offered them a record deal with Lava, on the spot. Their album was recorded with renowned producer big wig, Josh Abraham (Korn, Linkin Park) in Los Angles, CA. Right before their release the phone call came...As lead singer JOHN FALLS tells it, "the band members were together, sitting in the living room. We had one phone between us with the speaker phone turned on. The moment we heard the news that we were being dropped...that moment will stick with me for the rest of my life. I wanted to cry, throw up and scream all at the same time. It was a defining moment." The band was informed that Flom was departing for a new job at Virgin Records and that Lava was being folded into Atlantic. Several of Lava's artists, including EGYPT CENTRAL, became casualties of the consolidation. They were dropped by Lava in April 2005, and due to a shakeup within the company the album was never released. Due to overwhelming demand, not just in Memphis but world wide, the band self-released their Lava-recorded album online through an independent retailer, CD Baby and also at selected music stores throughout Memphis. Their CD debuted at #1 for independent releases in Memphis selling nearly 7,000 copies within several months. The band then signed with independent label, Bieler Bros. Records on April 1, 2006, with the intention of releasing the bands Lava album that had not yet been released. In late July it was announced that the band had parted ways with the label. No reason was given but the band stated that, "It was a simple decision made in the best interest of both parties." In the summer of 2007, EGYPT CENTRAL went on tour and shared the stage with some huge names and rock legends at Ozzfest as well as on the Family Values Tour. After going through label after label, EGYPT CENTRALs new co-manager Dave Cash decided enough was enough. As he explains, "I knew we had something. The band had been signed by Jason Flom and had a record produced by Josh Abraham, there was no reason they shouldn't be getting label support." Then Cash took things into his own hands and started his own label, "Fat Lady Music" which was born out of frustration meaning, "ItÕs isn't over till the fat lady sings!" He figured he'd just start his own record company and learn as he went. He created the label especially for EGYPT CENTRAL, and they signed with his label on October 5, 2007. They immediately got to work on a remixed, remastered and resequenced version of their CD, EGYPT CENTRAL that had still not been released. They released the CD January 15, 2008 which featured their hit song, "You Make Me Sick" and people went crazy over it! It was at number 8 and before they knew it, the song had hit #1 on rock music charts world wide! The song was quick to become a favorite of radio personalities and continuously played and requested by fans. The entire recording is available on iTunes and in record stores everywhere. They've already had 2 major songs in movie soundtracks including their song, "Taking You Down" for the movie, "The Cave" as well as their song "Over and Under" as the soundtrack for the movie, "The Condemned." They've come so far and overcame so many obstacles in the music industry, these guys have good music, a loyal fan base, and they're all about touring. With JOHN FALLS kick ass voice on vocals, HEATH HINDMAN and JEFF JAMES rockin' out on guitar, JOEY CHICAGO on Bass and BLAKE ALLISON kickin' ass on the drums, there's no doubt these guys are here to stay in 2008!
Check out hot titles from 2007 and new artists to watch in 2008. In stores and on sale at Best Buy
Although the Tennessee city takes its name from the ancient capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, technically the band does not. Instead it refers to the hardscrabble, rougher than tough road that runs through America's city of the Blues, Memphis. Let's just say this is a place you don't want to run out of gas at three in the morning. The band's debut album has a unique history. It was recorded in 2006 and then as a wave of changes swept through the music industry (as they always do), the original recording never got the push and press that it deserved. Receiving a rare second chance, the band was signed to a new label and afforded the opportunity to return to the studio and finish an album they say was never completed. Thus exists the highly unusual situation of the same album being released in 2006 and 2008 with a different sound to many of the same songs. This is no mere re-mix either; it was also re-mastered and re-sequenced by some of the best in the business. The difference is easy to hear. The release this year is what the five-some heard in their heads the first time around with subtleties, textures and colors not present in the original issue. The guys have a couple of sites to check out, including EgyptCentral.net and MySpace.com/EgyptCentral
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