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Bio Contact STILL for booking info, press requests, promotional materials etc.... BioSTILL is the power-pop/rock-pop creative focus of Alaskan-born Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Wade Biery. With guitar-based pop tendencies similar to "XTC" or "Del Amitri" meshed with rock's energy and a touch of country-pop added to the mix, STILL's music is engaging from the first listen, and refreshing in it's originality and depth.
REVIEWS I don't mindMelodic Net - reviewing "I don't mind" I reviewed STILL's last album here at the melodic net a few years ago, and I remember that I was really impressed by his debut album where he produced, wrote and played almost everything so I had sure some big expectations on the new album he sent me a few weeks ago. And what can I say than just a big freekin' bravo once again. Wade sure has a unique way of being. Musically we're in a sort of modern pop land who meets the singer songwriter tradition. Second out "My Ecstasy" has a GREAT refrain with superb harmonies all over and there are tons of other songs in the same calibre. The softer "All Around Me" - imagine now - is a mixture between Barclay James Harvest and Kevin Gilbert! What do you give me for that!! Well get the point! Surf away to his homepage and buy a copy right now. Still Rules. THE SONG (Another Day) THE CD
Out of the Los Angeles area comes the band STILL (don't say, "Still what?", that's an old joke, hardly fresh material), which is really the project name for singer/songwriter Wade Biery - who (along with top studio musicians) plays virtually everything on the 2001 CD release I don't mind. Featuring nine songs arranged in a guitar-based rock/pop format, the material is fresh, excellently produced and performed, and displays true songwriting craftsmanship. While the CD is guitar-based (meaning arranged using a base of guitar-bass-drums, along with another instrument or two for tonal color), it's not particularly guitar-oriented as such, so guitarists looking for a six-string heavy release, with either awe-inspiring or truly creative axe work will have to pass. But if your tastes run to bands such as XTC or Del Amitri, and you'd like to hear what one man with a singular vision can accomplish with just his talent, a few Macs, some studio equipment and some mixing assistance - well, prepare to be amazed
Bob Lefsetz - Music Industry Analyst (personal review- not site affiliated) Read the full write-up here, it's quite a cool statement.
".....Forget all the major label stuff in the cartridge. The only
CD I want to
I don’t mind by STILL (Wade Biery and bandmates). I've just spent a good hour wading (excuse the pun) through Wade Biery's
website stillmusic.com. A great way to get familiar with a pretty neat
guy, who it seems has a knack of creating some damn fine music. Wade is
a former Alaskan living in L.A (a transplanted Alaskan he'll have us know),
who has played in many bands and alongside artists such as Miguel Mateos,
LeeAnn Rimes and Carlene Carter. However, melodic rockers and regular
readers of HOTR will know Wade's history with the band "The City",
and he even tells me that he played in an earlier incarnation of the band
"Life By Night", alongside good friend and fellow The City guitarist
Stuart Mathis, who as turns out, is also an Alaskan. Since then, Wade has gone out on his own, and released a couple of albums of mainly melodic pop based material, namely 'The Distance' from 1998 and the current effort 'I don't mind'. The music has a home for fans of artists like Peter Mayer, Cock Robin, Sting, or even some of modern pops recent heroes like Toad The Wet Sprocket for example. I have recently been sent a sampler CD containing material from both albums. The quality is brilliant, the opener 'My Ecstacy' is power pop with an attitude, while the acoustic intro of 'All Around Me' builds to an electric climax. Shades of Peter Mayer's fantastic 'Green Eyed Radio' opus are resurrected on 'The Innocence', especially that nifty nautical piece at the beginning. Modern pop traces abound on the energetic 'Not Enough' while the title track 'I Don't Mind' is a quieter piece emphasising multiple acoustic guitars in the mix. 'Live In Grey' and the title track from 'The Distance' album are an aggressive melodic workout with the rhythm section particularly upfront on this duo, while 'Blessed' has an ambient and dreamy quality to it. The sample CD of nine tracks is a interesting cross-section of his material,
which will appeal to everyone somehwere along the way. Wade does a lot
of acoustic gigs, and occasionally gets his band together for some bigger
jaunts as and when required. Not only is Wade's music a great listen,
but his philosophy on music and life in general is one I thoroughly endorse.
Check out the website listed below, and have a read on some of the essay
pieces referred to in his rant's links. Especially if you are an artist
about to ink a deal with a major label. You might just get a reality check.
Both albums are available for sale on the site's ordering page. - George
Thatcher Not Lame is a big fan of this band, because there is gentle, catchy blend
ever so gracefully free flowing guitar-based melodies that ricochet and
bounce warmly all over the place. Fans of soft, pitch perfect, knee-weakening
vocals will eat up lead vocalist Wade Biery's dynamically sweet take on
his finely crafted songs. Sounds of "World So Bright"-era Adam
Schmitt dot this release, as do soaring, beautifully sung vocal arrangements
and, most importantly, SONGS. Songs that are memorable, catchy and bear
repeated listens. The slower songs will evoke sublime memories from everyone's
past, that sort of weepy, happy nostalgia. But the majority of the material
here is punchy and upbeat and filled with musical emotion. Still – I Don’t Mind (Lizard Heart) – An 80s pop vibe
permeates this disc Jangy alternapop from Wade Biery who spruces up his homegrown recordings with a few guestspots and puts them out as Still. All jokes aside, his material is strong in the songwriting and arranging categories, easily commercial radio fodder at this day and time, and definitely appealing to adults who can't seem to regain the teenage rage but haven't quite given up on rock n roll. This nine disc cd is aging well, containing at least two MOR staples (Goodbye, My Ecstasy) an "adult contemporary" acoustic number (All Around Me), and a few honest rockers (Another Day, It's Not Enough ) with some things that sound like CSN&Y after the acid has wore off and the weed kicks in (the smooth groove of "The Lady's Song", or the shuffling "I Don't Mind"). There's even a countrified bluegrass attempt (The Innocence), or make that zydeco (Sheep Run), or is that irish folk? Overall, Wade's got some things going on, his melodies are sparkling, tight, and the lyrics set well inside the multiple overtones of the songs, lots of strumming, single note pickings and hanging chords that lay a foundation for the singing. I'd go with a few lead vocal overdubs to double the overall thickness, because Wade's voice is in the higher mid-range, and at times could use the bottom end, or perhaps some nice vocal harmonizing in the backup registers. Really though, this cat's pretty cool, pretty good. The DistanceWade Biery, STILL - In 1996, with the help of a few friends pounding out a beat, Wade Biery began his first recording project in a backyard studio in LA. The three began performing Biery's original brand of thought-provoking pop throughout SoCal to great review, and by 1998, the band had releaased their first CD. STILL continues to receive airplay from LA to Alaska, and with their latest release, "The Distance", word is, they'll be going strong for some time to come. Performing mainly as a trio, STILL sections off nicely as a solo acoustic version, with singer/songwriter Biery sharing his music with the masses in this West Coast tour. His clean, electric pop vocals, steady rhythmic guitar and introspective lyrics prove STILL's waters run deep: "It's a whole new world - Life without a reason/ Live as a soul caught on earth till the day we die/ And it's cold and cruel - Hard December season/ Feels like winter was all that was left inside......" Hipfish - Astoria, Oregon Wade Biery: The singer, songwriter and guitarist of the Los Angeles area band STILL strips his anthemic brand of rock down to it's acoustic core for a bookstore tour. STILL's cd, "The Distance," is a pleasantly accessible collection of loud yet sensitive songs, and the tunes should work well in an intimate setting. The Oregonian - West Side Weekend Extra - Portland Oregon Going
'The Distance' If you like earnest rock 'n' roll with big riffs and a folksy heart, "The Distance" is quite a satisfying listen, especially the radio-ready hookfests of "Live in Grey" and the title track. Biery brings his yet-uncorrupted songcraft to the Portland suburbs on his solo acoustic tour. "The Oregonian" - Portland, Oregon This song (The Distance) starts with something that a lot of bands I've worked with over the years have not been able to get, a killer hook for the intro. The guitar hook is worthy of a band I worked with called XTC and in my book this is a very big compliment. I love this hook. It really speaks to me ... My second favorite section of this song, I really like the bridge which introduces a very strong string sound that sort of veers towards the East. Yeah, it reminds me of say, Led Zeppelin, Kashmir, or something like that. It's very powerful and very well mixed. And then it's back to the good old mainland USA for the end of the song. Overall this is a very good effort, as I say especially the guitar hook, and that's about all I can say about The Distance by STILL. Steve Lillywhite - Producer of the Dave Matthews Band, Peter Gabriel, U2, XTC ..etc... When we find a lost gem from a few years back, a release totally ignored or just forgotten about and then hooks up with us to yield a little bit of enlightenment to the pop masses. Such is the case here, surely. Still blend ever so gracefully free flowing guitar-based melodies that richochet and bounce warmly all over the place. Fans of soft, pitch perfect, knee-weakening vocals will eat up lead vocalist Wade Biery's dynamically sweet take on his finely crafted songs. The sound is commerical, radio ready power pop that has an ever so vague prog bent in the vein of Tears For Fears late 80's work(when they were obsessed with sounding like the Beatles), but more generally, they hit the vibe of The Outfield without the schmaltz. But the band this most reminds me of his David and David's "Welcome To The Boomtown" with lots more buzzy guitars than that album. Even Kevin Gilbert/Toy Matinee, as well. Deft arrangements and outstanding sense of popsmithing, make this Extremely Highly Recommended for the ages. Not Lame Records - an online record store/ distributor/ label This review is from BandRadio, an independent musician's resource site. THE SONG (The Distance) A very dynamic and melodic tune. The vocals are very sweet sounding and optimistic. The main guitar riff is totally cool with the musical break being another fantastic piece to a well crafted ready for air song. THE CD 10 amazingly crafted pop/rock tunes. The sound on this disc is truly awesome. It's obvious a lot of time went into the overall sound of this album. The songs are upbeat and have incredible energy. This is a must see and hear band, you won't be disappointed. This review is from art101, an online (and offline) design, web-sites, internet sound and promotion company. STILL: Waters run deep I get a lot of email from musicians these days... people who find the work I've done to help promote music by Jimmie and Paul and Kingfisher. I love hearing from artists... and once in a while, I find an artist whose work is especially moving... work that encapsulates the richness and depth of independently produced music available online these days. Still is a brilliant example. Transplanted from Alaska to the wilds of Chatsworth, California, songwriter Wade Biery injects new blood into the pop rock genre with an impressive command of his tools: Inventive melodies, great chops, unpretentious lyrics, and arrangements as tight as tight can be. Like every track on Still's "The Distance" CD, "Live in Grey" is light years ahead of most stuff one hears on the radio these days. For the life of me, I cannot fathom why Still doesn't have a major record deal. Actually, that's not entirely accurate. I could rant for hours about the state of the music biz in the closing moments of the 20th century. Don't get me started. Suffice it to say, I am of the opinion that the major labels dug themselves into the hole they now inhabit... and will need to work real hard to pull themselves back out. Fortunately, the net is leveling the playing field a little - giving projects like Still a direct, unfiltered global audience. "Live in Grey" opens with a fuzzy guitar riff that's a perfect counterpoint to an ardent opening statement... "it's a whole new world... life without a reason." Biery's voice rides the melody line like a waterfall cascading over each stanza. This voice is drawn from some deep underground well that pours out cold and clear... sometimes edgy with emotion, but always pure. The song is driven along by lyrics that might be taken as dark if you just read them... but the delivery transforms the message into an anthem of hope in a dark, dark age. Not too many people can pull off this sort of irony without sounding pompous or silly. It's quite an accomplishment. The second verse adds Robbie Harrington's beefy, intricate bass line to a knockout wall of buzzsaw guitars, anchored on uncommonly intelligent, deftly handled drumming. The drum track sometimes seems on the verge of exploding with an energy that's impossible to fake... dancing on the edge, but always solid and fascinating. This song has a big, big sound - not just to hammer me over the head, but for all the reasons I occasionally like to turn up the stereo real loud and dance like a fool. The track doesn't pull you in, or even drag you in... it's way beyond the self-absorbed trickery one often hears in this genre. It's more like a hurricane... a force of nature that one cannot dismiss or ignore. By the time we get to the chorus, I'm completely hooked... burning with a fever and glad to be alive.. The instrumental bridge is striking. Still uses this bridge to pull back for a moment, showcasing an unexpectedly serene and quiet point of view. Where many artists might be tempted to hammer away at some jerkoff guitar solo, Still displays an admirable respect for the listener and the material. It's a pleasing turn. I particularly like Joellen Friedkin's subtle organ and accordion pads here. Nothing is wasted... everything fits just right.. We dive back into the closing verse and chorus. I realize I'm in the presence of a true popsmith... and I mean that in the best possible way. To sum up: I can't say enough good stuff about this song. I hope lots of people get to hear it. In the jaded, predictable, beat-up world of popular music, this song restores faith in just how good new music can be. And this review only addresses one of the 11 songs on the album. Go hear the rest of them. Andy Markley, ART101 This review is from musicosm.com, an online record label. STILL In a musical world filled with empty jingles designed for corporate radio, California's Still is a fresh breath of inspired pop rock. Building their songs for the love of the music, not for play on homogenized radio stations, Still is led by singer-songwriter Wade Biery, whose pop melodies and thoughtful lyrics are the foundation of the band's uncompromised sound. This review is from hEARD Magazine, an Australian new music review site. STILL - THE DISTANCE - A totally wonderful listening experience that reminds me of sitting down to listen to any of a number of bands like maybe Creedence Clearwater, Nirvana, Something For Kate or perhaps one of your own favourite bands. Not that the style really represents any of those bands, but the feeling of music enjoyment is very strong from the outset, from both the listener's point of view & also that of the performers. Basically a project involving a surprisingly small number of people from the Los Angeles area, with very good results. One of the best parts of the album are the unusual song pacing & the great guitar riffs such as on the opening moments of the album, during "Live In Grey". There are many varied parts of the album too, with tracks like "The Wild Twilight" & closing instrumental track "Number 11" being more of a rock sensibility, while the rather haunting organ driven number "Not That Strong" shows a totally different side to the band's music. Most definitely an album you should take time out for. For more information, write to Lizard Heart Records, PO Box 4386, Chatsworth, CA 91313, USA or still@stillmusic.com The Indy Hits compilation CD that we are on is also reviewed there this month, here is the review - INDYHITS - MARCH 1999 SAMPLER The as usual excellent standard of music found on the Indyhits samplers again asserts itself on this latest edition, which finds me more than a little surprised to see Australian band Lilyak featuring with their excellent track "Image" from their Sugar Coated Malice release which I reviewed a while back elsewhere on this site. Opening up is the excellent Dewey Kincade number "Dirty Words", which is quite rightly ompared with Grant Lee Buffalo, while other highlights here include Mary Arden Collins, a sweet number called "Mary moon Electric" from Jumprope, which reminds me more than a little of the sadly disbanded Clouds. Major surprises here though are STILL, the track "Live In Grey", from the band's album I've only just finished listening to, plus the quite amazing Motorplant, their track being my pick this time around called "Broken Heart Disease". This review is from www.audiogalaxy.com, an internet MPEG3 review site.
Pop Rock / Soft Modern Rock - STILL describes itself as a cross between Led Zeppelin, The Rembrandts, Neil Young, and Don Henley. They're currently performing, showcasing their album The Distance which has recieved some excellent reviews from the Los Angeles Times and is being played on radio stations from Alaska to Southern California. The album is a collection of music begun in 1996 by guitarist Wade Biery and drummer Mike Owens, produced in July 1998. Bassist Robbie Harrington has since been replaced by Micheal Martinson. Biery plays almost everything and manages vocals too. He has a very mellow voice which is a pleasure to listen to. The track available here is "Live in Grey" which shows some similarities to Tears for Fears and Sting from the 80's, and recent Hootie and the Blowfish and Toad the Wet Sprocket. This music has a very well-mixed, Pop sound, bordering on Soft Rock, which is established right up front. Biery's mellifluous voice rolls gently in on a cymbal ride over the opening chords. Everything flows very well, with the complex, surprisingly smooth bass line filling in the background nicely. The guitar is especially well done, approaching an almost Classical / Folk sound, during a well-constructed combo that builds gradually in place of a solo two thirds through. Unfortunately, we have only this one song, but if the rest of the The Distance is done as well, Still has a great deal of potential. This review is from www.atnzone.com, an internet review site. STILL - The Distance (Lizard Heart Records, 1998) p - Wade Biery Good soft rock. Well, not Really soft. It's not Barry Manilow. It's ROCK, just a little softer version of itself.... Top of the line performances and recording. 'Blessed' is a cool song that sounds like the back cover of the cd - a lake, mountains, peace. The title track, 'The Distance', starts out with someone fooling around with their guitar, then it KICKS IN. Wild electric guitar will grow out of your earholes. Yet I like the refreshing quality of 'Rainbows' and this mood best. It's not country, it's not folk, hell, it's not even folk-rock. It's a good mood. It's playing your guitar on the back porch on a sunny day. It's a new song you wrote for that girl you're hoping will be yours. It's just good. 'Draw the Line' has some vocals that remind me of the Beatles in the early days, only Way better recorded. (And not as formula-driven as Oasis..) In 4 minutes, you get to wonder 'where do we draw the line?' Good, not yet great, album with electric acoustics and solid voices. Most everything's done by Wade Biery, and a good job he does. Perhaps having another writer or guest artists would help shape the next album into something with greater range of musical emotion, or sound. In any case, this is worth the bucks. Ben Ohmart This review is from "Midwestern Skies" a Sweden based Music review site. STILL - The Distance (Lizard Heart Records, 1998) p - Wade Biery This is one of the best indies of 1998. It's a VERY nice piece of plastic that I suggest you all to take a close look at! Their homepage is http://www.stillmusic.com and is more than a must to go there and pick up your own copy. Musically we're on a pop-ground with a soft modern rock touch (even AOR traces here and there). It's like Tears For Fears. It's like Peter Kingsberry. It's like Sting. It's like Toad The Wet Sprocket . What strikes me most is the guy behind it - Wade Biery. Where has he been before? What a nice voice, and the freekin' guy plays almost everything on the album!!! No people - surf away from my page at once and click yourself to STILL's page and order a copy now. Lovely work! Par (This review is taken directly from the LA Times Valley edition STILL, "The Distance" Lizard Heart Records The cosmic ratio of drummers to bands must be out of whack, because STILL is yet another group on hiatus due to a between-drummers crisis. STILL features a collection of finely-crafted pop songs by Wade Biery, whose credits include Dillon O'Brian and Carlene Carter. Biery's songs are pretty mellow and won't scare the cat or cause the folks to cut you out of the will. "Not that Strong" could be the theme song for rehabs everywhere. A polished effort. Grade: B+ This is from Paperlate - a Radio Program in the Netherlands.... This is certainly ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS FROM THIS YEAR!!!!!! We will start airplay tomorrow. This review is from CDlight - an online Music magazine in the Netherlands POP-ROCK/A.O.R. "4 out of 5 stars" This review is from Online Express Music - an online Music catalog in Buffalo New York "A collection of Pop/Rock songs with a bit of a Mersey Beat. The lyrics are as memorable as the catchy melodies. Wade Biery's vocals draw you in as you are caught up in it all." - Sparkey/OEM |