Something Like Silas becomes Future of Forestry

[dgp11776]

Well, Something like Silas is no more.  They are now called Future of Forestry, are signed by Credential Recordings, and have a myspace page.  I think it has a song on it, but myspace is blocked at work.  Read it here:

http://www.somethinglikesilas.com/

[murlough23]

I'm excited for them, but... sheesh, what a terrible band name. They really didn't need to change it just because they lost a few members. Haven't these guys ever listened to Skillet? Or Petra??!?!

(No, don't bring up SonicFlood. They don't count.)

[ajyouthguy]

the site says it comes from a CS Lewis poem, but it still sounds kinda silly.

i'm curious to hear their sound, etc.  it was an interesting read.  i never got into the SLS stuff as much as some of you (Murlough specifically) liked them, but i have a kid who was in my youth group who has gone to church where they are (were?) leading worship and that got me a little more interested.  reading that article it reminded me somewhat of the reasoning behind RR Worship Circus changing to the Listening, it sounded like something sorta similar to me, as far as reasoning and such.

[murlough23]

Right, but the R&R Worship Circus had a dumb name to get rid of, so they saw an opportunity and went for it. SLS already had a pretty good name, I thought, but whatever.

Their sound doesn't seem to have changed too much, based on their two new myspace songs and the new stuf I heard SLS play in concert last year. One of the new songs is pretty rockin', and it would have been 100% believable as an SLS song. The other is a little more mellow and ambient. I can understand that the keyboards are going to play a lesser role now and they probably won't be as influenced by Sigur Ros, which is a pity, but it's understandable since Malina is no longer in the band.

Maybe part of the name change is Eric wanting to distance himself from the past, which I can understand, since it must be weird to still be in the same band that you were in with your ex-wife, and still have to play/sing her parts during many of their songs.

[murlough23]

I've reviewed FoF's debut EP. This is some awesome stuff.

http://www.epinions.com/content_280313302660

[ajyouthguy]

i ordered that EP with some other stuff from Amazon, adding it to get the free shipping.  it has shipped and i'm thinking i'll get it tomorrow.  i'm excited to hear it based on the little i've heard/read.

[Aaron]

Is it better than the SLS stuff?  Same style or different direction?

[murlough23]

Is it better than the SLS stuff?  Same style or different direction?

Hard to say whether it's better or worse. I think both bands have done B+ work, pushing close to A-.

As for the style... read the review, dude.

[Aaron]

eye kant red

[murlough23]

eye kant red

You've managed to fumble along this far. Just sound it out slowly; you'll get there.

[Aaron]

You've managed to fumble along this far. Just sound it out slowly; you'll get there.

LOL.  Man, it was a long day.


Good review, btw.

[murlough23]

Good review, btw.

Thanks. I knew Huckd Awn Fawnix would work for you.

[Aaron]

I figured I should try to read since I'm in graduate school. 

[woodie23]

I must say I got this EP a month or so ago and I love it. Their sound seems to have a little more edge to it this time around, which I like. Renovation & All I Want are incredible songs. However, I must say when I first saw their new name i had to blink and look twice cause it did seem kind of silly but it has grown on me some now. I am definitely looking forward to their full length cd.

[murlough23]

Here's my review of Twilight.

http://www.epinions.com/content_317597716100

[Josh P.]

Here's my review of Twilight.

http://www.epinions.com/content_317597716100

Great review

[-Escuchame-]

An interview:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2007/futureofforestry-0207.html

[Aaron]

and now, according to a press release, Nick and Luke have left FoF.

[murlough23]

and now, according to a press release, Nick and Luke have left FoF.

What the pho? This band just can't seem to keep it together. Eric is the only constant at this point. Nick's a very distinctive guitarist; they can't survive without him. Luke was a newer addition to the band, but he's one hell of a drummer. You just can't have songs like "Sunrising" without him.

This sucks.

NP: "Carousel", Iron & Wine

[murlough23]

Wait, I'm an idiot. Luke was the bass player. Spencer, the drummer, is apparently still in the band.

Replacing Nick, if they choose to continue, will still be a daunting task. He's really a cornerstone member.

NP: "Currents", Sleeping at Last

[ajyouthguy]

and now, according to a press release, Nick and Luke have left FoF.

yeah, i was originally told that they were disbanding, but i actually contacted them through myspace and got a personal reply back from Eric that said they were just losing those two and regrouping.  it's odd, but they are a phenomenal talent, so i hope they can keep it together.

[murlough23]

yeah, i was originally told that they were disbanding, but i actually contacted them through myspace and got a personal reply back from Eric that said they were just losing those two and regrouping.  it's odd, but they are a phenomenal talent, so i hope they can keep it together.

At this point, Eric's the only original member left standing. He should just rename the band "Eric Owyoung & Whoever Happens to Be Hanging Around This Month."

[Escuchame]

They're pulling a Smashing Pumpkins, it seems.

-AF

[murlough23]

Where can I find this press release?

[Escuchame]

What I read isn't so much a press release as an informal announcement from the publicist:

FUTURE OF FORESTRY SAYS GOODBYE TO NICK AND LUKE
Future of Forestry is sad to say goodbye to Nick and Luke.  The band’s vision seemed to be going in different directions, and the guys will be greatly missed.  Nick and Luke are going to be playing for some other artists such as Bethany Dillon, so you’ll be seeing a lot more of them in the near future.  The bands still has their last shows with this lineup this weekend – Aug 10 in Orange County and 11 in San Diego, and then Eric and Spencer will begin working on the next chapter of the band.  Be looking for a tour coming up in December!

[murlough23]

Well, according to Wikipedia, Future of Forestry is done. A few members (it doesn't say which ones) have gone on to join a band called Parker Theory, which has apparently existed since 2000. I'm not sure if Eric Owyoung is one of them or what his future plans are, but whatever he ends up doing, I'll probably check it out. It's just a bummer that he couldn't seem to get a permanent band lineup to gel. They were one of the few modern worship bands who held up well under critical scrutiny.

NP: "Rewind", Deas Vail

[dgp11776]

They still have dates on their myspace page.  From what I've read from Eric's postings, he wants to continue doing music as FofF, but with a rotating supporting cast.  I don't know, almost like Cush did. 

[murlough23]

They still have dates on their myspace page.  From what I've read from Eric's postings, he wants to continue doing music as FofF, but with a rotating supporting cast.  I don't know, almost like Cush did.

It could be that somebody posted an unsourced statement to Wikipedia in their haste to get the word out. I remember reading Eric's comments that he wanted to seek out new musicians and continue it in some unknown form, but I don't know which information is the most recent.

NP: "Chant", Peter Bradley Adams

[Aaron]

Well, according to Wikipedia, Future of Forestry is done. A few members (it doesn't say which ones) have gone on to join a band called Parker Theory, which has apparently existed since 2000. I'm not sure if Eric Owyoung is one of them or what his future plans are, but whatever he ends up doing, I'll probably check it out. It's just a bummer that he couldn't seem to get a permanent band lineup to gel. They were one of the few modern worship bands who held up well under critical scrutiny.

NP: "Rewind", Deas Vail

I have a Parker Theory album.  It's decent.

[dgp11776]

I've been following the FofF storyline on their blogspot page.  They are still playing shows and are currently recording a new album.  I don't know when it will be out, but their videos and blog entries have been fun to watch/read.  Check it out here:

http://futureofforestry.blogspot.com/

[murlough23]

Thanks for the blog link, dgp. It was really interesting to read Eric's thoughts on his efforts to keep the band going, and despite the crisis with their home studio, it sounds like they will manage to get another album done. (Are they still on Credential or will they have to shop the new record around for a different label home?)

It was also interesting to read his commentary on the politicizing of Christian "worship" events - specifically the one that FoF pulled out of because of the anti-gay agenda. I think it took guts for the band to do that - it's very difficult to have any sort of integrity in terms of keeping politics apart from worship, without being tagged as having a "pro-gay agenda" or whatever by a crowd whose mentality is largely based on "If you're not with us, then you're against us." I agree with Eric 100% that there's a time and a place to discuss these issues and to rally behind whatever side you're choosing to support. But a worship event where all are supposed to be welcome and where the intent is to come together despite such differences isn't the place for such things.

NP: "The Upper Peninsula", Sufjan Stevens

[dgp11776]

(Are they still on Credential or will they have to shop the new record around for a different label home?)

I think they're still on Credential.  They still list it as their label on myspace, but that's my only source.