Lansing space rockers release sophomore indie album

Photo by Casey Cavanaugh

Since forming in the spring 2007, Elliot Street Lunatic has been making waves across the state - frequently playing rock venues from Lansing to Mount Pleasant. The Lansing-based band's 2009 album Into the Void helped it land opening slots for a long-list of emerging indie bands, and now the Ghost Town Lullabies LP will follow it up when it's released at Friday, Jan. 27 at The Loft in Lansing. The band includes songwriter Jason Marr (guitar/vocals), Eric Robins (guitar, vocals), Jordan Hahn (bass, vocals), CJ Kjolhede (drums, vocals) and Liza Robins (tambourine).

REVUE Mid-Michigan recently caught up with Jason and CJ to talk about the new album, the band's progression, and the Lansing music scene.

Are you guys still dedicated to the "space rock" niche you've become known for?
JASON: We used to call ourselves space rock, pretty much exclusively, but these days we tend to cover a lot more ground, from rock n roll to ‘60s-style pop songs. But if we were going to put it under a genre umbrella, it would be indie rock/alternative rock.

Has your sound changed since the band started?
JASON: We are a completely different band from the first days in the basement. We started off with a grunge-punk sound with progressive tendencies, and, especially once Jordan and Eric joined, became a lot more upbeat, spacier and more harmony based. In the past two years we've really refined that sound as well, writing more concise and more colorful songs, but leaving the harmonies and spacey feel intact.

I heard the recording process for the new album, Ghost Town Lullabies, was quite a journey for you guys.
CJ: We recorded out in California, south of L.A. with producer Casey Crescenzo (of The Dear Hunter, a national indie band). We played with them at Mac's Bar in September of 2009 and I was becoming a huge fan. Casey offered to record us that night ... It couldn't have turned out better, as far as we're concerned. The songs have a life on the album that we couldn't have given them anywhere else. We can't wait to have it out there for people to finally hear; we've been hearing it for months now.

When people approach you after shows, who do they compare your sound to?
CJ: We're always hoping that someone will hear The Beatles, My Morning Jacket or Minus the Bear in our music, but our influences are all over the map, depending on who you're talking to. I'm really into bands like The White Stripes, as well as my all-time favorite, Radiohead. Jason tends to lean in a more prog-rock direction, with bands like The Mars Volta, while still being a big fan of Portugal. Eric was meant for the ‘60s and Jordan is a big fan of Say Hi and other synth-minded indie pop.

What's your take on the strength of the Lansing music scene?
JASON: The Lansing Scene is one long sine wave. There will be great months where everyone is working together and everyone is making music at the top of their game, but then all the MSU students graduate and move away and the scene takes a hit. We've seen fewer and fewer kids under 21 coming out to shows lately. Things are great right now with Joe Hertler and Good Weather for Airstrikes both having released great albums this year, as well as Jeff Pianki and Audrey putting out great short releases this year.