Appleseed Cast plant roots in Lawrence

The Kansas band has been making music for a decade.

By Hannah Hayes

Published Oct. 20, 2006

The Appleseed Cast might have been around since you were in grade school, but it's still new to this game.

"Headlining a tour, yeah that'll be weird," guitarist Aaron Pillar said.

Being the main act will not be the only new change for the band from Lawrence, Kan. With a new drummer, a new record label and a new album called Peregrine, Appleseed Cast has a fresh start and a fresh sound with its fifth full-length album.

"We took a really long time," Pillar said. "We've done albums where we basically had three days to be done. There was none of that in this album."

Peregrine illustrates where the band has been and where it's marching. With more vocal work and experimental drum use, Peregrine is based on the sound Appleseed Cast started with in its Deep Elm Records days, similar to label bands Red Animal War and Slowride, but with a new edge and an air of maturity.

"It just summed up a lot of different sounds we've done," Pillar said. "It's been an unloading thing from the course of 10 years. We've always had the ability to sit down and play music so there's never been a lack of ideas."

The band's decade together began in California, where the high price of living was "killing" them. With their other band mate, Marcus Young from St. Joseph, Mo., the band members relocated to Lawrence where they've set their roots. Since then, the guys have received praise and persecution for their music, some welcome and some confusing. All Music Guide called Appleseed Cast "America's closest answer to Radiohead," which is a notion that the band doesn't agree with.

"We weren't too happy when we saw that to be honest," Pillar said. "I know it's all about marketing, and they thought it was a great idea. Whatever. I think it's kind of stupid because Radiohead has so much of an electronic thing."

Although it's arguable the new album has shades of Thom Yorke, in their tour van the band members listen to Nada Surf, Sonic Youth, Red Sparowes and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Recently the band has switched from label Deep Elm Records to The Militia Group.

"Militia right now is very proactive. You have to have your head in the game with them," Pillar said. "They've been very free with us wanting to put out our music. They're different in a good way."

Appleseed Cast's tour will make a stop at Mojo's on Monday.

"It's cool seeing places trying to get that same vibe as Lawrence," Pillar said. "Columbia's cool. It has that college scene, and we like to razz each other about the whole MU and KU rivalry. And Shakespeare's is really good pizza."

As the major attraction, the band promises not to disappoint.

"You can't always come back to see the same thing with our shows," Pillar said. "It's always fun."

The Appleseed Cast
Performing with: Never Perfect Intentions and Umbros
When: 8:30 p.m. Oct. 23
Where: Mojo's, 1013 Park Ave.
Price: $6