Some 'ammo' for toy guns
Columbia's own Audio Ammunition will open for rockers Shiny Toy Guns.
Published Oct. 5, 2007
Columbia's Audio Ammunition is ready to take on the world.
After headlining its own show Thursday night at Mojo's, the band will open for Los Angeles alternative juggernauts Shiny Toy Guns on Monday at The Blue Note.
The local quartet - Jonathan Martin, Christopher Pond, Nick Wilson and Mark Barcraft - combine synthetic rock with powerful guitar riffs and an electronic background to form its unique style of music.
Named after a song written by The Clash, Audio Ammunition formed in 2005 when former MU student Martin, the band's vocalist and guitarist, and current MU student Pond, who plays synth, joined forces. They recorded their first demo CD, Subject to Appropriations, shortly after, and it included songs such as "Goodbye for Kristen," "Lightning Strikes Twice," "Don't Look Back" and "War Against the Radio."
The band is gaining momentum with a music video for "Don't Look Back," which was directed by local filmmaker Jason Bowman and features many local businesses and landmarks.
The band's lyrics touch upon a number of themes varying from long distance relationships ("Liv") to the band's experiences in dealing with a friend that went to rehab ("Goodbye for Kristen") to poking fun at pop-punk bands ("This Is Not A Hellogoodbye Song"). The band is in the studio once again to record a new EP, which is aimed for release this winter.
"When writing a song, I have so many ideas I put out there," Martin said. "The songwriting process is kind of like passing a law. There are so many ideas that I put out there that either get weeded out or get used."
With an active involvement in the Columbia music scene, Audio Ammunition has obtained such a strong reputation with local music venues that they are regularly invited to perform at The Blue Note and Mojo's. The band's retro synth style provides audience members with sprits of energy and excitement that make for an amazing show and keep audience members coming back for more.
"When we first started out, we weren't even able to get a show," Pond said. "We played open mike nights for about half a year. Now, we're being invited by different venues to perform. That's how we got the opportunity to play with Shiny Toy Guns."
Due to the strong impact Shiny Toy Guns has had on Pond and other members of Audio Ammunition, Monday's opportunity to play with them is more than the band had even imagined. In fact, when Pond found out Shiny Toy Guns was coming to town, he saw it as a great opportunity for the band, and he pursued it with such gusto that the earned the band's offer to open for them himself.
"There's an old feeling I used to get," Martin said. "It's that cold shiver you get about something you get excited about. I want people to feel that when we perform. It's the purest form of excitement anyone can have."
