by jon bosworth jaxvillain@yahoo.com
Who: Dark Romantics, Shangrala, House of Fools, Paulsen, and Mi Capitan
When: December 8
Where: Jack Rabbits
Florida’s music scene is an ornery beast. Florida doesn’t have a big city with major label presence. You could take all of the industry professionals from Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville and add them together and you still wouldn’t equal the music industry professionals in Atlanta alone, never mind Chicago, Nashville, New York, or Los Angeles. But Central Florida’s Dark Romantics knows all about that, and they have managed to overcome the obstacle the only way a Florida band can, perseverance, rigorous touring, and a few lucky breaks.
The name Dark Romantics fits their music is a strange way. The tone of the music is somewhat upbeat, but it has the creepy shadows of early goth and progressive music from the eighties. Eric Collins was in the popular Orlando band Denison Marrs, which had been Divine Child, and they were fairly well known, especially among the Christian music scene. Dean Paul, the other half of the songwriting team, was most widely known for his work with Florida musician John Ralston.
Whereas John Ralston’s music is folksy and unremarkably traditional, and Denison Marrs was something of an emo outfit, The Dark Romatics are nothing like either of those projects. Their dark synth-pop sound reminds me of Echo and the Bunnymen playing cricket with The Smiths. The two songwriters found a drummer and asked their wives to join the band. They have worked with Jason Martin from Starflyer 59 on both of the albums they have released, and his stylish depth of audible texture is almost noticeable on the latest record. I talked to Eric Collins, half of the songwriting team, about his new band.
EU: What does the name “Dark Romantics” mean?
EC: In searching different words and phrases on the Internet that I felt described the musical and lyrical feel of what we are doing, I came across “dark romanticism.” A genre label given to literature, music, art, and film that deals with the not so “sun-shiny” side of life, love, and spirituality. I felt that that was the most accurate description for what I am trying to do, and what I want to do. Plus it sounded cool (the best reason to decide on a band name!)
EU: What happened to Denison Marrs?
EC: It was just time to be over, and we were able to recognize that.
EU: How did you transform from the emo-ish Denison Marrs and John Ralston, to the rather Smithsy-with-a-disco-beat Dark Romantics?
EC: Haha...that’s funny. We don’t have that many disco beats, I just happen to like that funky open high hat action. Denison Marrs had an alternative 80s influence to many of its songs, but I think now that I’m writing on my own, or just with Dean, that influence really comes out. I tried fighting it for a while, but finally gave in. Plus, my wife love’s alternative 80s jams, so...
EU: In Jacksonville it is difficult for terrific bands to muster the fan support that the industry would notice at all. Most professional musicians from here, have had to leave here to pursue a professional music career. Has Florida been a difficult place for you to come from professionally? Has it provided more obstacles or opportunities?
EC: Florida, for the most part, has a lot of great places to play, a lot of really supportive scenes...You just have to get out there and find them. It does make it more difficult to be “noticed” in Florida because there isn’t really a music industry presence except for radio pop music. And that’s even faded completely out at this point, leaving those guys trying to find “rock acts.” It seems like Florida bands have to work extra hard and tour more to get industry types to notice them because those types only look at numbers and sales of what’s going on down here, as opposed to going out and hearing and seeing the bands, like they do in California, New York, etc. I’ve been toying with the idea of moving the band to the Atlanta area, but only because it would make touring so much easier.
EU: How instrumental has Jason Martin been to the music of the Dark Romantics?
EC: Incredibly instrumental. He was able to take the music and ideas out of my head and make them sound good. I think he added class, and definitely his coolness to it. We can’t wait to record with him again.
EU: With a background in the Christian music scene (Divine Child and your ties with Starflyer 59’s Jason Martin) could the Dark Romantics be considered a faith-oriented group?
EC: Definetely, but in a U2 type of way, which is how I think Jason approaches his art. They, and we, are Christians, but don’t use it to sell our music. Like any musical artist, Christian or not, I’m writing lyrics about what I believe and think. Sometimes they’re spiritually-based, sometimes they’re not.
EU: What is it like being in a band with your wives?
EC: I was a little nervous about it at first, but never doubted that I wanted to do it. I knew that I did not want to tour unless our family was together, so Dean and I forced our wives to join the band. It’s actually turned out to be really cool...I wish I would’ve thought of it earlier in my musical career.
EU: What can people expect from a Dark Romantics live show?
EC: To fight, harder than ever before, the urge to move and shake. People are really stuck in the arms-crossed, feet-planted position at shows these days, and we’re trying to do our part to help abolish it!
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