articles
The Heathens
from volume 01 issue 03 // Steven Hobbs
The Heathens
Words: Christopher Belt & Steven Hobbs
Photos: Kristen Andre
On most nights, a near capacity crowd at Will’s Pub means that a nationally known indie rock band is headlining. You’d see growing ranks of fans kill time before the show – playing pool, checking out the merch table, and drinking cheap, canned beer. At a Heathens show, you’ll see all those things, but you won’t see a national headliner.
The Heathens are one of Orlando’s best known and loved local bands. They have a slightly greased alt-country sound that features violin, banjo, as many as three beards and one pair of jeans from Wet Seal. Their lyrics straddle the line between hedonism and irony, although sometimes it’s hard to tell which side they are on. For the past year, they’ve drawn steadily increasing numbers to their shows, with ticket sales that equal those of the national bands that come through town. Their success is remarkable, but it’s not a fluke.
Though they sometimes downplay its significance, The Heathens are affiliated with a collective known as Funbalaya, whose networking and cross-promotion has created a huge buzz around its constituents. The group is comprised of most of the bands in Orlando that are enjoying some success, including Band Marino, Dodger, and Yip-Yip. They’ve released a compilation CD, had a feature article in Orlando Weekly, and jointly headlined the only sold out showcase at this year’s Florida Music Festival.
“There’s a good sense of competition, but also a definite sense of friendship,” says Heathen’s singer Matt Butcher. This competition has had a noticeable impact on the level of professionalism brought to the promotion of local shows, turning them from side stages into the main event. Concert-goers are noticing, and so are critics. Butcher continues, “The bands have always taken pride in their music, now the press is starting to as well.”
The Heathens debut CD, Big White House features some finely crafted songs, with a dramatic and musical tension just beneath the surface. It’s the perfect counterpart to their rowdy live shows – an almost-miracle of understatement that highlights some moments of true intimacy.
So has the scene spontaneously turned upside down? Or are there larger forces at work?
Movements away from the status quo are nothing new, with groups as diverse as French Impressionist painters and D.C. hardcore punks following generally the same guidelines. They succeed by creating the framework of a subculture that can be assimilated into the mainstream. If critics won’t write about it, write your own press. If there is no venue to show your work, open your own venue. No distribution? Start a label.
Or in the Heathens case, sign with your banjo player’s label, Post Records. Post mostly has released records from Orlando bands, including Dodger and Band of the Name. Owner Chris Cucci says: “It’s all about doing it yourself. We would be happy to live on 10,000 a year.” His strong work ethic and determination is paying off. Big White House will be their first nationally released and promoted album.
The Heathens and other members of Funbalaya have created their own aesthetic by taking control of every aspect of their movement. Aside from promoting shows and releasing records, the collective has produced indie musicals and organized a bazaar. At the heart of the culture they are creating a sense of community.
Butcher says the band tries to make the crowd feel less like spectators and more like a part of the band. “We try to limit the space between performer and crowd.” The dozens of fans who joined them on stage for their last song at Will’s Pub was evidence of that. The success of their approach is owed as much to their songwriting as to networking. Their best songs are immediately catchy, sometimes featuring familiar imagery of Orlando nightlife. In a sense they truly are defining an Orlando sound, filling a commercial void and representing the youth of a culturally disenfranchised city.
With their first big tour coming up and their debut full length CD out July 4, The Heathens will find out if there is room in the collective memory for their Southern-tinged tunes and hedonistic lyrics.
Words: Christopher Belt & Steven Hobbs
Photos: Kristen Andre
On most nights, a near capacity crowd at Will’s Pub means that a nationally known indie rock band is headlining. You’d see growing ranks of fans kill time before the show – playing pool, checking out the merch table, and drinking cheap, canned beer. At a Heathens show, you’ll see all those things, but you won’t see a national headliner.
The Heathens are one of Orlando’s best known and loved local bands. They have a slightly greased alt-country sound that features violin, banjo, as many as three beards and one pair of jeans from Wet Seal. Their lyrics straddle the line between hedonism and irony, although sometimes it’s hard to tell which side they are on. For the past year, they’ve drawn steadily increasing numbers to their shows, with ticket sales that equal those of the national bands that come through town. Their success is remarkable, but it’s not a fluke.
Though they sometimes downplay its significance, The Heathens are affiliated with a collective known as Funbalaya, whose networking and cross-promotion has created a huge buzz around its constituents. The group is comprised of most of the bands in Orlando that are enjoying some success, including Band Marino, Dodger, and Yip-Yip. They’ve released a compilation CD, had a feature article in Orlando Weekly, and jointly headlined the only sold out showcase at this year’s Florida Music Festival.
“There’s a good sense of competition, but also a definite sense of friendship,” says Heathen’s singer Matt Butcher. This competition has had a noticeable impact on the level of professionalism brought to the promotion of local shows, turning them from side stages into the main event. Concert-goers are noticing, and so are critics. Butcher continues, “The bands have always taken pride in their music, now the press is starting to as well.”
The Heathens debut CD, Big White House features some finely crafted songs, with a dramatic and musical tension just beneath the surface. It’s the perfect counterpart to their rowdy live shows – an almost-miracle of understatement that highlights some moments of true intimacy.
So has the scene spontaneously turned upside down? Or are there larger forces at work?
Movements away from the status quo are nothing new, with groups as diverse as French Impressionist painters and D.C. hardcore punks following generally the same guidelines. They succeed by creating the framework of a subculture that can be assimilated into the mainstream. If critics won’t write about it, write your own press. If there is no venue to show your work, open your own venue. No distribution? Start a label.
Or in the Heathens case, sign with your banjo player’s label, Post Records. Post mostly has released records from Orlando bands, including Dodger and Band of the Name. Owner Chris Cucci says: “It’s all about doing it yourself. We would be happy to live on 10,000 a year.” His strong work ethic and determination is paying off. Big White House will be their first nationally released and promoted album.
The Heathens and other members of Funbalaya have created their own aesthetic by taking control of every aspect of their movement. Aside from promoting shows and releasing records, the collective has produced indie musicals and organized a bazaar. At the heart of the culture they are creating a sense of community.
Butcher says the band tries to make the crowd feel less like spectators and more like a part of the band. “We try to limit the space between performer and crowd.” The dozens of fans who joined them on stage for their last song at Will’s Pub was evidence of that. The success of their approach is owed as much to their songwriting as to networking. Their best songs are immediately catchy, sometimes featuring familiar imagery of Orlando nightlife. In a sense they truly are defining an Orlando sound, filling a commercial void and representing the youth of a culturally disenfranchised city.
With their first big tour coming up and their debut full length CD out July 4, The Heathens will find out if there is room in the collective memory for their Southern-tinged tunes and hedonistic lyrics.
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