Trials are nothing new to rocking punk band Receiving End of Sirens. In a matter of weeks, the band members experienced relatives' deaths, parents' divorces and major injuries to one of their own. But instead of calling it quits, they grew closer and are stronger than ever, according to bassist Brendan Brown.
"The reason why we grew tighter was because most of those events happened while we were on tour," Brown said by phone from a rehearsal stop in Detroit. "We only had the band as a support group, and we really helped each other through the problems."
The major injury occurred last year when guitarist Alex Bars tripped and fell down a flight of stairs, resulting in a fractured scapula, three broken ribs, mangled vertebrae and a punctured lung. "We thought he was going to die," said Brown. "He was lucky to be alive. And the accident happened three days before we were supposed to go on tour."
Amazingly, Bars found a way to tour with the band 14 days after the accident and his subsequent operations.
Finally, the band — comprised at the time of Brown, Bars, lead guitarist Nate Patterson, drummer Andrew Cook and vocalist/guitarist Casey Crescenzo — faced Crescenzo's departure. "We have since recruited a new guitarist, Brian (Southall), and it's been great with him on board," said Brown.
Still, after Crescenzo left, the band was faced with the daunting task of recording a new album with a different lead singer. "We originally hired Cody (Bonnette) from the band As Cities Burn to take over our lead vocals. Cody's band was breaking up. But just a few days before Cody was going to come down, As Cities Burn got back together.
"So, we finally decided to go on without anyone replacing the vocalist. And just deal with it."
When it came time for the band members to go into the studio to record the new album "The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi" — the follow-up to the critically acclaimed "Between the Heart and the Synapse" — they returned with producer Matt Squire, who had produced the previous album (as well as albums by Panic! at the Disco and Boys Like Girls). "Matt was great to work with. He knows us and knows what we need to do to make the music we want.
"In fact, before Matt heard any of the new songs, he met with us and said, 'You guys have just lost a lead singer. That means all eyes and ears will be on the new album to see what you guys came up with.' He told us to focus on vocal melody. If there was a guitar part that conflicted with the vocals, the guitar part would be dropped. We focused on vocals and harmonies and how the music could complement them."
As for songwriting, Brown, who writes the band's song lyrics, said "'The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi' was refreshing to write for. The last album we all felt we had to impress a lot of people. We recorded the album with booking agents, fans and the record company in mind. This time, we gave ourselves a little more space and recorded what we felt inside. And we feel it works better now.
"We've always tried to do what other bands aren't doing. And we've found where we need to be."
If you go
What: Saosin, Poison the Well, Receiving End of Sirens, Fiore
Where: In the Venue, 219 S. 600 West
When: Sunday, 6 p.m.
How much: $13 and $15
Phone: 467-8499 or 800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-mail: scott@desnews.com