Artist Information

Instrumentation
Michael Smith: vocals, guitar
Amy Smith: keyboards
Michael Volk: guitars
Todd Carll: Drums

Biography
From the creatively fertile grounds of Dayton, Ohio, home of the Wright Brothers and the birth of flight, comes a new type of onward and upward venture, this time of the aural realm by veteran indie space rockers Lab Partners. Lab Partners' sound washes over you with heavy doses of celestial vocals and melodic guitars. Their massive presence is driven by larger than life drums and pulsing bass. With an emotional purity that has been compared to Spiritualized and Radiohead, Lab Partners do far more than write amazing songs, they create a dense atmosphere of true rebellion.

Formed in 1998 by guitarist/vocalist MIKE SMITH and keyboardist AMY SMITH, the band originally featured lead guitarist KEVIN PARRETT (A Ten O'Clock Scholar) and drummer MATT SCHULZ, who has been a longtime collaborator with Mike Smith dating back from their days together in Honeyburn. Schulz went on to perform full- time duty with Enon. Today Lab Partners' drum work is handled by TODD CARLL (Ultra Vega, Kommandoz) and features veteran rocker MIKE VOLK on lead guitar (also formerly of Honeyburn and Let’s Crash). Lab Partners also serve as one of the few bands not to include a bass player, with Amy Smith's keyboards and sequencer work uniquely filling in the low end of the rock spectrum.

Lab Partners have finished work on their follow up to 2002's Daystar. The new album, Wicked Branches, features 12 songs and will be released in May 2005 by Portland's REVERB RECORDS. Daystar was released on Dayton's BIG BEEF RECORDS and garnered a review from SPIN Magazine. Daystar is a magnum opus for both shoe and stargazers as well as those who like their rock with a little crunch, creating a richly textured and swirling melodic infusion of sound that ranges from minimal aural spacescapes to full on rock and roll. Lab Partners also self produced two recordings Lab Partners released in 1999 and Turn It On released in 2000.

Catch Lab Partners live in March as they play the South By Southwest Music Festival and tour the west coast of America. In the fall, they will be touring the east coast where they have already been making a name for themselves touring with BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, THE WARLOCKS, AND PHASER.

BC: Ok, the name - a catchy-fun standout as reminiscent of your most memorable tunes in high school advanced chem.?
Mike Smith: I used Lab Partners early on during my college years. I was in a band called Honeyburn at the time and devoted the majority of my attention towards that band but found out I had a lot of 4-track stuff piling up. I’d have friends I’d hook up with and write songs with and it just kind of felt like I was being teamed up with somebody all the time – like a Lab Partner. Most of the stuff faded but the name stuck and once again I found myself working with a “partner” – Kevin Parrett. We slowly evolved into a band after gaining Amy as a bass player. Then later eventually Matt Schulz (non Enon) as a drummer.
Amy Smith: Mike Smith had it in mind from before the band started.

BC: You're originally founded in '98, how long have the 4 of you been rockin' for?
Mike Smith: 2004
Amy: This lineup has been going since around March 2004.
Mike Volk: agreed

BC: At what age did each of you first pick up your instruments and begin playing?
Mike Smith: Between 10 and 11 if I remember right. I got my Mom’s old acoustic guitar.
Amy: I started playing in school band when I was 10.
Mike Volk: 8 or 9 - My neighbors were throwing out an old Harmony electric guitar. I asked if I could have it. My Dad made me a kit tube amp with a home stereo speaker.

BC: Did you end up paying for lessons or is this a natural talent?
Mike Smith: I had lessons for a month (classical). I still remember the arpeggios too!
Amy: I’ve never had keyboard or piano lessons. I took bass lessons when I was younger and was in band throughout school.
Mike Volk: Took classical lessons for about 4 years.

BC: I think it's interesting that you don't have a bass player, why don't you have one?
Mike Smith: Well, we do. Our bass player happens to use a keyboard. Amy can play organ and bass at the same time and trigger sequences. That knocks out two extra people really. What more could you want from a band member?
Amy: My first keyboard used in the band had a great low range so we kind of experimented with that in the early days. It just kind of stuck because I can do both that and the organ parts at the same time.
Mike Volk: We don’t need one.

BC: Have you ever thought about adding one?
Mike Smith: We’ve never wanted to switch Amy over to a stringed bass. This style forces us to write a certain way and also allows more room and size to our sound.
Amy: I think when we first started it was in our minds to get a bass player but for some reason, we never really went through with it.
Mike Volk: No

BC: Your sound has been described various ways - space rock, shoe gazer, dream pop, psychedelic rock, plowy and dreamy - how would you describe your sound? Or do you prefer not to 'label' it?
Mike Smith: Labels are fine. They’re never right but they help people communicate an idea. It’s just how you determine the idea. I think we’re a melodic rock band who’s been fortunate enough to get compared to other rock/shoegazer bands that we admire.
Amy: I’d say space rock.
Mike Volk: Rock and Roll

BC: Your latest album "Wicked Branches" what kind of a response did it receive?
Mike Smith: We’ve had good press and some confusing press. Comparisons to Jesus and Mary Chain or Galaxie 500 is not spot on – we love those bands but they are not our influences.
Amy: We’ve received some great reviews so far.
Mike Volk: good so far

BC: How well did it do, as par as, the production to sales of the CD?
Mike Smith: It’s doing better every day. The exposure and touring helps out.
Amy: I have no idea how many we’ve sold. So I’m going to say sales are great!
Mike Volk: great

BC: Your band has been compared to such amazing bands as the Verve and Radiohead (two of my personal fav's) who would you say has influence your band?
Mike Smith: Both great bands. I’m going to say collectively we all can agree on the Verve and Swervedriver and anything shoegaze or classic rock (of course Beatles, Stones, etc.)
Amy: I would say the Verve, Spacemen 3, the Velvet Underground, Swervedriver, etc. So many bands though.
Mike Volk: Pretty much everything.

BC: You seemed to have covered quite a bit of territory, as far as gigs go, in the last half of 2005, is there a particular one you would consider the most memorable?
Mike Smith: Newport (Columbus, OH) with Mark Gardener (ex-Ride) and BRMC. They are so pro and you learn something every time.
Amy: Opening up for Mark Gardener just killed me. That’s by far my most memorable moment.
Mike Volk: any show we’ve played with BRMC – they are great guys and amazing live.

BC: Which city would you say that you just can't wait to get back to, to play again?
Mike Smith: We really love Chicago (no joke because of this interview). One of our all time favorite venues is the Abbey Pub. We have played there with the Warlocks and Throwing Muses.
Amy: We have so much fun in Chicago – so I’ll say that.
Mike Volk: We love Chicago at the Abbey Pub.

BC: So, what is the Dayton music scene like, say compared to Chicago?
Mike Smith: Much Smaller
Amy: I don’t really know much about the Chicago music scene right now. I can say that Dayton has always had a thriving scene – no matter how small it may be. There are always great bands coming out of Dayton.
Mike Volk: I don’t know about the Chicago scene – Dayton has a bunch of new young bands that are really good. A lot of piano fronted bands.

BC: When can we expect you to rock Chicago again?
Mike Smith: Spring time for sure.
Amy: Hopefully soon.
Mike Volk: spring

Optional Five Fun Facts about Lab Partners
BC: What is the WORST job you've ever had?
Mike Smith: Dish washer for a restaurant chain. I got treated like shit.
Amy: Cashier at Meijer. I worked there for about 3 months during college. I had to scan packages of bloody meat and not wash my hands for hours!
Mike Volk: Selling corn on a street corner all summer long.

BC: What was your favorite toy as a child?
Mike Smith: anything Star Wars
Amy: Richard Scarry’s Puzzletown
Mike Volk: Stretch Armstrong

BC: What's the most valuable thing you've ever lost?
Mike Smith: Don’t know
Amy: I had a good friend growing up who is gone now and I’d have to say anything from him – mixed tapes, letters, etc.
Mike Volk: A few gold dabloons and a Fabrege egg.

BC: If you could intentionally lose something what would it be?
Mike Smith: Our telephone and the telemarketing assholes who call it!
Amy: OUR PHONE!
Mike Volk: Credit card debt.

BC: Do you enjoy getting lost?
Mike Smith: Only when it’s not 4am in NYC!
Amy: Not when we’re on tour!
Mike Volk: It depends on how drunk I am.

Website
http://www.labpartners.net

Discography
* Wicked Branches - LP (July 2005 Ryko Dist.) - Reverb Records

* "Love Don't Care" song (2005) - Featured on Little Radio compilation (www.littleradio.com)
* "Now" song (2004) - Reverb Records FuzzyBall Compilation.
* Daystar - LP (2002) Big Beef Records - streaming audio on www.bigbeef.com
* Turn it On - EP (2000)
* Lab Partners - self titled - EP (1999)