A Visit from Temple of Low Men
During the pandemic, live music took quite the hit. But for CU it started pre-covid, with the closing of several venues in town. Music is a hard business to succeed in, especially when the economy is sunk. (if you haven’t watched the documentary Bueno Vista Social Club, do it. It far explains my point, better than I ever could.) Our community was blessed for a lot of years, with local and live music and until recently, I don’t think it was fully appreciated. I know I’m guilty. We were fat cats who just expected a vibrant scene with little gratitude.
In the late 90’s, when I first moved here, I saw live music weekly. Underage, I frequented spots such as the Channing-Murray and Ernie’s Club Twang. The Canopy Club opened when I was 18 and the High Dive when I was 19. And the house parties… oh the house parties.
My first job here was at The Great Impasta. Not at Lincoln Square, not ‘where the bank was’ but the hole in the wall, covered in Herman Miller Picnic art, shared bathrooms with Creamy’s and Nitaya Thai, lime green, OG Great Impasta. I lied throughout most of my interview, saying I had a high school diploma and hiding the fact I was basically living out of my car. (Nancy later said “you should have told Harold the truth. He probably would have hired you faster.” God bless the Allstons.) I was the baby of the staff and lived in awe as most of my co-workers were also struggling artists and the coolest people I had ever encountered in real life. The majority of them were musicians. I became submerged in the Downtown renaissance, driven by art, passion and change.
The Great Impasta grew and so did I. Piero retired and Harold moved us to the other side of the Art Theater, next to a building known as the old Gallery. In my interview with Ian Shepard, I truly realized how spoiled I was. Unbeknownst to me, while I was at the GI, serving up pasta salad and clam chowder, an all-star cast of musicians and engineers, were next door recording music. (There’s a strong chance I did know, but don’t remember. There was just so much cool shit going on then, like everyday, all around me. It was hard to keep up and I think we all kinda just took it for granted.)
The band was Temple of Low Men. I’m beyond excited to tell you those never released recordings are becoming available soon and a reunion show is scheduled this Friday, July 22nd at the Rose Bowl.
As soon as I saw the show on our calendar, I knew I had to write about it. I asked the drummer Ian Shepard if I could do a quick interview with him. Shepard, a dear friend, agreed. So, I mustered up the courage to ask other members of the band, Brandon Washington and Anthony Gravino, if I could throw them a few questions as well. They also agreed. I immediately regretted it. Those three are well established, professional musicians who have been interviewed dozens of times. Their names carry a lot of weight not just in CU, but throughout music in the Midwest. I worried I was out of my league, that I had bit off more than I can chew. I knew I had to start with research, lots and lots of research. I wanted to know everything about the band and have fresh, unique questions to ask. But all of my searches came up blank, I couldn’t find anything. Shepard messaged me if I still wanted to do the piece. I replied yes, but I wasn’t prepared yet. I continued my search with no luck until I finally broke and asked him what I was missing. All I could find was a defunct myspace page and a recent podcast featuring lead singer, Brandon Washington. Shepard pointed out the most active years of the band, 2001-2004. It immediately became clear why my search was futile.
In those days, weeks were planned on Thursday. A fresh copy of The Octopus, a local alternative newspaper was printed and distributed around town. Beats by Otter spun every Thursday night at the Brass Rail. The Rail was always packed shoulder to shoulder. Fliers and zines were distributed. Everyone discussed what the best parties and shows were coming up, deciding where to spend what little money we had. It was the ‘in between era’ when print first started to die and social media had just been born. Local music promotion was done DIY or by word of mouth.
And so, my mini-interview plans were scrapped and I sat down with Shepard solely, to get the full story.
The group originated after the highly acclaimed band Funky Butt Drum Club dissipated, in which Shepard and Washington had been members. “Brandon and I still wanted to write and play songs but that band wasn’t an option anymore.” Shepard continued “that time was a really vibrant, exciting time in Champaign music. There were so many places to play. There were tons of bands recording, touring, playing.”
And so in the energy of the era, Temple of Low Men was formed, which Shepard describes as “a rock band. A guitar driven, unapologetic rock band.”
Their lineup changed a few times in the early days and settled with Shepard, Washington, Gravino, Andy Lund and Josh Walden. Shepard’s passion for the group was obvious as he talked about the dynamic of the band. “That project, more than anything I’ve ever done, was the most collaborative, inclusive band I’ve ever been in. We all wrote.”
He spoke of the innovation they used, taking every advantage of recording in the old Gallery building, which had once been a bank. They experimented with the acoustics granted from high ceilings and bare walls. Shepard even played his drums from inside the vault. He said “everything we did with that band was larger than life. If we were going to do something, we totally went for it.”
Their album Degree of Slither was met with great reception and named Best Album of 2001 by The Octopus. The Gallery recordings began in 2003 but the project became shelved as Shepard relocated to Iowa with his family. When he moved back years later, Gravino was no longer in the area. However, a year or so ago, Gravino returned to CU and opened his studio High Cross Sound. Now, Temple of Low Men are picking up where they left off as they put finishing touches on the unnamed album they started almost 20 years ago with the first single and video, Snocone, being released this week and hopes for the full album to be released later this year.
What has me most excited about this night is the juxtaposition of this music which was written and curated in their youth, think raw and experimental, only to be dusted off decades and several projects later, think polished and experienced.
That mix of old and new is even more a vibe as Shepard’s protege and Rose Bowl favorite, Mitchell Killough will be filling in on bass that night. As well as the opening act, which is the debut of Trouble Chasin’ at the Rose Bowl. The local hip hop duo is easily the best around and a favorite of Shepard’s. Rumor has it both acts may share the stage and perform a number or two together. But you didn’t hear that from me, wink. It will undoubtedly be a night of epic proportions. I hope you’ll join us.
