BOAT

BOAT began taking shape with the release of "Life is a Shipwreck" and "After All", two albums with handmade art that provided the band with papercuts and many trips to Kinkos. Worth it. The band started selling out of their personalized records once they started playing shows around the northwest, and folks from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco started to take notice. The band then released two full-lengths, "Songs That You Might Not Like" in 2006, with the follow-up being "Let's Drag Our Feet" in 2007, to critical acclaim. A 7.4 on Pitchfork.com here, a song on NPR's "Song of the Day" podcast there. Things were looking up for BOAT. Enter the present day. In June 2008, BOAT released "Topps", a 7-inch EP of sorts, dealing with issues of, you guessed it, baseball. The band decided to go old-fashioned on us with this one, including a piece of chalky bubble gum and hand-drawn baseball cards in every package. The release was a success, even garnering a mention on majorleaguebaseball.com. Root for the hometeam! Although D. Crane is the mastermind of this mighty vessel, he has some solid mates to back him up these days. Jackson Long resides behind the drum kit, only to pop up and surprise you with his recording and producing skills--he produced "Topps" and this latest LP "Setting the Paces." Next up we have Mark McKenzie, a man of mystery who plays McCartney-esque bass and guitar while doing little jigs. And then there's Josh Goodman. You name it, Josh plays it: tambourines, shakers, bells, keyboards, and guitar hooks. While the lineup shrinks, divides, and grows at times, these four fine men make a heck of a team. What's next for the band? The release of "Setting The Paces" October 27th on the Portland label Magic Marker. D. Crane says it best in a song from "Topps": "I've got ideas that no one's even dreamed yet." Lucky us. We're along for the ride.