Interstate apocalypse

“I had an epic journey to get here,” SeepeopleS front man and multi-instrumentalist Will Bradford says from a studio in Boston.

Now you see them: Although SeepeopleS frontman Will Bradford (far right) and drummer Tim Haney (second from right) are based in Asheville, the rest of the group isn’t exactly local. Keyboardist Peter Keys (far left) is based in Detroit, and bassist Dan Ingenthron (second from left) is based in Chicago. As you might expect, organizing a smooth tour schedule can be a challenge. Photo By Renee Treece

After a rerouted flight and a mad dash to catch his connection, the Asheville-based Bradford sounds weary. With members in three states, airports and suitcases have become the norm. But it hasn’t slowed them down.

Less than a year after the release of Apocalypse Cow Vol. 1, the band is halfway through recording its follow-up. And although these songs were written more than a year ago with intentions to be released as an Apocalypse Cow double disc, Bradford says Vol. 2 has evolved with time and developed a sound all its own.

“We delve into a lot of genres, and I think we wanted to capture the rock aspect of the band,” Bradford explains of the first installment. This time around, SeepeopleS is getting back to its roots, focusing on the experimental and electronic sounds the group wasn’t able to work into Apocalypse Cow. Bradford, who began as a DJ years ago, says this album will be “heavy on the loops” and a treat for those who preferred the band’s earlier material.

But fans will have to be patient. A self-described studio perfectionist, Bradford is apprehensive about setting a hard release date, though he does expect the album to see the light of day sometime this year. Previous experience has revealed that recording is the easy part; postproduction has historically been the most time-consuming. Bradford is in no hurry.

“Albums are just so permanent,” he explains. “For a lot of people, they don’t get to see us live, so that’s their perspective of the band until the next album. You want to make it as good as humanly possible. Once it’s done, it really is done.”

In the meantime, SeepeopleS is taking to the road for a string of East Coast gigs that promises to be a multimedia amalgamation of audio and visual wizardry.

“I don’t wanna describe it because I want it to be a surprise for people that see the band, but we’ve put a lot of effort into trying to make the live show unforgettable,” Bradford says, carefully withholding the details. “It’s a pretty ridiculous light show. You might wanna bring sunglasses.”

[Dane Smith is a freelance writer based in Asheville.]

who: SeepeopleS with Analog Moon
what: Experimental, hook-driven rock
where: Grey Eagle
when: Saturday, Feb. 9. 9 p.m. ($7. www.thegreyeagle.com or 232-5800)