Caitlin Krisko has one of those voices that make folks sit up and listen: it’s smoky, compelling and remarkably nuanced for one so young (she turns 26 this month). As lead vocalist of self-described “soul-infused rock band” The Broadcast, Krisko’s voice soars on the group’s recently released EP, Days Like Dreams.
The five guys who back up Krisko are Christian Mendoza on guitar, Rich Brownstein on keys, Matthew Davis on bass, Tyler Housholder on percussion and Michael W. Davis on drums. The first track on the new EP, “Loving You,” is a Motown-influenced dance tune. The other songs range from the pop-like “Trouble Remembering” to the more electronic-infused “The Reckoning. “The Broadcast’s sound is easy to move to, and their live shows supposedly keep the crowds jumping.
“Caitlin’s often compared to performers like Janis Joplin, Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant — sweating and emoting the words she’s singing, allowing people to get a sense of her soul and where the music is coming from,” says Housholder.
While the band clearly has some serious musical chops, each of the songs on the EP feels a bit derivative. The Broadcast’s challenge, I think, is to use their obvious talent to create a truly original sound. If they can do that, there will be no stopping them.
Their story begs telling as well. The entire band quit their day jobs and moved to Asheville from Brooklyn in September to chase their dream of playing music full-time. They’d been making music together since 2007, but strictly on a weekend warrior-touring basis. The six band members now live in a rented house in North Asheville where they can tour and create music together 24/7. They’re currently playing weekly at the new Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Charlotte, and recently returned from touring up North, revisiting their former stomping grounds.
“In the four months we have lived here, we’ve had more opportunities come up for us than we did in three years in New York City,” Housholder says. “Not only is Asheville a far more nurturing city for artists, but it also allows its artists to spread their wings and expand their business on a national level. New York City allowed us to cultivate our craft, and really lock in our sound. Asheville has allowed us to take our music and make it our business.”
Band members have also been enthusiastic about tapping into the local music scene, and say they’re huge fans of artists here such as stephaniesid, Your Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and Moses Atwood.
“It’s a solid, eclectic, supportive community, and it makes us feel like we have a family to come home to when we get off the road,” Housholder says.
Catch the Broadcast on Saturday, Jan. 22, at Jack of the Wood. That show will also be a celebration of Krisko’s birthday. Learn more at http://www.thebroadcastmusic.com.
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