excerpt from Tacoma Weekly - 03/05

THE ELEPHANTS: Not like any other band

by Kelly Driscoll

Modesty isn't something you run across very often in the music industry. The very nature of the profession is dominated by image and what people think. If you want people to like your music you have to replicate a hit sound, and have the right look. The Elephants put this theory to shame.

A couple of weeks back, a good friend of mine recommended a house party that local band The Elephants were playing at. Some may say it was by chance that I followed her advice, but I like to call it fate. I had no expectations walking down the alleyway behind Panamonica's, nor did I when I saw the hand drawn picture of an elephant on the otherwise plain warehouse style door. I was just looking for a good time.

Even with the highest expectations nothing could have prepared me for what I saw that night. Not only did I have a great time, The Elephants and the kids that came out to the show completely altered my perception of the Tacoma music scene. In a town controlled by metalheads, it was amazing to see so many people pack the downstairs of the house to see a band that doesn't have a metal bone in their body.

One part rock, one part pop, and a hint of psychedelic, The Elephants produce a melodic sound that doesn't fit in any mold. Each song is a little different from the last and that's the way they like it.

"We don't fit into any hip nook or scene. We aren't one style of music, that's what makes us different from other bands, " Cody Jones clarifies.

While their sound is truly refreshing, it's their stage performance that really won me over. All three members of The Elephants play every instrument used in the band. They constantly rotate throughout the set. This style shows off their versatility and while they would never admit it, their talent as musicians.

"Our theory is that songwriting is more important than musicianship, " explains Trevor Dickson. "None of us are that great at our instruments but as long as we write good songs it's kind of fun to switch back and forth."

On top of playing a number of instruments Jones, Dickson and Jason Freet are all singer/songwriters. Solidifying the creative alignment, each song is a collaboration between all three members.

"Most bands only have one singer/songwriter, so there are conflicting interests in who's actually writing the songs, " Freet said. "We don't believe in having a frontman, we kind of try to share that role."

While the members of The Elephants are easy-going and free spirited in the songwriting process, they are articulate in presentation. They have been recording and working on their first album for months and it is finally coming together. Once the artwork and final touches are put into it, the self-titled album should be released sometime in April.

Luckily you don't have to wait that long to check these guys out. They play Wednesday March 30 with Mercir and Asobi Seksu at Hell's Kitchen. The 21+ show starts at 9 p.m., $3 cover.

If you can't make it, you can get a taste of their new album by going to www.theelephants.bravehost.com. For all of the computer savvy folks out there, you can also keep up on upcoming shows and band news by going to their page on MySpace.

Whatever way you choose, make sure you find a way to check this band out.