The Gates, a local band featuring EPCC students, will have a album release party at Zeppelin’s on Oct. 12 to present their psychedelic and relaxing music.
Playing together for about a year-and-a-half, the members have been working on their debut album Black Heart Bride since November 2006.
The name of the album is derived from a painting created by Valarie Apperson-Talamantes, the day before she and Victor Talamantes, the lead singer, got married.
“She’s kind of a bride with a heavy heart and has regrets,” said Apperson-Talamantes about the painting.
“Instead of being a blushing bride she was a black heart.” But Apperson-Talamantes said that the painting or the name is not intended to be depressing.
Their lyrics ring words of letting your hair down, of cowards and of soldiers.
The music, which is a sound of the past, is pleasing and could be appreciated by a variety of people.
On the band’s MySpace page, they list their music as a mix of Celtic, Indies and Japanese classic music. Talamantes said that he prefers not to categorize their music because it’s not targeted for specific people.
“There’s good and bad music,” he said.
“Corporations tend to categorize music in order to
target certain groups.”
This small band is mostly made up of family members. Talamantes’ wife Valarie is the vocalist and plays bass. Valarie’s brother, Ulysses Apperson, plays the drums.
“We’re really close and get along well,” said Apperson about his sister. “When we used to live together, we were mortal enemies.”
The fourth musician on guitar is James Martinez, also known as Sexy James by his fellow band members.
“I’m really stoked about [the album],” Martinez said “But I worry about what people will think.”
Apperson-Talamantes said that she has been collaborating with graphic artist Tim Razo for the album cover.
