2008 Woodie Awards
Austin-based rockers keep it positive
Lauren Weiner
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: A & E
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Austin's Electric Touch strives to remedy this omission by infusing their songs with happy lyrics and upbeat melodies. "When people come to see us, we want them to enter the Electric Touch realm and leave their stuff behind," drummer Louis Messina Jr. said.
The band succeeds here, with an energetic British pop sound reminiscent of the Rolling Stones, infused with the more modern sounds of the Killers or the Strokes. Their sound and stage presence was incredibly polished when they opened for pop-synth one-hit-wonders the Bravery at Warehouse Live on Feb. 7.
This refinement is likely due, in part, to the band's approach to songwriting. No one individual part stands out as the most important or best, and this results in a generally balanced sound with nothing taking away from a song in its entirety. "People come to see all of us," guitarist Christopher Messina said. "We're not a showcase of individuals."
Stand-out songs include "Saved," which is about frontman Shane Lawlor's upbringing in England, and "Love in our Hearts," which boasts encouraging lyrics that proclaim that all things are possible with love. Both of these songs are available on the band's demo, which can be picked up for free at any show.
The band even paid homage to Lawlor's fellow Englishmen with a fantastic cover of the Beatles' "Come Together" that left the audience wondering if the "Fab Four" themselves could have performed it better.
The positive message unquestionable comes across. "It was like there was something that seemed to be forgotten that we wanted to let people know about," Lawlor said. "A bit of f------ love and a bit of harmony and a bit of peace and a bit of passion and a bit of fire and joie de vivre. Having a good time, for a change."
Lawlor referenced "Who Put the Fire Out" as the most personally meaningful song to him, and his band mates quickly agreed. "When I heard that song, I knew I wanted to be in the band," bassist Ross Dubois said. "It's subtle but meaningful." Lawlor said the song encourages listeners to ask questions without forcing answers.
Electric Touch formed four months ago in Austin, where Lawlor and Christopher Messina met. "We hit it off right away and started hanging out and writing songs," Lawlor said. "It didn't seem to take much effort. It didn't seem like there was much of a choice, really."
Christopher Messina's twin brother Louis Messina joined shortly after, followed by Dubois. "Everything seemed to come out naturally," Lawlor said.
The band is currently touring regionally, has had the opportunity to open for several national acts and recently appeared on the "Fox Rox" segment of the Fox 26 morning news.
Electric Touch will be opening for Louis XIV at Warehouse Live on March 7, followed by an appearance at Scout Bar in Clear Lake on March 30. They will also be performing at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin.
Go to a show, pick up a free demo and walk away a little bit happier.