Russ Crandall
I found some of these songs floating around on blogspot many years ago. Thanks for offiically releasing them - they sound fantastic. RIP James.
“If we keep up with this, we’re gonna descend into madness and we’re not gonna get it done,” someone can be heard saying with a laugh on The Prom’s 'Demos 2003' EP – a collection of previously unreleased tracks by the indie-rock favorites of early aughts’ Pacific Northwest. In late 2002, lead singer and frontman James Mendenhall began working on a few new songs with then-housemates, Justin Wilmore and Kevin Barrens while bassist and collaborator David Broecker was in his hometown of Omaha, NE. Upon David’s arrival back in Seattle, he regrouped with James, Justin and Kevin to start rehearsals for a national co-headlining tour with The Prom and Carissa’s Wierd.
This new lineup of housemates-turned-bandmates spurred James’ departure from his trademark piano jams for a Wurlitzer run through a Trace Elliott guitar amp. The introduction of Justin, a full-time electric guitarist, to the group pushed The Prom into crunchier and more rocking territory, previously unexplored. This group of young, melancholic, and textbook Seattle-based indie rockers have been likened to everyone from Grandaddy to Paul McCartney to their Omaha, NE contemporaries, Bright Eyes. Throughout the early 2000s, they toured with Death Cab for Cutie, The Long Winters, Desaparecidos, Starflyer 59, Archer Prewitt, and became known for lending irreverent wit and infectious energy to their live shows, contrasting with the beautiful sincerity and often somber tones of their music.
This collection of demos was requested by Martin Feveyear who had been lined up to engineer and co-produce The Prom’s next full-length album for Barsuk Records back in 2003. Original former member Joel Brown recorded this group of demos at The Hall of Justice in Seattle, WA. Soon after recording these demos, the band broke up due to personal reasons, and the full-length never materialized.
Friends and loved ones were heartbroken by news of James Mendenhall’s unexpected passing in January of 2019. James was an exceptionally talented pianist, composer and songwriter, and wonderful human being.
The Prom 'Demos 2003' EP is available digitally everywhere.
credits
released October 4, 2019
Recorded at The Hall of Justice 2003
Engineered by Joel Brown
Track Listing and Credits (All songs written by James Mendenhall and arranged by The Prom)
Track 1 – How Does it Feel
James Mendenhall - Wurlitzer, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals
David Broecker - Bass Guitar
Justin Wilmore - Electric Guitar
Kevin Barrens- -Drums
Andy Myers - Background Vocals
Track 2 – Rock Lies
James Mendenhall - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar (Yes, the crazy solo), Lead Vocals
David Broecker - Bass Guitar
Justin Wilmore - Drums
Kevin Barrens - Piano
Track 3 – Keep Moving
James Mendenhall - Wurlitzer, Lead Vocals
David Broecker - Bass Guitar
Justin Wilmore - Electric Guitar
Kevin Barrens - Drums
Track 4 – Instrumental
James Mendenhall - Wurlitzer
David Broecker - Bass Guitar
Justin Wilmore - Electric Guitar
Kevin Barrens - Drums
Track 5 – New Song
James Mendenhall - Wurlitzer, Lead Vocals
David Broecker - Bass Guitar
Justin Wilmore - Electric Guitar
Kevin Barrens - Drums
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