Sift
San Francisco's latest addition to the hard rock scene
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By Michele Stefancic
The power of the Internet can work to your advantage if used correctly. Take, for example, San Francisco-based indie, hard-rock band Sift. Approached by a San Francisco Bay Area web site called That’s Live (www.thatslive.com Sift's three-song demo is a thought-provoking listen with dark undertones that conjure up musical influences like Faith No More and old-school Soundgarden. Although the demo’s only shortcoming is its lengthy songs, the band has learned a new trick for their future visits to the recording studio.
"(We've) learned to make our songs a little shorter," says singer Chris Dinsmore. “We learned about the (recording) process itself and we learned a little more about each other and ourselves. Technically, we will be much more prepared next time around."
Sift formed in late 1998 and at the time the line-up consisted of different members. Formed by Dinsmore and Brett Crane (keyboards) and Joe Biagini (guitar), today's Sift line-up also includes Danny Stevenson (drums), Ted Aguilar (guitar) and Badger (bass). !
"(To) continue to write good songs and to build our fan base. In the future (we hope to) put out a full-length CD, do some showcasing and hopefully get signed," says Dinsmore from his San Francisco Bay Area home.
An emotionally charged person, Dinsmore is responsible for writing the majority of Sift's lyrics. Dinsmore claims the band has a particular process they follow when writing.
"Right now, we have this way of writing where it's myself and one or two members of the band, this way, you don't get to many cooks in the kitchen. Joe and mysel! f write the majority of the music (as well)."
Dinsmore is quick to point out all of Sift's band members contribute equally in the long run.
"We all come from different musical backgrounds, so everyone adds a little bit of themselves when it comes to songwriting. Lyrically, any music we come up with automatically tells a story, therefore nine times out of ten I feel where it's coming from and the pen starts writing."
Listening to Sift's music it's painfully obvious that Dinsmore is singing about deeply rooted feelings. Does Dinsmore view writing as a form of therapy?
"I'm an emotionally charged person, as I grew older I became more confused about my life and society around me. My lyrics are forums of anger sorrow and hope, at least right now as we speak (they are). I don't write hits. I make statements. I want people to think when I speak. Sure I want people to have a good time when they see us play, but I also want people to take in the message and how it relates to himself or herself or the life of somebody they know or the impact of society as a whole."
An intense person, Dinsmore comes across as an intelligent guy. There's no fooling when he stops to reflect on his role in the music business. Hell, Dinsmore is so focu! sed that even the name Sift has a poignant meaning.
"We were desperate for a name," Dinsmore admits. "Visually, we were alert to anything that sounded cool and visually grabbed our attention. I happened to skim through the dictionary and there it was. The meaning that meant most to me was "to examine or question closely." My lyrics are all about questioning society, everything (around us) and myself. Accidentally it fit perfectly. We all took to it immediately."
Continuing on his train of deep thoughts, Dinsmore explains for those who haven't been fortunate enough to hear the songs "Know," "Transgression" and "Bent," first hand, what they are about.
"Inner thoughts, feelings, opinions and dreams. That's where the concepts or ideas come from.”
"(The song) "Know" was written in a dark time of my life when life itself made no sense to me. The lyrics mean absolutely nothing, except for the chorus, very much like my life itself. The chorus, "Give/Cha! nge/Gain/Be all big and better than" was the outcome of this mess I was in. I pulled myself out of the dark times."
Continues Dinsmore, "Transgression," is a violation of another's being, or a violation of anything. "Bent" is a song about a lucid dream I once had. It was like I was controlled by my own personal damnation. The dream was very vivid."
Pretty heavy stuff. On a lighter note Dinsmore explains what the club scene is like in his hometown of San Francisco.
"The club scene is back on the upswing. It never used to be like this, but there is a lot more teamwork between bands and club owners."
"I think it should have always been this way, no more 'Pay To Play' in this area. The clubs are a lot more accommodating to bands. In return, the bands are a lot more respectful towards owners and their clubs. We all realize that we can't work without each other. The music scene up here is great. Lots of good deserving bands and awesome clubs to showcase our talents."
An indie band whose members all hold day jobs (a few guys work in warehouses, one member works in an airport, the other is a DJ and of course there's a member in the band who builds web sites and an air conditioner installer) to help finance the band. Sift also gets some help from fans who purchase CDs at their gigs. The six-member (their ages ranging from late 20's to early 30's) band practice on a fairly regular ba! sis and usually perform three to four gigs a month.
Says Dinsmore of Sift's live show, "We take our live performance as seriously as our music. We don't lack in entertainment."
Currently working the rounds on the Internet and globally passing out their demo to anyone who will seriously devote press time to Sift, the band has reached some success. Sift was asked to perform on the side stage at this past summer's Sanitarium tour stop at the 3Com stadium in San Francisco where Metallica headlined, and of course it was an awesome gig for Sift.
"It was great, we had a blast and made lots of new friends," says Dinsmore.
As time progresses Sift continue to rehearse, write new material and promote the band. To keep a watchful eye on Sift you can catch them on the web at: www. siftinfo.com.
SIFT (mailing list info) Copyright 2000, BallBuster, The Official Int'l Underground Hard Music Report |
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Sifting (no pun intended) through a local publication, Dinsmore found Aguilar, who in turn found Badger through the Internet. Stevenson and Dinsmore are old childhood friends and collectively this line-up has been together since last October. Sift are currently working towards their ultimate goal as a band.