Living Space

IN A VAST SEA OF LOCAL ROCK MUSIC, LIVING SPACE PROVIDES COOL COMFORT FOR THE MASSES San Francisco, California --- September 3, 2005 Indie Pop/Rockers Living Space achieves its most complete work to date with its latest album, Secret Lives, Strange Goodbyes. The multi-racial four-piece band coolly reinvents themselves song after song, moving through shades of rock, folk, blues, funk, jazz and soul. The band combines the traditions of great songwriting with current stories of life, love, loss, and hope. Each member of the band comes from a different musical background, so creating a sound that appeals to a variety of people is important to us. We try to experiment slightly with song structures but remain true to the two guitar, bass and drums line-up, says bassist Costa.They are promoting their latest CD, which will be ready for release this October 18th, 2005. You can purchase the new music at the band website www.darkmatters.net. The warm harmonies and vocal styling of Coop R. Fransis (rhythm guitar, vocals) and Kevin Costa (bass, vocals) create the albums stirring melodic identity. A quick listen will find songs that are immediate and pleasing, like most good pop rock. Delving further into the album, the melodies carefully wind around the bands reflective lyrical approach revealing an uncommon depth of character. From sparkling piano ballads (In My Mind, Let it All go) to driving tunes such as the songs (Pill Box, Too Phoney). Through all of this variety, Living Space finds its sound. Emerging from a period of personnel changes and artistic uncertainty, Living Space found that the recording helped them work through some of their baggage together. The theme of making the best of things seems to resonate on the tracks of the new album. Secret Lives, Strange Goodbyes was recorded at Berkeleys Big Hut Studios over a four month span of time. The project developed as collaboration with Living Space and producer Timm Walker, who also guests on the new album. William Alums (Zydeco Flames) sat in as the session drummer. Also adding a new dimension to the bands sound was Contreras use of layered guitars and guitar solos which in their previous work had been lacking. Sometimes you need a respectable outside opinion, so working with Timm was great. We could depend on his feedback to help us move in the right direction for the recording. The recording experience gave us an overall better understanding of what we were trying to do with our songs, says guitarist Contreras. We could try to swim in the mainstream of music, but the status quo is not what we want. We love to make pop music, but we also realize that we have a forum that can move and connect people in ways that may not happen day to day," as guitarist Fransis says. James Udell (drums), who joined the band in March of 2005 brings a drumming style that is slightly more groove oriented to the band. With their new found confidence, the group hopes its more focused polished sound will bring them opportunities to play to new audiences. The band will begin promoting the new album in Bay Area venues throughout Northern California. Secret Lives, Strange Goodbyes will be available at select Bay area music stores and online at www.cdbaby.com. If youre looking for great local indie pop-rock, Living Space is an act worth catching. Additional Contact info: Ronnie Cato 1925 Lucille Lane Pleasant Hill, California 94523 CD's are available for purchase at www.cdbaby.com ###

Living Space is an Indie Pop-Rock band who hails from the San Francisco Bay Area. This four-piece band writes, performs, and records an earnest brand of music. Their genre-bending style draws from 80s and 90s British Rock, with traces of earlier American folk and soul music of the 60s and 70s. We sound like a curious mix of The Beatles, Morrissey, Paul Simon, and Stevie Wonder, says vocalist/guitarist Coop R. Fransis. Other influences include Radiohead, Weezer, Gillian Welch, Beck, U2, Neil Finn, Jeff Buckley, Nina Simone, Duke Ellington, as well as local musicians Bart Davenport, Beulah, and Green Day. A few college friends, who spent the next two years writing eclectic songs and learning to play their instruments, first formed the original line-up in 1995. After a couple of years of booking and playing local shows to enthusiastic crowds, Living Space released their first full length CD, "Next 11 Exits," earning a favorable review in the music publication BAM Magazine. With tinges of bands such as Toad the Wet Sprocket, Alphaville, the Boomtown Rats and the Uptones in their collective consciousness, these four gents should have no problem finding teens to swoon over their sensitive souls. - BAM Magazine The band joined ASCAP and began a publishing company, Dark Matters Productions. Next 11 Exits showed an optimistic young band experimenting with different pop genres using horns and strings to add different colors to their palette. They continued to play both plugged and unplugged shows to eager crowds. Some weekday nights the band could bring out 20- 25 people. Other shows saw the band playing to a crowds of 200+ people, which was the case at their first CD release party at the now closed Cocodrie, SF. They continued to play throughout the Bay Area honing their songs and stage show. Living Space returned later in 2002 with their self-recorded second album, "Fade into Existence". The album release coincided with the loss of their original bassist. While still experimenting with different styles, this moodier recording captures the struggles of a newly 3 piece band dealing with growing pains and contemplation of life. The album was well received and reviewed. Truly unique with vocals that are melodic with background intensity that laces the varied styles together. - Music Morsels When Kevin Costa took a slight departure from the band, Living Space entered a period of transition. Without a bassist, Living Space went a couple of years writing and practicing but mostly playing acoustic shows. This coming October 18, 2005, Living Space plans to release their latest album, Secret Lives, Strange Goodbyes, recorded over four months at Big Hut Studios in Berkeley. With the return of their original bassist Kevin Costa and the tasteful drumming of James Udell, the bands new recording features a revitalized collection of new songs. Still intact are the rich vocal harmonies and strong songwriting that has built Living Spaces sound. The band has been working some of their new songs live which has been well received by new and old fans alike. With their current lineup, Living Space is determined to work to reach a larger audience with their earnest songs.

.

Duke Ellington, Jeff Buckley, Nina Simone, The Beatles, Morrissey, Paul Simon, and Stevie Wonder, Gillian Welch, Beck, U2, Neil Finn, Radiohead, Weezer, as well a locals musicians Bart Davenport, Beulah, and Green Day.