Rough draft band grows better each replay

One’s first instinct when listening to Wells is to call them a rough draft. They are the Indie rock embodiment of the first attempt at the paper you got back with a big fat "C" written on it. But something kept me listening. Truth be told, I listened over and over again, and what I found was that my analogy didn’t exactly hold true. Lead singer Wells Hanley’s whiney, yet drawing voice weaves slightly off-kilter melodies and the band presents an array of twists and bends intricately pieced together in the haunting song, "Shekinah."

Yes, there was a certain quality to the music that, despite its flaws, held each song together. It was something that is often overlooked by many struggling new artists, and even many famous, mainstream artists. It was sheer, raw talent. They obviously have a clear understanding of the music they are making and a mastery over their respective instruments. Talent can go a long way, and it’s what holds Wells together.

The clear display of talent in their music should really be no surprise. According to their Web site (www.wellstheband.com), band members Wells Hanley (vocals/piano/guitar), Sam Wilson (guitar), Curtis Fye (bass) and Robby Sinclair (drums), are no newbies to the stage. Each member boasts a résumé rooted in rock and jazz, as well as involvement in a project that took Fye and Sinclair to a performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Their lyrics range from repetitive and mediocre to clever and well-flowing, and their chord progressions are often fairly standard. And, while one can’t fully shake his initial feeling that Wells’s music has quite a bit of room for maturation, there is something quite compelling about songs that are intelligently pieced together. You can catch Wells live when they play in Harrisonburg for three separate shows over the next three weeks. They’ll be playing their first at Taylor Down Under April 15 at 8 p.m. They’ll also be at Highlawn Pavilion where they’ll open for Fighting Gravity on April 22, and a show at Dave’s Taverna on April 28.