Band Spotlight: Close Your Eyes

Close Your Eyes is a Christian hardcore band from Abilene, Texas that is poised to make a name for themselves. After self-releasing their first EP, the band signed with Victory Records and released their latest album We Will Overcome. Close Your Eyes' sound has often been compared to bands such as With Honor, Comeback Kid and Beloved. After their current Canadian tour with Signs of Hope, the band will be headed on the Faith In The Untamed Tour with Stick To Your Guns, As Blood Runs Black, For The Fallen Dreams and Attila. I had the chance to speak with guitarist Brett Callaway about the band.

1) When did the band form?
Late 2005.

2) What's the meaning behind the band's name?
The name has two meanings behind it. The first is a satire on our society and pop culture. Basically it is talking about how society dictates to many people the things they should do and the way that they perceive things. We have become a dead apathetic society. So we need to close our eyes to the things that our culture tells us and regain a passion and presence of character. The second is talking about how the things that we see do not necessarily define our existence and how we should close our eyes to what we see to find our spiritual truth. Sometimes the spiritual world can be more real than what we physically see. 

3) What are some of the band's influences?
We have a pretty wide variety of influences. I grew up listening to punk and hardcore from MxPx to Stretch Armstrong. Then we have some newer influences like With Honor and Comeback Kid. On top of that Andrew and I (Brett) are bother classically trained musicians, so we pull in some of those classical and jazz elements especially in chord structures. 

4) Describe the band's first show.
Haha, it was at a city park amphitheater. It was actually not terrible as far as the crowd went. There were only 2 bands on the show and both of the bands were playing for the first time. But all of us had played in other bands before. We had a good time, and the funny thing is that 2 of our current members were at the show that day and that was the first time that we met them. 

5) How did the band get signed to Victory Records?
Well, Victory actually sent us an e-mail. I think that they found us on on the flyer of a festival that we were playing in Arkansas. They asked us to come play a showcase for them in Chicago. We drove up to Chicago the next week and played for them. They liked what they heard, and we liked the label staff, and within a couple weeks we had signed a contract.  

6) How was the recording process for your latest album We Will Overcome?
It was long hard work. But it was enjoyable at the same time. Our producer was a guy who had been friends with me for a long time named Chris Goodwin. And our engineer, Mike Thompson, was one of the nicest and most enjoyable guys to work with that i have ever done a recording project with. And I am very happy with the way that it came out!

7) "Song For The Broken" has generated a ton of buzz for the band. What is the meaning behind that song?
It is just that. That we feel our purpose is to try and bring hope to the broken in the world. I actually wrote the lyrics to the bridge before any of the rest of the song was written. The rest of the song just kind of formed around the line "This is my worship. This is my life. To bring hope into this broken world."

8) What message do you want people to get from the album?
I want them to get the message that we all go through struggles and you are never alone. And just the love, passion and hope that we wish to bring to everyone we come into contact with. There is always hope. 

9) The band is going to be on tour with Stick To Your Guns this fall. How excited is everybody about that?
We are pretty excited about it! They are a band that some of us have listened to for years. I really like some of their stuff and can't wait to be out on the road with them!

10) What's next for the band after the STYG tour?
I am actually not certain yet, we will be on the road but I am not sure what tour we are going to be on yet. We will be on the road for pretty much the rest of the year, and will possibly be recording starting early next year sometime. 

Catch Close Your Eyes on the Faith In The Untamed Tour this October:
October 12th @ Hangar 84,Vineland, New Jersey (Buy tickets)
October 13th @ Gramercy Theater, New York,New York (Buy tickets)

Comments

[Jake]

Cool interview. I might try to hit up that Hangar 84 show.