The broken pavement and dead-end avenues of Atlanta’s Reynoldstown neighborhood frame an unlikely stomping ground for the spirited and eclectic pop stylings of the Selmanaires. The crumbling streets, stalked by pimps, players and pushers, don’t take kindly to doe-eyed Yankees blaring records by the likes of the Kinks, Toots & the Maytals and Gang of Four. But this balance of urban grit and a steady diet of nostalgic rock and soul records on these mean streets - Selman Street, to be exact - brought the group together with modest sophistication.

Twin brothers Herb (guitar) and Jason (drums) Harris had drifted from the outskirts of Akron OH, to Austin, TX, and the Carolinas before landing in Reynoldstown. It was here that they met bassist Tommy Chung circa 2000. The trio began performing as a live karaoke band, playing songs by everyone from The Beatles to the Ramones at venues as disparate as the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center and El Myr in Little Five Points. In 2003, the group adopted its current name and embarked on its own path as a songwriting unit.

A lot has changed since those karaoke sets. And since the group long abandoned the house on Selman for more accommodating digs, the members of the Selmanaires also axed themselves from the sing-along scene to carve out their own character. But those formative years left an indelible mark on the band’s façade.

The Songs (Almost) Remain The Same

Here Come the Selmanaires, the group’s debut full-length, was released in November of 2005 on Atlanta label International Hits. Songs like “Images,” “In the Direction of Yes” and “High Tide” capture rich melodies and three-part vocal harmonies that drift over jangling guitars and unswerving rhythms. To the attentive ear, a buzz of sonic fragments evoking dozens of the band’s influences can be heard careening about the recording. A terse, Gang of Four riff here crashes into a flowery Kinks melody there. These traits are no doubt the residual effects of the group's karaoke beginnings. But through it all, the Selmanaires’ unmistakable sound pushes every note.

The album was unveiled at a time when the indie market was flooded with post-punk newcomers. Even bands like Franz Ferdinand and The Killers were dramatically reenacting the sounds of Gang of Four for the mainstream.

In witnessing these kinds of trends unfold, while being influenced by such a rich musical catalogue, the bandmembers learned a great deal about growing into their own shoes. “We see ourselves as more of a pop band rather than something that fits into any specific genre,” Chung explains. “We’re not a post-punk band or a garage-rock band or a retro-British-invasion band. We like all of that stuff, but the goal is to create timeless music. Not something people will hear 10 years down the road and say, ‘Oh that sounds like it’s from the early 2000s.’”

Number Crunching

This tempered approach has certainly paid off. Here Come the Selmanaires is I-Hits highest selling release; and since Criminal Records in Atlanta began stocking the record late last year, the album has sold nearly 650 copies. A follow-up 7" for Rob’s House Records, released in November and limited to 300 copies, has completely sold out.

Chung is a former Criminal employee, and points out that the store pushes the group pretty hard. But nearly 650 CDs sold is an impressive number for a debut release by a local band that hasn’t toured much. “It’s impressive not just in terms of the national economy, but in terms of a record store’s economy,” says Criminal Records owner Eric Levin. “We sell dozens of hundreds of titles, not hundreds of one title like this, so it is quite a feat.”

These numbers haven’t gone unnoticed. Chung admits that a few indie and major labels have approached the band, but nothing has panned out. “We get lots of emails from people saying ‘I’m the A&R guy from Columbia… What’s up with your band?’” he says. “I send them CDs but never hear back, so I don’t know how to interpret that.”

A second full-length is currently undergoing construction, but probably won’t materialize until next year. For now, the group is comfortable with the pace at which it’s moving and doesn’t plan on making any moves too quickly. “Herb and Jason and me are all pretty grounded,” Chung adds. “We’re not too concerned about signing with a big major and having our faces on lofty fliers around the country, opening for Taking Back Sunday. Things are happening at the right time, and as we mature, we become more prepared for what happens next.”

Chad Radford

WHO: The Selmanaires, Deerhunter, 63 Crayons
WHERE: 40 Watt Club
WHEN: Friday, July 28
HOW MUCH: $5