When Flagpole last checked in with local power-pop rockers The Arcs nine years ago, the band was releasing its first full-length album, Molt, while also celebrating its settlement of legal negotiations with Black Keys guitarist Dan Auerbach—who decided to start a new project named The Arcs. In the present, The Arcs are amping up for another album release. The nine-track Athens Ave, courtesy of Arfus Records, will officially be released next Tuesday, Sept. 16, but fans can catch an early preview this Saturday with the album release show at Nowhere Bar.
Dubbed as “Athens’ finest power pop purveyors” with deep Athens roots, the guys—Kevin Lane (guitar, vocals), Brandon Reynolds (bass), Ben Spraker (guitar) and Dave Gerow (drums)—unanimously view it as just a term they’ve become associated with. Since the band started in 2008, Gerow says that they’ve used the description “pop songs, rock band.” When it comes to The Arcs’ place in the larger music scene, Spraker says that all he knows is that the people who have attended their shows over the years are into what they do.
“Being based in that arena, we have a lot of room to play whatever we like and see if it works. That provides us with the luxury of not really having to worry about or to keep up with any trends or things like that. Also, to be honest, we aren’t really the type of guys who really care too much about trends,” says Gerow. “I think of us as kind of like a pair of Levi’s 505s. They never really go out of style, and they are often your favorite once you break them in. At least they are for me.”
With nine years between Athens Ave and Molt, The Arcs have stuck to its fundamentals as a band, which is primarily that it’s a fun collaboration between friends, as Lane puts it. Enjoying each other’s company and the music they play has always been the core goal of the group, says Gerow, and at the end of the day they’re happy to simply “have a great time hanging out, crushing empties and rocking out.” Ultimately focusing on the music rather than the product is what has caused a delay in the album’s release, but the sound is better for it.
“We decided that we wanted to take the time we needed to make the best record possible, the record all of us have always wanted to make. No mistakes, no compromises as far as performance, sound, EQ, whatever,” says Gerow. “Then the world shut down for a few years, and our studio had to relocate, both of which certainly added to how long it took. One bonus of the time we spent was the opportunity to really get into hearing the songs and not just playing them. The development that many of the songs had would never have occurred had we not put each one under the microscope.”
“We recorded it completely by ourselves at home. We took a long break during the pandemic because sending tracks to each other did not work well for us. We had to wait until we could be in the same room again. There were other extended breaks, too. A lot of life happened to the four of us in those nine years,” adds Lane.
“We didn’t want to release these songs until we were truly happy with the way they sounded. We are somewhat perfectionistic in that way. We recorded the album in Kevin‘s and my home studios, so the blessing there is that you’re not paying a commercial studio by the hour, and you’re not burdened by that stress. The curse of recording in your own studio is, it can be hard to pin down when a recording is done in the absence of a hard deadline. Well, now it’s on wax, so it’s done,” says Spraker.
However you care to define it between pop and rock, Athens Ave has a cohesive guitar-driven sound with a timeless sense of place. From upbeat, danceable grooves to songs well-suited for a lazy fall drive with the windows down, the element of fun is tangible.
Following this Saturday’s release show, where The Arcs will be joined by Shehehe and Jay Gonzalez & The Guilty Pleasures, the band is working on hitting the road regionally to promote the album.
“I’ve got some ideas rolling around in the ol’ riff bag lately, so I’m really looking to putting together some new songs,” says Spraker. “And I’m game for doing more of what bands do—recording new songs, playing shows, hopefully some out of town, acquiring drink tickets, etc.”
Physical copies of Athens Ave will be available on CD and vinyl, while you can find the three already released singles and the full album on Sept. 16 at thearcs.bandcamp.com.
WHO: The Arcs, Shehehe, Jay Gonzalez & The Guilty Pleasures
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 13, 9 p.m.
WHERE: Nowhere Bar
HOW MUCH: $10
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