Rock
and Roll Ghosts
Officially,
Gold Coast Refuse' Yours From Ascentia was
the first album release for Mile Long Records. "Was"
being the operative word, as the band is, sadly, no more.
Was it the pressure of writing, recording and producing their
one and only release that killed the band? Or was it simply
that the bass player and drummer were at the point of pulling
shanks on each other after every show? The world may never
know...
With
plenty of critical praise, Yours From Ascentia blurs an alt-country
landscape with a rock and roll paint brush. Highlight songs
include "Sun On The Floor", "Shine", "In
A Bag" and "Good Time". Get this album while
we have them, because once they are gone... they are gone
for good.
Gold
Coast Refuse Bio
The story
of Gold Coast Refuse is rather ordinary. The music they’re
making is anything but.
Critics praise Gold Coast Refuse’s sound as “a
modern yet rootsy blend of thoughtful, impassioned rock and
roll,” “roots rock with an edge,” “new,
unique but built on the past,” “owing as much
to Big Star as Uncle Tupelo.”
But as for the story . . . it begins with the meeting of Jeff
Falk and Michael Paeth in Chicago in 2002. They began collaborating
on original material and recording in a warehouse loft. When
some of their early tapes found their way to Brian McDonnell,
he would soon become a regular in the writing and recording
sessions.
The three quickly developed a wealth of original material,
trading off on a variety of instruments as Falk and McDonnell
shared vocal duties. Guitar being the instrument of choice
for all three, the writing often centered around plush acoustic
and electric guitar arrangements and three-guitar harmonies.
Drummer Ken Ward and bassist Michael Gross were recruited
to form the rhythm section and the line-up was complete.
Taking the name Gold Coast Refuse from one of their song lyrics,
the band cut a quick demo in 2003, and spent the next two
years building an audience and honing their live performance.
They were soon stealing the spotlight at national showcases
such as Cincinnati’s MidPoint Music Festival in 2003
and 2004, and headlining legendary Chicago clubs like Abbey
Pub and Double Door.
Their first full-length album, “Yours from Ascentia,”
was released on Mile Long Records in 2005. The album succinctly
captures the diversity of Gold Coast Refuse’s writing.
In ten songs, the band creates a wide spectrum of sound -
from the acoustic roots of “Big Buildings” and
“In a Bag” to the gritty garage rock of “Shine”
and “Sun on the Floor.”
The songs and performance are authentic, unassuming and inviting,
presenting listeners with a broad cross-section of American
music’s past, present and future.