Smiley, get noticed

We tend to overlook the many people on this campus that we simply walk by from day to day, not knowing or realizing much about them or their endeavors that occur off campus—whether that be somebody working behind a counter serving you food or just a daily passerby in the park blocks. In this case, I am pleased to introduce you to a few fellows that make up a local band known as Smiley, Get Dressed.

I got the pleasure to sit down and have a chat with this four-piece rock group that, to put it baldly, rocks. Smiley consists of Dan Saffer (vocals, guitar), Cole Burns (drums), Mike Bearden (guitar) and Archie Heald (bass).

As the story goes, the group was formed in late 2010 when Dan and Mike were working together at our wonderful food establishment Victors. What became of a “pissing competition on guitar” eventually turned into the makings for a quite talented team of young musicians. After jamming together for a while, they eventually stretched the group towards incorporating a bassist and a drummer—Dan knew Archie from living in the same place (both longing to create an 80s cover band, eventually leading to naturally exploit the notorious demand for 80s music usually found throughout international crowds). Mike knew Cole from their hometown of Taos, New Mexico—thus, Smiley, Get Dressed shortly ensued.

Their music, which is very impressive, has been finely honed. Dan, originally from San Diego, had already come up with a collection of lyrics that he previously put together. The words are colored with the usual motives driving an inspired young songwriter: relationships.

“Lyrically, my inspiration comes from this relationship I was in for a long period of time, like most troubadours do,” said Saffer.

This isn’t to say that these guys are loaded with your typical dopey love songs or emo ballads filled with their guts. One of their songs, titled “She Gets Down,” brings another view to the modern relationship that puts the realistic icing on the cake. Dan doesn’t beat around the bush too much while he croons his clever words over his guitar:

“Woke up this morning/my skin overheating/constant drum beating inside of my head/looked out the window/a cold winter storming/feels like it’s warning me to stay in bed/I don’t have to ask her/she knows what I need/she’s on my level when the world’s down on me/she gets down.”

Just like any other “longing for love” lyrics, these words happen to still successfully point out the advantages of having that significant other, at least, they don’t resort to the traditional ways of doing so.

As far as their music goes, it does the job of providing great backing for these lyrics that are sung incredibly well by Dan. They sound along the lines of the Strokes with their catchy guitar licks, while woven through the heavy bass lines provided by PSU’s own Archie Heald.

Everything seems to fall into place with these guys, they have an unarguable skill that many bands seem to lack today. If you get the chance to get online, listen to their stuff, I highly recommend it. Their music is up on Reverbnation.com/SmileyGetDressed and has been wonderfully put together and produced by just themselves.

As these guys are relatively a new and budding group, they have already started playing shows at places like Mississippi Pizza, The Variant and The Refectory. Although they still need to start filling up their schedules to perform more shows, they are supposed to play at a house show on the 28th. If interested, you can find them online. So, there you have it, a new great band that deserves some recognition for their kick-ass music. ?