Abandon Kansas

If you ask Jeremy Spring, frontman for the quartet Abandon Kansas, what it is that motivates he & his band, you may be shocked at the answer. And in the answer to this question lies the very thing that sets his band apart from the endless parade of fame-seekers in this industry.

And deliver something larger than just music is exactly what they do on their debut release from Gotee Records, the We’re All Going Somewhere EP. With fearless hearts, ingenious songwriting, & poignant wit, Spring & company shine like supernovas among fading stars. This is indie pop/rock that will surprise you with its candor & cause you to contemplate the deepest recesses of your heart.

Consider the track “The Harder They Fall,” for starters. If Abandon Kansas were just simply seeking to ingrain a melody in your head while simultaneously appeasing the music elitist in you, this song would more than achieve their goals. A bed of tasteful, yet compelling instrumentation snaps you to attention, as you say to yourself these boys can play. Then, Spring’s vocal turns attention to attraction with obvious charisma & charm. As verse ebbs to chorus the energy swells & the deal is sealed, as you sing There is no one left who isn’t better than the rest. I need to hear you say that I’m the best. You are officially charmed, hook, line & sinker. You are pulled into the song with breakneck speed, traveling down the rabbit hole to an unknown destination. But as you submit to the hypnotic pulse of the song, a question pops into your brain: Where is Abandon Kansas taking me?

The band linked up with producer Mark Lee Townsend (Relient K, House of Heroes) for what promises to be a highlight in his already amazing resume’. We’re All Going Somewhere comes with a full chamber; this is six shots, not just a couple rounds. Yet, if one were to focus on key tracks, it would have to include “I Wonder If It’s Me,” a driving, dancy, yet contemplative number that confronts the “grass is greener” mentality that is so pervasive in our culture. And “Months & Years,” another standout among standouts, is an uplifting exercise in perseverance, complete with a chorus that could become the rallying cry of a generation of lost souls seeking a greater purpose.

Perhaps the greatest triumph of all here is the lyrical potency of Jeremy Spring. Only a truly inspired mind could conjure up lines such as these: We spend our lives tip toeing carefully just to arrive at our death safely…We all want what we deserve, unless it’s going to hurt. And while he excels in providing sobering thoughts, Spring provides just as many euphoric moments as well: Close your eyes, then we’ll start to see. Shut them tight, now we can believe. It’s taken me so long to & out where you are. You live in me. Few have the power to shape the listener’s emotions with words, but here you will find one who can do just that, & Abandon Kansas will leave you singing (as well as thinking) long after the songs end.

Amidst all this depth, it would be hard to imagine a band that who can also bring one of the most energetic & spirited live shows around, yet Abandon Kansas brings just that.