The Twelve Bands of Christmas: Day One - Telograph

Telograph is an up and coming band from Washington, DC. While they are known around the region for being really nice guys, they are also a really solid band with some pretty catchy songs. They write the kind of songs that you want to hear over and over and have stuck in your head for days.

We asked them to do this, because we wanted you to know about them before everybody else starts mentioning their name. There are definitely indications that big things lie ahead for them. A good example is that they play The Patriot Center mere days after the new EP drops. An unsigned band playing an arena? Yeah.

To receive some insight from their DC peers, I talked to Ian from Middle Distance Runner. He had this to say: "They're the first band that we ever bonded with in DC and they're gonna be the last band that we ever sleep with."

You heard what Ian and I think, now let's hear what the band has to say...

Band:
Telograph
Location:
Washington DC
Formed:
2004
Members:
Arash Ardalan – drums
Andy Boliek – vocals/guitar
Gary On – bass
JB Whittenburg – keys/guitar
Label:
None
Recordings:
Little Bits of Plastic (self released, Jan 2007)
Upcoming Live Dates:
January 26, 2007 @ The Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA
February 17, 2007 @ The Millenium Music Conference, Harrisburg, PA

How did the band form?
Arash and Andy met via the internet and started playing songs that needed low end. Gary came onboard and provided the low end. Benoit moved here from France and played keyboards and violin with us for a year and a half. Ben left for Montreal a few months ago, and JB took his place.

How was '06 for you?
2006 was a lot of work. We spent a great deal of our time working on our EP. We devoted the latter part of the year to finding Ben’s replacement. We played a handful of shows, but not as many as we would have liked.

Highlight of the year?
Finishing our EP.

What do you have in store for '07?
Our CD will be available on New Years Day, then we will hit the streets hard. We’ll be playing several festivals and music conferences, and plan to tour excessively.

Goal for '07 and beyond?
Work on new material. We would like to sign, if a good opportunity arises.

Little Bits of Plastic (2007)
Eye For An Eye
We Won't Settle Down


Favorites

Arash
3 favorite songs of '06?
We Are Scientists – This Scene is Dead
The Secret Machines – Alone, Jealous, and Stoned
Middle Distance Runner – That’s a Lie
Favorite album of the year?
We Are Scientists – With Love & Squalor
Best live show you saw this year?
Brazilian Girls – 9:30 Club
Favorite holiday song and artist?
Sufjan Stevens - Get Behind Me, Santa
Best present you ever received?
8-bit Nintendo
Worst present you ever received?
Punch in the face

Andy
3 favorite songs of '06?
The Stills – The Mountain
Kasabian – Sun Rise Light Flies
South – A Place in Displacement
Favorite album of the year?
TV On The Radio – Return To Cookie Mountain
Best live show you saw this year?
Massive Attack @ 9:30 Club
Favorite holiday song and artist?
John Tesh - White Christmas
Best present you ever received?
Les Paul
Worst present you ever received?
Coal

Gary
3 favorite songs of '06?
Thom Yorke – Black Swan
Tapes n’ Tapes – Insistor
Wolfmother – White Unicorn
Favorite album of the year?
LCD Soundsystem – LCD Soundsystem
Best live show you saw this year?
Elefant @ The Black Cat
Favorite holiday song and artist?
David Bowie & Bing Crosby - Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy
Best present you ever received?
Pho
Worst present you ever received?
Malaysian Crabs

JB
3 favorite songs of '06?
Mew – Why Are You Looking Grave?
Destroyer – Painter In Your Pocket
Grizzly Bear - Knife
Favorite album of the year?
Grizzly Bear – Yellow House
Best live show you saw this year?
Grizzly Bear @ Relative Theory Records, Norfolk VA
Favorite holiday song and artist?
Anything from Vince Guaraldi's "Charlie Brown Christmas"
Best present you ever received?
First guitar
Worst present you ever received?
What do people usually say – socks?



The Twelve Bands of Christmas
Introduction
Day 1: Telograph
Day 2: AVEC
Day 3: The Hard Tomorrows
Day 4: Middle Distance Runner
Day 5: Thrushes
Day 6: Georgie James
Day 7: Exit Clov
Day 8: Jette-Ives
Day 9: These United States
Day 10: Cedars
Day 11: Two if by Sea
Day 12: Soft Complex