“One Wish” – Music by Andrew Colyer, Darin Brannon, and Bill Shannon. Lyrics and vocal melodies by Randy McStine. Additional vocal harmonies by Andrew Colyer, Natalie Brown, and William Spillane.
Once I laid my head
On stones of ice, my bed
I turned, then looked, and said
“I have no reason, I have no right…”
And turned out the light
I was slow to try
My mind could not reply
The truth outcast from the lie
Making a difference or hiding the blame
It all depends on the frame
The big wheel goes round and round
Spinning until we hit the ground
If I had one wish…
The big wheel goes round and round
Spinning until we hit the ground
I turn water into sound
But it’s gone and never found
If I had one wish…
~
What do you get when you take two theatrical lead vocalists, a keyboard player from Juilliard, a musical savant playing guitar, and a drummer with progressive rock in his DNA? The new modern ProgRock band Circuline.
Performing original and classic progressive rock, Circuline was founded in 2014 when former progressive rock tribute band Downing Grey members Andrew Colyer (keyboards, vocals), Bill Shannon (guitars, vocals), and Darin Brannon (drums, percussion) had a burning desire to write original material. Lead vocalists Billy Spillane and Natalie Brown were up for the challenge, having performed in countless venues as singers, actors, dancers, and rock musicians.
Circuline’s debut album (to be released April 2015) will feature Guest Artists Matt Dorsey (Sound of Contact) on bass, Randy McStine (Lo-Fi Resistance) as a songwriter and vocalist, and Joe Deninzon (Stratospheerius) on electric violin. Paul Ranieri (Shadow Eden), seen in the above video, is currently the touring bassist with the band.
Video recorded at Enigma Dance Hall; Milan, New York. Special thanks to George Carrothers.
Art direction and graphic design: Bill Shannon
Video editing: Darin Brannon
Band booking and marketing: Andrew Colyer
Assistant booking and logistics: Tom Palmieri
Much needed sarcasm and general snarkiness: Natalie Brown
This video features Circuline band members Andrew Colyer (keyboards/vocals), Bill Shannon (guitars/vocals), Billy Spillane (lead vocals), Darin Brannon (drums/percussion), and Natalie Brown (lead vocals).
Guest Artists include Matt Dorsey (Sound of Contact) on bass, and Randy McStine’s (Lo-Fi Resistance) songwriting on lyrics and melody lines.
Video recorded at Vinnie’s Garage (Vinnie Martucci, engineer), Coldbrook Productions (Julie Last, engineer), Thid1 Productions (Matt Dorsey, engineer), and the Dover Brick House (Dover, New Hampshire). Special thanks to Linda Roberts and David Young for their iPhone videos!
Photos taken at Putnam Den (Saratoga Springs, NY), Keegan Ales (Kingston, NY), Enigma Dance Hall (Milan, NY), Ralph’s Rock Diner (Worcester, MA), and the Dover Brick House (Dover, NH). Special thanks to photographers Denise Romano Bright and Greg Thompson for their professional photos used in this first video!
Also special thanks to Bob Larkin and Lori Schladebeck for the fantastic light show where we got some of these great photos!
Art direction and graphic design: Bill Shannon
Video editing: Darin Brannon
Band booking and marketing: Andrew Colyer
Assistant booking and logistics: Tom Palmieri
Much needed sarcasm and general snarkiness: Natalie Brown
Saturday, September 20th – Vinnie’s Garage – Circuline went to Emmy-award-winning jazz master Vinnie Martucci’s studio to record the final drum/guitar/keyboard tracks for the debut album! Seven songs in one day!! Awesome, and ridiculous!!
Sunday, September 21st – Circuline spent all day at Inner Nova Records doing guitar overdubs for the debut album. Not quite finished yet, but good progress is being made.
Engineer Vinnie Martucci sets up the mics on Darin’s drums.
Does Bill’s guitar pedal get its own isolation booth?
Bill Shannon warming up before the recording starts.
Keys setup next to the drums – man, it’s loud!
Vinnie Martucci’s vintage Minimoog and Rhodes piano – from his touring days.
Darin Brannon poses for the camera. Looks like a magazine cover.
In preparation for the fall debut album release of original melodic cinematic progressive rock music, Circuline continued the epic two-day weekend rehearsal schedule, from 11 am to 10 pm on Saturdays, and 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays. Rehearsals continue in the new remote location – “The Cave” in upstate New York, as well as at Inner Nova Records.
Sunday, August 31st / Monday, September 1st
Saturday, September 6th / Sunday, September 7th
Darin Brannon listens to the playback of the rough mix in The Cave.
Bill Shannon laying down rough guitar tracks in The Cave.
Andrew Colyer lays down rough keyboard tracks in The Cave.
Darin Brannon’s previously famous band.
Darin loves the studio so much, he sleeps next to the gear rack.
Saturday, July 26th – In preparation for the fall album release of original melodic cinematic progressive rock music, Circuline continued the epic two-day weekend rehearsal schedule, from 11 am to 10 pm on Saturday. Rehearsal continued in the new remote location – “The Toolshed” in upstate New York.
Sunday, July 27th – Vinnie’s Garage – Day #1 – Circuline went to Emmy-award-winning jazz master Vinnie Martucci’s studio to record pre-production tracks. Photos below:
Circuline picking up food on the way to the studio
Setting up the drum mics for Darin’s kit
Keyboard rig at Vinnie’s Garage – July 2014
Circuline in the studio – July 2014 – Darin Brannon (drums), Dan Aggers (bass), and Bill Shannon (guitar)
Andrew Colyer at Vinnie’s Garage – July 2014
Darin Brannon loves having an engineer to work with!
Vinnie Martucci’s vintage Minimoog!
Vinnie Martucci behind the control room glass – July 2014
Bill Shannon is so happy to be in the studio!
Saturday, August 9th / Sunday, August 10th
Pre-Production Recording / Arranging / Mixing at Inner Nova Records
Darin takes a picture of Andrew taking a picture of him.
Andrew is brain dead after engineering all weekend.
Saturday, August 16th / Sunday, August 17th
Circuline moves into new writing space – “The Cave”
Circuline’s new writing space – “The Cave” – August 2014 – “Before” photo
Circuline in new writing space – “The Cave” – August 2014 – “After” photo
Saturday, August 23rd / Sunday, August 24th
Saturday – writing / arranging / recording / mixing at Inner Nova records – “I Wish”
Sunday – Darin setup and recorded his drum parts over at The Cave for “I Wish”, while Bill and Andrew Colyer worked on the structure for “Geode”
Bill Shannon works out his guitar parts in The Cave.
Darin Brannon works out his drum parts in The Cave.
Andrew Colyer works out his keyboard parts in The Cave.
