“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
Circuline’s Debut Album release date has been set for December! This past weekend was spent with Andrew Colyer re-recording the rest of the keyboard tracks for “Geode” and mix prepping at Inner Nova Records on Saturday, September 28th. On Sunday, mixing began with the legendary engineer Julie Last over at Coldbrook Productions in Woodstock, New York. We’re very grateful to be working with Julie – she spent ten years at the Record Plant in New York City, and ten years in Los Angeles at major label studios. Her credits include YES, John Lennon, Brian Eno, Joni Mitchell, Aerosmith, Talking Heads, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Peter Frampton, etc. We started with the drum tracks, then imported some of the keyboard and guitar tracks. There is a lot more to be done, but we’re making great progress!
Engineer Julie Last begins mixing Darin Brannon’s drums at Coldbrook Productions – September 2014
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.
