Friday May 15, 2009

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Dressed comfortably in fitted jeans and boots (white kicks for the drummer), Parachute has an appeal that goes beyond their boyish charm. Talented musicians since they were children, the Charlottesville, VA, natives carry a swagger that's all their own. Johnny Stubblefield holds down the rhythm section, Kit French fuses in the soul on sax, bassist Alex Hargrave and lead guitarist Nate McFarland bring in the edge as lead singer Will Anderson's fluid vocals round out the band's sound. With this, Parachute proves they have the chops playing what Anderson calls "upbeat intelligent rock and roll with a soul twist."

Anderson, French, Hargrave and Stubblefield have been jamming since high school while McFarland joined the band (then called Sparky's Flaw) in 2007. Looking back on the band's time together, Parachute says they've grown in many ways. "We're constantly growing and progressing our musicianship," Hargrave says. "And in that way I think we've been definitely striving to get better at playing our instruments, performing at shows and giving the crowd what they came for."

Influenced by various acts including Coldplay, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Elton John, Parachute is reminiscent of bands like The Fray and Maroon 5 with a hint of Billy Joel and some U2 on the side. And to add more diversity to the band's musical palette, Parachute says they've recently been listening to Bat for Lashes, Kings of Leon, The Decemberists and old school rockers Brand New.

With a following that increases each day, Parachute has already played Times Square on New Year's Eve, had music featured on The CW's "One Tree Hill," and opened for O.A.R., Jon McLaughlin, Switchfoot, Duffy and Matt Nathanson The band also landed a gig with skin and beauty care giant Nivea – using "She is Love" and "Under Control" in various TV spots. "It's great, and as a new band, it's harder and harder to get exposure in a lot of ways," Anderson says. "We're lucky to have our music featured and have a lot of people hear it. We're excited about it."

Losing Sleep, the band's full-length album that hits stores on May 19, has also hit #1 on iTunes Top Album list when it debuted exclusively at the online store on May 12. The albumpresents a collection of solid pop/rock songs with straightforward lyrics (mainly penned by Anderson) mixed with driven melodies, seamless harmonies and mature musicianship. From the obsession-centered "Ghost" to the regretful "Mess I Made," each song on the album tells a story that never fails to tug on your heartstrings. "The songs come from different places. Sometimes it's about a fictional character I make up in my head, a story I heard from someone or something that's happened to me," Anderson says. "It's something I relate to usually, but for the most part it just depends on the song."

With Losing Sleep's winning debut and lots of touring in the band's future, Parachute still makes sure that they are in touch with their fans. Aside from the band's official site and MySpace, they're connected on Facebook and Twitter (@parachuteva). "I think it's connecting with fans you wouldn't be able to connect to otherwise, and they get to know you a little better," Anderson says.

Whether it's playing to college students at Philadelphia's World Café Live or the hipsters at Mercury Lounge in New York City, Parachute plays like veterans while keeping a youthful demeanor – a formula for a bright future and musical longevity. 

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