If you are unfamiliar with this group (chances are this includes most people) then don’t let the fresh-faced photos and boyish smiles fool you. Of course, with that graphic to greet visitors on the Web it isn’t difficult to see this Tupper Lake, New York, group as talented but a bit on the odd side.

Independent labels welcome this type of effort, though, even if there is plenty of pop mixed in with the rock. A full-length CD to their credit, I’m Giving Myself Away puts them back in the spotlight these boys have been away from for awhile. Considered one of the Bands You Should Know and Love (a compilation that included Fall Out Boy and others) Abbott Hayes will gather a few more fans in the near future.

Creating the sound for Abbott Hayes are: Andrew McClelland – vocals and guitar; Ben McClelland – vocals and bass; Micah Tyo – guitar; Ryan Gillis – drums; Pat Bedore – keyboards. Look for these fellows throughout upstate New York, with mountains the dominant feature on the horizon. They have made the trip to the big city too, and are popular on the college circuit.

With musical influences such as The Beatles, REM, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and Elliot Smith on the list, Abbott Hayes couldn’t go too far off course.
Check out “Bird With Broken Wings” and “Mountains” for something that is pop and rock, but has some of the old Marshall Tucker Band flavor (no flute though). “Earth Gently Rolls” picks up the pace a bit. Nice stuff.

Abbott Hayes on MySpace

Tags: independent music, abbott hayes, music, indie, indie music