A LOT LIKE BIRDS Signs With EQUAL VISION RECORDS

Sacramento, California-based experimental post-hardcore outfit A LOT LIKE BIRDS has inked a deal with Equal Vision Records.

Whether they're swinging from the rafters, climbing up venue walls, joining in on spontaneous mid-set crowd surfs, launching guitars 25 feet in the air, or simply focusing on the music, the dynamic six-piece band is quickly becoming known for their roaring live sets filled with in-your-face intensity. Standing at the forefront of their bold performances are dual vocalists Cory Lockwood and Kurt Travis, who seamlessly intertwine, layer and harmonize, while interchanging singing, screaming and spoken-word duties. Guiding the melodies along with the alternating of intricate riffs and airy, ambient wails are guitarists Michael Franzino and Ben Wiacek, as well as the flowing rhythms of bassist Michael "Butter" Littlefield and drummer Joe Arrington.

In fall 2011, A LOT LIKE BIRDS released "Conversation Piece", the band's sophomore effort and first release with the current six-piece lineup. The eleven-track album was recorded at Interlace Audio Recording Studio in Portland, Oregon with producer Kris Crummet (CLOSURE IN MOSCOW, FEAR BEFORE, DANCE GAVIN DANCE). "Conversation Piece" features poetically delivered and emotionally driven lyrics powered by compelling dual vocals, with an emphasis on solid song structure and storytelling.

"Written word shaped me more definitively than any other interest in my life," says Lockwood. "I've been writing creatively my entire life without any real direction, outside of obsessively discovering new stories inside of myself and dragging them out. Music gave me a way to combine story and emotion and poetry with another love — performance."

He added, "When Travis and I met...we instantly bonded with each other and started to test each other's role and how best to complement each other musically. It didn't take too long for us to finish each other's lyrics if we were struggling with something or figure out a cohesive call-and-response section or harmony. And best of all, we decided not to separate each other into different corners of the musical ring. He screams at times and I sing at times. There's such an amazing amount of room for us to create together, as long as we ignore the standard limitations of a duo like that."

A LOT LIKE BIRDS' constant musical evolution and entrancing live shows, combined with their down-to-earth personalities, proved to be just the right fit for Equal Vision Records.

"Signing to Equal Vision used to just be a daydream for most of us," explains Lockwood. "When we were growing up and still playing in previous bands, Equal Vision was putting out CDs by incredible artists that we admire, like BEAR VS SHARK, THE FALL OF TROY and CIRCA SURVIVE."

"We are all very happy about it...there honestly couldn't be a better home for us and what we want to do," Franzino adds. "It means the world to be on EVR and we can't wait to see what comes of it."

The band will soon begin the writing process for its debut Equal Vision release, with tentative plan to enter the studio in early 2013.