Silage. One of many victims of the evil Essential Records label. This label has dropped many of their most popular artists and broken the spirits of many on their current roster. Silage was one of the greatest Christian bands to ever exsist. They transended genre and kept and amazing balance of "neutral non-confrontational music" and God loving worship... Fronted by Damian Horne and backed by the Black brothers, Silage was a perfect band. They had enough ska and punk tastes to keep the skaters happy. Enough rap flavorings to please the BBoys and melodies that showed respect to the greats of yesterday (Beach Boys, Beatles) to please the parents. I have met only one non-Silage fan in the years since they were first introduced to me...
I have had the pleasure of meeting the former members several times and they were very kind to field my fanboy questions each time. They actually held the record release party for their sophmore effort "Vegas Car Chasers" here in New Mexico. I had found a copy of the album a few days before hand and nearly wore it out those 4 days. At the party I met their sound man (as i was just starting to become involved with sound at the time) and i talked with him for an hour or so. He answered several of my questions. Their first album "Watusi" was a brilliant mix of ska, punk, surf, rock, alt, rap, emo, kitsch... it had it all. "vegas..." went a new direction. It sounded very hip hop to me and I mentioned Beastie Boys to the soundman. His face lit up "Yes! That's exactly where they were going!" Beach Boys to Beastie Boys... Silage is for the children...
Their label Sublime folded and they ended up on Essential Records (this is my understanding of the situation). Essential released "vegas..." to critical acclaim. Next thing you know, the PAJ (Progressive Airplay Journal) has a sip that says Silage is to change their name due to pressure from essential and that the line up had changed. There were rumors that Pete Stewart (formerly of Grammatrain) and the dj from the now defunct Reality Check had joined the group. We then heard that Essential had forced the newly formed "Parkway" to change their sound. Change the name, Change the sound. It turns out the other members quit because of these factors. The label killed off silage. We were told at a Parkway show not to bring up the topic of Silage. Horne was the only surviving member. So, technically, Parkway is not a renamed Silage as stated in PAJ; they are a different group with Horne at the helm.
I would have put a link to the Parkway site in here, but it is desolate. They never update it. It was outdated by the time their debut albut "Glad You Made It" dropped. Parkway is very different from Silage. It is a softer, more coffee house sound, but still has traces of hip hop and rock scattered around it. Horne is still alive and writing some of the best songs in recent memory, but the Silage factor still exsists... At least in this fans mind.
Rest In Peace Silage. Your music is still as relevant today as it ever was. And I would like to wish the best for Parkway. They are an excellent God loving band. They should drop their label and reunite for one last Silage joint... but maybe Horne will have his way and mold Parkway as he wants... not as the corporate check endorsers want.... |
