TALLADEGA

Our sophomore CD "Up From Beneath" is now available! To buy a copy, visit The Fading Ways Music Store (www.fwmusicstore.co.uk).
Talladega has featured many members through the years, but the original core-duo of Stewart Whitehead and Sean Bettam have always guided the direction the band has taken. From the start they found a sound that combined influences ranging from the simplicity of Galaxie 500 to the grander ambitions of bands like the The Verve. Talladega songs feature personal lyrics on top of moody and atmospheric music, driven by melodic bass lines.
The duo first met while Stewart was in power pop band The Grace Babies and Sean was playing bass with the dream pop/shoe gazer outfit Chicklet. Discussions on the relative merits of old favorites like New Order and The Cure would point to the direction Talladega would take when Stewart and Sean reconvened to form the band a couple of years later. The initial result of their new collaboration was their debut EP Hope, which came out to several good reviews from various collegiate papers. However, during recording, Talladega saw several members leave the group.
Seeking new blood, the duo was joined by the incredibly talented Sean Bryson (formerly of The Waltons). The three entered "Audiolab" studios to record a full album that would become known as Up From Beneath. While in the studio a good friend named Mark Buffone stumbled in. (formerly of friends Flashlight Brown). Originally Marky was only going to add guitar to a couple of songs, however, he ended up playing on every song and joined the band. His guitar playing became a highlight of the album and it is hard to imagine the songs without him. The end result is an album built upon layers of guitars, stellar bass playing, and some absolutely angelic vocal harmonies.