Central Iowa label Pinnacle Records is proud to present the release of Indie/Folk band Finn Miles’ 3rd EP, Modern Saints, at The Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines on Sunday, December 19th, 2010. Joining him for the evening’s performance will be Jacob Tyler Wolfgang and other special guests.
Finn Miles was originally founded by Paul Gratton in 2007, and has since added countless members, drawing from both family and friends within the Des Moines music scene. Each Finn Miles show is unique in that the actual band on stage carries a rotating cast of characters from performance to performance.
Past Finn Miles releases have featured numerous musicians, most notably Paul’s brother Scott Gratton (of Canby, River and the Tributaries, The Magazines), Tina Haase-Findlay, as well as production from Scott Gratton.
The overall process of Modern Saint’s creation was unique to not only Finn Miles, but most performers, such that it was almost exclusively performed, recorded, and produced by Paul himself.
Having occupied a space between Bob Dylan and Radiohead, Paul has honed in on a sonic experience that one could describe as a convergence of Sufjan Stevens and Wilco.
The result of 5 months of hard work, mistakes, and a lot of learning created an incredibly ethereal yet earthy collection of songs. “Modern Saints” crackles with synthesis; slide guitars and tambourines, banjos and cavernous harmonies come together in the band’s most mature offering to date, producing a uniquely American collection of songs and meditations.
In addition to the release party, future tour dates will be announced and updated on Finn Miles’ website, http://www.finnmiles.com.
“With a gentle voice, steady strumming, and songs to dream to it is obvious that he values more than just the "performance" of music. He has drawn from his pure passion and heart.”
- Music Gems Blog
- “Finn Miles embraces the genre’s finer qualities of conscientious songwriting, ambient instrumentation and lush arrangements to produce timeless music.”
–Cityview
*For music, video, photos and more on Finn Miles visit:
http://www.finnmiles.com
Founded by songwriter Paul Gratton in 2007; Finn Miles is a singer/songwriter driven band from Des Moines, IA.
Musically, Finn Miles cuts from lush arrangement to sparse tranquility. Layers of acoustic and electric guitars, harmonicas, flutes, glockenspiels, trumpets, rhodes piano, thundering drums, and earnestly delivered vocals fill out a plush, well orchestrated sound.
Core members include singer/guitarist Paul Gratton, his wife Laura Gratton on trumpet, along with multi-instrumentalist/producer/brother/wonderkind Scott Gratton. Finn Miles live performances are commonly filled with interactive visual art and collaborative crowd interaction, making each show a unique experience.
Released in November 2008, Concrete language, rustic sensibilities, and wide open arrangements give the group’s first EP “Branches” a whimsical, yet grounded spirit. Branches relies on memorable melodies and folksy production to cut across genre in a solid first release.
On Finn Miles’ second offering, “Telltale Heart,” released in August of 2009, lyrics dive deeper into loneliness, alienation, and the desire to find “a better way.” Hints of distortion, layers of Rhodes piano, and jangly electric guitars spread out like miles of cracked concrete, an ode to post-modern life.
“Modern Saints” EP, releasing December 2010, crackles with synthesis; slide guitars and tambourines, banjos and cavernous harmonies come together in the band’s most mature offering to date, producing a uniquely American collection of songs and meditations.
Citing influences such as Sufjan Stevens, Wilco, Bob Dylan, Radiohead, M. Ward, Nick Drake, and The Arcade Fire, Finn Miles combines the needle-and-thread of lyrical songwriting with ear-catching melodies.
So you're writing off the history
so you're playing down the mystery
so you're buying property in the right neighborhood
Now you're getting new security
Selling out to the bourgeoise
heard you took the family tree down off of the wall
Thought you'd make it big by selling out
wink and smile to the anxious crowd
taking new bids for a house in the clouds
you're the salesman of the year
Saw your new house behind the gate
heard you got fat and out of shape
praying for the day of great escape
to your private kingdom come
I'm missing the saints of yesterday
I'm missing the saints of yesterday
faith, hope, love and charity
I'm missing the saints of yesterday
