Photo by Jen McManus

Too many artists suffer from taking themselves too seriously. You can hear it in the songs musicians write, the tone of voice they use to carry their lyrics, and most certainly in the way they present themselves onstage and in photographs. These songsters are found drenching listeners with saccharine ballads in tired attempts at communicating tender, emotionally fragile moments. When done well, this method woos wonderfully. But for the large majority, these broken hearts and comings of age should be reserved for journals, blogs and inspirational cards. It can be exhausting for a listener to bear so much sentiment.

Similar to the nature of water -- soft, yet powerful -- there's something Zen about the art of songwriting. Many of the best songwriters communicate effortlessly in a conversational, non poetic manner -- a skill most certainly easier said than sung. But as it turns out, taking it easy isn't easy. A good stuntman knows that the best way to take a fall is to relax, but intuition might tell the average Joe Six Pack otherwise. Like Joe Stuntman, the Press knows how to not take themselves too seriously, and the result is painless. (Of course, as is the case with any good band, when it comes to the execution of their music and the furthering of their career, no jokes are made... well, for the most part.) This fact is made clear almost immediately when listening to tracks from the Press' upcoming LP, recorded at the Fort in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and due out early next year.

Speaking with Mike Henry, guitarist, vocalist, and founding member of the Press, the sense of not taking things too seriously -- and enjoying it -- comes across clearly. "I got a phone call one day and this low voice on the other end just said, 'It's time,' and right after that some guys in all black crashed through my window, knocked me out and put a bag over my head. When I woke up, I was in a rehearsal studio with Dave [Schneider, vocals and guitar], who asked me one question: 'Do you want to change the world through the power of song?' That’s how two of us got together. We found Alex [Picca, vocals and bass] and Chuck [Davis, drums] on Craigslist."

There's a refreshing shortage of rhyme and reason to the subjects the Press covers in its songs. This band is not interested in changing the world or saving lives or attacking hot political topics. "We take on the big issues facing society, dismantle them, and then offer a solution that would likely change the world for the better if only it were enacted into law," humorously explains Henry. Speaking of the band's inspiration, it can be said seriously that the Press is primarily interested in having fun. As for influences, "the big ones were probably -- in chronological order -- Star Wars, Looney Tunes, driving around by myself listening to music, and then trying to make songs that feel like how those felt," Henry says. "I've always liked listening to music in transit, be it in a car or on a train/plane with headphones... [the Press] is kinetic music and should be listened to as such."

Fast-paced, pounding rock/punk-dance beats, overdriven frantic guitars and bass, and high-pitched, unhinged vocals (at times reminiscent of Danielson and Joan of Arc) drive many a Press song. At the same time, tracks like "Radio" and "Panther Beach" demonstrate a more atmospheric side. The bulk of these songs are seriously infectious, featuring dynamic guitar work and unordinary lyrical subjects, commenting on life in an informal way. (It should be noted that "China" contains one of the more kick-ass guitar riffs I've heard all year.) Be it a fast or slow song, the interplay of instruments and trading of lead vocal duties from song to song gives the definite impression that the Press is a collaborative, interconnected group effort -- everyone is having a blast at the same four-and-a-half minute party.

After the release of their LP, the Press plan to expose themselves in public (playing out much as possible). "We've been working on the record for a good while and are itching to get back out playing in-front, on-top, or in the general vicinity of people," says Henry. "We'll be playing around the Northeast through the new year and then out into Real America in the spring. I hear it's nice there."

As with many bands, future plans for success revolve around simply continuing to go strong. For the Press, Henry says this means "we try to trick old people into giving us their jewelry... I'll probably figure a way to screw the other guys out of all our show and jewelry money and then invest that money in a mutual fund or a volcano." Jokes aside, the Press is aware of what it takes to make a name for their art: "One of us is probably going to have to get pregnant or date one of the guys from Good Charlotte if we're going to make this happen."