Undiscovered Band Of The Month: The Champion and His Burning Flame

Happy New Year and meet our first pick for 2009’s Discover the Undiscovered band, The Champion and His Burning Flame. Hailing from Nashville, The Champion began as a friendship between Dave and Trevor; two young songwriters who are heavily influenced by pop music, literature and friends. After a summer recording session, two of those friends, Jeremy and Tim, joined the band and the foursome set to work on their first project. The result is an indie-pop EP that is both full of energy and thought provoking; two qualities that also describe their live shows. The Champion seeks to initiate a dialogue about what it means to be both human and an artist.

myspace.com/thechampionandhisburningflame

Who are your main influences?
Bomba; a benevolent, multi-instrumentalist robot that possesses neither fear nor permanent residence on Earth. Bomba's main infuences are Sufjan Stevens and Elliott Smith.

How did you meet?
We met Bomba purely by coincidence while trying to find matching jumpsuits for our Vespas. (Who knew alien, robotic composers drove Vespas? Kudos, Bomba!). We met each other in college and at Starbucks Coffee Co.

What is your biggest achievement as a band to date?
We were invited, per Bomba's request, to compose an intergalactic symphony for the coronation ceremony of Afrodo Baggins Jefferson. He hated it and used some Jock Jams instead. We were also asked to score our friend's movie "The Time Closet."

Where did the band name originate?
You’re not going to believe it, but it just happens that it was our nickname in high school.

Favorite Bands?
Ben Gibbard and Zooey Deschanel's kid's band; "Frumpy Dragon"

Plans to tour?
We'll be around the galaxy and Midwest throughout 2009.

Plans for next release?
We'll be releasing some of our soundtrack work digitally.

Comments

[Stephanie Morgan]

See 'Champion' at POPAsheville Jan. 17! www.popasheville.com

[Evan Bomba]

Jock Jams fo' eva'!