Dawn Over Zero

In February 2005, I attended the CD release show for Pushmonkey at Antone's. The invitation made no mention of an opening act, so I was a slightly caught off-guard when four strangers took the stage. Immediately, they took control of the room, pounding their way through their set. Who were these guys? Mike Mears (vocals and guitars), Jared Mears (guitars and backing vocals), Nathan Machart (bass and backing vocals), and Mack Linan (percussion) comprise the band Dawn Over Zero. My initial impressions were of Mike's commanding presence over the crowd and Jared's ever-moving fingers up and down the neck of his guitar. Nate and Mack created a rock solid foundation for the music. When all was said and done, I found myself equally impressed with Dawn Over Zero as I was with the headlining act.

I was able to get my hands on the band's self-titled debut EP. You never know what to expect from an independent band trying to make their way onto the scene. Even if they've performed well onstage, they often don't have the resources to put together a good recording. Or, flaws often overlooked in a live performance are plainly obvious when you can hear the CD without distraction. Fortunately for fans, Dawn Over Zero came out swinging with their first release. Rather than simply sounding like a band with promise, they sound like seasoned professionals. They'd fit neatly in someone's CD collection between Nickleback and Puddle of Mudd.

The EP contains six tracks: Single Day Insomnia, Bury the Cost, Circulation, Come to Show, Density, and Turning Over in Your Mind. Although each track is a testament to the band's ability, Circulation stands out in my mind. The driving force behind the song is Mike's methodical pattern plucked away one string at time. It's reminiscent of the style carved out by U2's Edge in their Joshua Tree days. The guitar almost takes over as the time keeping mechanism allowing the drums to take a less conventional role as an accompanying instrument, not just a predictable pacemaker. The raw power of the song is reinforced once the chorus kicks in and the full weight of the band is supporting the vocals.

Dawn Over Zero is a well oiled machine that I'm sure will drive it's way to the top of the Austin music scene. I hope these guys continue to concentrate their efforts in Austin because everyone should get a chance to catch them live. I'm positive that even if your encounter with the band is accidental, like my case, they'll turn you into a faithful follower.

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Related links:

Dawn Over Zero's website