34 Satellite

Their music makes you wonder what it might be like to walk in their shoes, to be where they are, living the late night and isolation and camaraderie of a rock band. It’s the sound of opening doors, traffic lights, and electricity. The individual roadmaps that brought the band together were full of twists and turns, but became meaningless at their first show at TT the Bears in Boston.

Guitarist Marc Smith brought his black Gibson ES 135, bassist Mike Santoro brought his Fender P Bass, and drummer Mark Boquist brought the loudest snare he could find. Marc Benning brought the words and the voice.

So what was it that pulled them together? Listen to the song “Wishing Well”, from their 2000 release “Radar”. Straightforward lyrics mask the complex emotions underneath, while explosions of distorted guitars and drums burst free. Benning’s teeth-clenched vocals express the kind of pain that makes hope itself agonizing. The song hints a connection to other mavericks – from the Beatles to Crazy Horse to the Flaming Lips – and speaks so forcefully that it’s hard to imagine any other band attempting it. 34 Satellite makes this type of colossal sound. It’s earned that vast territory through a great deal of hard work and the luck of each member finding one another.

“Radar” was enthusiastically welcomed by both college and AA radio, and tracked at over 200 stations nationwide. The band spent eight months of that year in a Ford van, and their touring ethic paid off. From The Mint in LA, to Cat’s Cradle in N.C., to Arlene’s Grocery in NYC (where they completed a month-long residency), touring has honed the band’s sound and focused their direction. New friends were made, including the esteemed producers Dave McNair (Arc Angeles, Los Super Seven) and John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., Buffalo Tom). Both helmed the boards for 34 Satellite’s new cd, entitled “Stop”.

To be released in February of 2002, “Stop” is the product of this band’s work ethic and the realization of their vision. With intimate lyrics, wide-open arrangements, and champion guitars, this is rock and roll in the best sense.