Live Music at LakeBridge Forza - Automatic Theory

Genres: Pop / Rock Label: Unsigned Management: Steve Albert

Automatic Theory is a high-energy, three-piece pop/rock band out of the Pacific Northwest, established in 2008. Since then, the band has played over 350 shows and built a solid fan base across the Pacific Northwest, Western Region of the United States, and beyond. The band includes Dave Hannon on guitar/vocals, Steve Albert on drums/vocals, and Ian Webb on bass/vocals.

Since its inception, the band has put out two EPs. The first, “Better for the Long While” (Winter 2008) reflects the much more acoustic beginnings of Dave’s solo career, containing six songs, including the upbeat first track, “Make Your Way In the Dark,” which has been played on local radio in Washington state.

“Look Out Below” – the first track on the band’s latest EP, entitled “Bridge” (Spring 2009) – has also seen some regional airplay, even finding itself being requested by listeners in the Portland area. “Bridge” is comprised of five songs, with a blend of acoustic-meets-electric song crafting that is closer to the band’s current, more electric, sound.

This summer, the band plans to release its first full-length album, “This Time Last Year” (2011). Consisting of twelve tracks, “This Time Last Year” best encapsulates Automatic Theory’s most current sound, combining the acoustic/jazz elements of Dave’s solo career, pieces of alt-country flavor, mixing with a primarily straightforward, fully electric rock sound.

The band has performed in ten states and has opened for Girl Talk, Angie Aparo, Rookie of the Year, Hollywood Heartthrob, and Monty Are I. In fall 2008, Dave toured with solo acoustic artist, Kristen Marlo, covering 15 cities in seven states over the course of three weeks. In 2009, the band completed both Spring and Summer tours, covering ground throughout the Western United States with over 150 shows in that span of seven months.

In June of 2009, Steve Albert received orders to deploy to Afghanistan, and, just after Thanksgiving of the same year, left for the Middle East. Steve spent six months serving his country as a reservist in the Air Force. While Steve was deployed, Dave and Ian kept up performances in the States as an acoustic duo, with Ian performing double-duty switching back and forth between bass and djembe.

Having returned from his deployment in late May of 2010, Dave, Steve, and Ian are now looking to the future. With “This Time Last Year” ready for release, several shows booked throughout the summer and fall of 2011, and enough songs for a follow-up album to “This Time Last Year,” the future looks very bright for these three.

“Automatic Theory is one of those musical talents who rolls in, plays a great set, and winds up leaving a line of folks signing their guestbook and wanting a CD. They're good, they craft good songs, and the lyrics are actually worth listening to. Presenters will want to book this band again and again, and their audiences will be very happy for it. I am!” Serni Solidarios -Event Producer and Music Educator of the University of Puget Sound.