In a time where new music teeters between obscure lo-fi indie rock and overproduced electronic dance songs, The Feel Flow Expo is brave enough to tackle a simple, yet alluring pop sound. The members of The Feel Flow Expo come from just a ferry ride away, residing in various parts of Kitsap County. Vocalist/guitarist Ted Boles and multi-instrumentalist Caleb Wilson first got their start in the Kitsap local scene with their band Mary Jane Watson. Their first project landed them some prime gigs, such as opening for defunct groups Schoolyard Heroes and The Divorce, until their break-up in 2006. Now with a few years more experience the guys are back with a more mature sound and clear focus for their music. The songs are catchy, feel good tunes. The effects on the instruments are mainly clean, no distortion to distract the listeners. The band really puts the songs before their own glory. What I mean is, there are no gimmicks on this album. No one is showing off more than anyone else. The playing is top notch and builds off one another. If one part of the group were taken away the songs would not work as well. That is the sign of a good band. The band released their debut album "Elements of Radio" on July 16 at The Charleston in Bremerton. The bright sounds of the band work better as summer anthems than the typical radio hits. The band cites Electric Light Orchestra, Wilco and The Beach Boys as a few of their influences which is easy to identify when listening to the album. Songs such as "Into The Night" sound as if they are possibly channeling the early sounds of The Police while other songs such as "Keeps Me Alive" have a much jazzier feel. The drums range from the standard rock beats to more worldly sounding rhythms. The variety of beats helps keep every track distinct and even more interesting from the last. Oddly enough it is the first and last track, "Beautiful Life" and "Small Towns," that stand out most for me. "Beautiful Life" could easily stand out on the album as a single. It gives a clear image of the sound of the band. The muted guitar and keys in the verse make the ringing out chords in the pre-chorus even that much more relieving. The simple guitar solos and breakdowns and build ups give this song to perfect formula for a pop favorite. "Small Towns," which fans first heard in the band's Mary Jane Watson days, is sentimental for anyone who has endured the bubble that comes from living in a small town and the desire that ensues from wanting to overcome it. There is something about the recording of this track that seems friendly in way; as if the band is just jamming together in the living room and not worrying about anything at all. The band is pulling a Radiohead and has their CD available for download with a "name your own price" system. Check it out at
