"Going through Myspace I found Motion City Soundtrack, and they had some guy writing a really clever bio, really funny and well written. I thought that was cooler that any other band," says Sanders. "So many bands take themselves seriously, in some sense I do too. So A lot of my songs are serious. This is one place we can put our humor. Everything in there is true except about Pete (the band's former keyboardist)."
Smile Thru This shows how serious it as a band through its music. After coming in at 18 in the country on CMJ radio with its last CD, "Anywhere Without You," and opening for some of the band's heroes like Shinedown and Matchbook Romance, tomorrow marks the next phase in the band's musical adventure. Smile Thru This will be rocking the airwaves and live as its fourth studio album, "Life in a Rearview Mirror," releases.
The band took the opportunity last month to head down to Nashville to record the CD with producer Nathan Thomas.
"For the recording process, we drove to Nashville. The drum tracks were recorded in an office management place. They manage Avril Lavigne, the Barenaked Ladies and have acoustic acts play there sometimes," says Boettcher. "We tracked the drums in there and the rest in the producer's house. It was kind of an interesting deal; I've never done that before."
The result of the process was a seven-track album which all the band members say is a step forward in what they'd like to achieve.
Sanders says that this CD has a musical maturity to it; in essence the band is showing how it has grown with a more sophisticated sound along with catchier songs, crafty guitar skills and inspiring piano playing.
"I think it's one of the best CDs they've come out with; the musicianship is up there," says Marsden, who's actually a hired player working with Smile for recording and touring purposes. "I think it was well written. They wrote some good songs, good lyrics."
Foucie says that "Life" is "tasty sounding."
To promote "Life," the band will be doing a showcase on Kramp and Adler in the Morning on 102.1 at 9:30 a.m. Friday.
"It's going to be a Q&A thing, playing tunes off the record," Foucie says.
Boettcher says that this is more than just a radio show, it's a large amount of exposure he's never experienced with a band before.
"I think it's an excellent opportunity. It's great that they're (The Brew 102.1) actually doing that during the primetime hour. No body does that. Hopefully it'll bring people out to the CD release show that night," he says.
The CD release party kicks off at The Rave at 8 p.m.
"Friday at The Rave, we have three really amazing bands opening for us. My Disaster March, Fourth Effect will be there and Bosio. So there's definitely a lot of good bands there," Sanders says.
"I'm really excited that we're finally getting someplace with this band cause we have a lot to offer," Boettcher says. "I'm glad that people are giving us an opportunity to showcase that. Watch out for us. Big things will happening soon."
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
