Seaing Lions
Joey Patino (left) and Jason Travis (right)
From my initial encounter, Jason Travis and Joey Patino seemed to be very different people, so different, in fact, that you might question their compatibility as band mates, founding members, and co-writers of the year plus old band, Sealions, which includes Keith Edmiston and John Craig. Patino shared that at a young age he wasn’t really into his parents’ music while Travis said that he thought his parents had cool taste. Travis said that most of the time he can find something to like in every album he hears, while Patino tends to lean the other way. Regardless of first impressions, there’s no doubt that the duo’s vision for their music is one that took some time to find, and through that search they’ve developed a soundthey can say is “the best stuff they’ve ever done.”
“I think with Sealions, the turning point was when I started using drum machines and synthesizers and learning everything I could about electronic music. Jason sort of fed off of that and all of a sudden, we had a new voice. I think it matches his songwriting more than anything else before. I think that’s where Sealions came from,” Joey says.
Of course, finding voice is an essential step to developing, but beyond that, the guys really spoke about their music, their writing, and their appreciation to Atlanta’s music and art scene with a strict professionalism that would tell any listener that these guys aren’t interested in making this a hobby. Joey continues,
“I think our attitude was music was a part-time job whereas now it’s a full time job. You have to at some point realize you have to spend just as much time on this as anything else you want to do. You can immediately see who isn’t committed to this thing.”
Yes, Patino and Travis were a good sell as is their album Strange Veins, but the true test of words is action, am I right? Anyone can say they’re serious, but nothing proves more than a good old fashioned live show.
So off I went to see Sealions at The Earl, and for good measure I brought a two of my friends and Sealions virgins to get some solid, objective feedback based on the show itself. What I saw solidified that Travis and Patino were not all talk and very honed in on what Travis said of their sound,
“We have a vintage, retro feel, but we try to stay really modern with our pop sensibilities and our music. We are a guitar band. We love keyboards as much as we love guitars.”
Well yes, yes they do, and clearly, they love to satisfy their crowd with a show that connects. Between me and my two comrades, we worked up enough sweat dancing to come to the conclusion that it’s not just their music; it’s their energy and compatibility on stage. No wonder they opened for Metric and Miami Horror. Phew, and I was worried those two dudes lied. Trust issues, leave me alone.
They say opposites attract and never judge a book by it’s cover (guilty), but regardless of first impressions, Jason Travis and Joey Patino clearly have something right that goes a lot deeper than what they listened to as kids or who they chose to listen to now. If you don’t believe me, just ask them yourself. Plus, I’ve never heard two guys more adamantly exclaim, “We’re not lo-fi.”
Upcoming Sealions shows:
Jack of Hearts Album Release at The Basement, Aug 26 - $5
Headlining with Machines are People Too and WIC at The Star Bar, Sept 9 - $7
Photo by Dan Depew
