All-Ages Localized

Anthropology

The band that is now Anthropology got its start a few years back when the members were in middle school, as a pop/rock, generic, radio-friendly music jam. Eventually, they grew bored and wanted to go for something a little more innovative. Now at age 17, they have combined both their friendship and their collective musical backgrounds together, and ended up with a groovy math rock sound. Ethan Lake (guitar) has a classical background and loves jazz and cello, while other members are more influenced by other math rock bands, such as Piglet, whose song “Anthropology Anthology” inspired the band’s name.

Growing from a sparse, simple sound to a more full, intricate one came with time and practice. As Joe Galloway (bass) puts it, “Our musical maturation has followed our maturation as people. Also, masturbation.” Lake adds, “I wouldn’t have listened to us when we started, but now I’d give us a chance.” Caine Wenner was recently added as a second guitar player, bolstering their shred capabilities.

Anthropology are all about putting on a memorable show, and they have a few things up their sleeve for Localized. “A bigger budget for the Zurcher’s party store is in order. We like to be as boisterous and exuberant as we can,” Wenner says. Using props and costumery is not necessarily a gimmick, but a way to get both the band members and the crowd stoked and ready to dance. This is a band that thrives off of a bustling crowd and hopes that their fans walk away having had a genuinely great time.

These guys don’t see age as a disadvantage to their music. “Some people assume we’re going to be bad because of our age, then they come to our show and we prove them wrong,” says Galloway. “It’s gratifying to see new faces at shows. We’re always hoping that it’s not just our friends and our parents who show up. Birthquake commended us and that was the biggest thing for us.”

Anthropology aren’t claiming to be anything that hasn’t been done before and aren’t out for fame or fortune—rather, they’re looking for a good time in sharing their music. “We started playing not because we wanted to be a band, just because we wanted to play music. We play a lot of Smash Bros. and just hang out together,” says Joren Carlson (drums).“There are 10,000 four-chord rock bands in Salt Lake alone, so when someone comes along and does something even a little different, it makes it worthwhile.”

Galloway says, “The friendship we have has very strongly influenced our music. We’ve all shared music with each other as we’ve been growing up.” It’s clear that they have their own (sarcastic) sense of humor that plays into their music and makes it fun and exuberant. “Dude, I’m just in it for the women,” Lake says.

Their music is rhythmically complex and light-feeling despite its heavy guitar and drums. Self-described as a “semi-OK, three-piece instrumental band,” Anthropology are both smart and humble. Inspired by local band Palace of Buddies as well as Antarctic and This Town Needs Guns, their songs are danceable, jazzy, classical, experimental and even a tiny bit metal. Playing music without vocals gives them room to showcase their instrumental prowess. “We like to confuse a bunch of genres that make things interesting,” says Galloway. With titles such as, “The Gates of Mordor” and “You Shall Not Pass,” it’s a given that these guys are on the nerdy side, which adds an amusing element to their work.

The band is working on getting some recorded works together, but don’t seem to worry too heavily about future plans. “We don’t even care if we sell any CDs, just as long as it sounds good. Honestly our main goal is to beat Gradius III,” Caine says. There’s definitely a place for music that is made simply for enjoyment, and Anthropology get that.

Think back to what you were doing when you were 17 and give these kids some credit for their creativity, motivation and time. Music is a common pursuit, but it takes a unique group of people to be able to succeed in it. Both Solarsuit and Anthropology have managed to move past unfair judgments about the quality of their music based upon their age and have gained respect doing so. Let’s hear it for Salt Lake, local venues and ambitious youth.