54 Seconds

Mysterious melodies drive cool, atmospheric, songs of windy guitars and smooth, slightly-warbling vocals. In the vein of <a href="http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/T/Travis">Travis</a> and <a href="http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/R/Radiohead">Radiohead</a>.

An Austin staple since 1997, 54 Seconds is best described as psychedelic pop headphone music. Swirling guitar textures, freakish keyboards and the melancholy voice of Spencer Gibb render excellent melodies, heartening lyrics, tight instrumentation and eerie, otherworldly atmospheres. All four band members have lived in different parts of the world: England, New York, Boston, Texas, North Carolina. Their widely disparate influences comprise jazz, funk, pop, and maybe a little old time prog rock. Each adds their unique style and perspective to the songs, blending together to create an overall masterpiece. Having had several years of weekly residency at various notable Austin clubs, they play with a passion and fervor that must be seen to be heard. The haunting keyboards and soaring guitar are held together by melodic bass lines and jazz-hop drumbeats. And on top of all that floats that evocative, gut-wrenching voice like a sad embrace that soaks up all your pain. * 54 Seconds music can be heard on broadcast and web-based radio stations around the world, including KGSR in Austin. Their award-winning video better? is currently in rotation on MTV Europe.   * RankNRevue magazine 54 Seconds United States 1997 54 Seconds 54 Seconds' story begins with a dream -a dream that Spencer Gibb had in Miami, Florida, in 1997, urging him to move to Texas. He did, and began performing under the name Jez Spencer (a solo project under a different name). The original members of Jez Spencer were Gibb, JJ Johnson, Stewart Cochran, <a href="http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/G/Goudie,_Johnny">Johnny Goudie</a> and <a href="http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/G/Goudie/Members/Pedersen,_Einar">Einar</a>. Johnson suggested Cochran, who he had seen play with <a href="http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/M/Moore,_Abra/">Abra Moore</a> (no relation to <a href="http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/M/Moore,_Ian/">Ian Moore</a>), and <a href="http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/G/Garza,_David">David Garza</a> (Dah-veed). Gibb e-mailed Cochran, who at the time was touring Europe with Jimmy LaFave. When Cochran got back to Texas, he hooked up with Johnson and Gibb at the Austin Rehearsal Complex (ARC), and after hearing some demos, decided that he was in for the long haul. Goudie left early to start his own band (<a href="http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/G/Goudie/">Goudie</a>). After about 8 months, Einar also departed (now also performing in <a href="http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/G/Goudie/">Goudie</a>). The remaining members played with a bunch of other bassists, including George Reiff, (Charlie Sexton, <a href="http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/M/Moore,_Ian">Ian Moore</a>). For the next few months, Jez Spencer played shows, until Reiff left. That is when the band decided they wanted to really figure out their own unique sound and get serious -and with that they found Glenn McGregor. Developing their unique sound took about a year, while the band recorded <a href="http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/5/54_Seconds/Members/Gibb,_Spencer/Discography/Jez_Spencer_-_4_Track_Mind/">Jez Spencer - 4 Track Mind</a>. The band was shopping for someone to manage them, and still didn't have a band name. It was their overseas manager at the time (and long time friend of Gibb) Mark Chaplin, that suggested they pitch their music to his London partner John Wadlow (<a href="http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/S/Seal">Seal's</a> former manager). After sending Wadlow a few of their demos, Gibb phoned him. Wadlow and Gibb clashed from the word go. Wadlow was not impressed with the band being un-named, and he only liked one of the songs, "In A Box," but he thought the chorus came in to late. "A perfect pop song chorus comes in at around 54 seconds," he said. Gibb thought he was crazy and told Wadlow, "We'll name our band 54 Seconds and you can go [censored]." It was Chaplin that said he liked the band name (Gibb had only been joking), but after talking it over with the rest of the band, they stuck with it. 54 Seconds was born. Poppyseed