Halos Were Found At The Landing Site is an independent rock group with a name culled from the infamous “Dr Octagon” alias of the even more infamous hip-hop visionary Kool Keith. Knowing this, you can get a decent idea of what to expect from the group; paradoxes and unpredictability abound. This band of merry men’s sound can almost be easily labeled as “arena-friendly indie.” An oxymoron? Perhaps, but then again, so is a group that offers dense guitar heavy atmospherics and progressive song structures that whip about in roller coaster fashion deciding to name itself after a vulgar and bizarre indie hip-hop star. The sound is unpredictable and propulsive as such, blending a churning tapestry of dynamics, dramatic sonics and distinct melodies into a package that’s both boundary pushing yet surprisingly accessible.
Hailing from Dayton, OH, the city that birthed many of independent rock’s greatest such as Guided By Voices and Brainiac, the group takes pride in the DIY aesthetic made especially popular by those groups, yet they have managed to find a sound that is vast and expansive enough to beckon the arenas since their inception in 2004. With drummer Adam Ciarlariello’s previous experience in former Dayton mainstays Parker Ben Parker, he connected with younger brother David Ciarlariello, Marcus Pulkas and Jakob Murphy to explore some electronic and indie rock influenced ideas he was crafting. As the group’s collective influences began to take shape, it became apparent that the band was going to be something altogether different than initially planned. Pulling influences such as Hum, The Dismemberment Plan, Jawbox, Squarepusher, Guns N Roses, The Poster Children, Sigur Ros, Radiohead, Maps And Atlases, Bjork, Death Cab, Explosions In The Sky, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Built To Spill, you can expect a vibrant listen, from spaced out bliss, to hushed whisper, and back to the grandiose heights from you which came, usually all within the same song. Having been performing live only since March of 2006, Halos Were Found At The Landing Site has shown a rapid acceleration in winning over those in Southwest Ohio in search of interesting and original independent music. With the release of their self-titled and entirely self-produced disc at the tail end of 2006, the group looks to further expand their fan base, and to connect with an audience that still appreciates the independently produced guitar rock album.
Adam Ciarlariello
Bass, Chemistry, Insipid wit -
David Ciarlariello
Guitars, Noise, Logic -
Jakob Murphy
Guitars, Piano, Keys, Violin, Voice, Artwork -
Marcus Pulkas