Never Trust a Happy Song, but trust Grouplove to bring the live music magic to the Frequency Thursday night.
The band first met by chance in 2008 at an artist colony on the Greek island of Crete.
""We started playing each other's songs, we're like harmonizing each other,"" guitarist and vocalist Andrew Wessen explains. ""We kinda made our own little group within the larger group of artists there.""
After meeting, the five band members went their separate ways. ""The real formation of the band wasn't until a year later,"" Wessen said.
In Oct. 2009, Sean Gadd, Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi joined Ryan Rabin and Wessen in Los Angeles where they recorded an EP for fun.
After the EP started acquiring some attention on the Internet, all five members permanently moved to LA in April 2010 to seriously form the band. ""And that's how it all started,"" Wessen explained.
Since the permanent formation of the band, Grouplove has experienced a string of accomplishments. They have opened for Florence + the Machine and Foster the People, as well as performed throughout Australia and the United Kingdom. They also appeared at this year's Lollapalooza.
Another accomplishment is the Sept. 13th release of their first album, Never Trust a Happy Song. The band prides itself for the fact that all the songs on the album are unique.
""Every song is different, which is what we try to do. We try to never repeat the formula or the sound of the songs,"" Wessen said. ""We try to keep every single song something new.""
Wessen said that songs are based on personal situations band members have experienced.
""Christian sometimes says that you don't write a song, the song writes you. It's kind of a cheesy line, but it's kind of true,"" Wessen explained. ""There's no formula at all.""
What has been the highlight of their career?
""We can't even believe all the stuff that's happened. We're just so grateful and couldn't be happier with the trajectory of the band,"" Wessen said. ""I do it with my best friends in the world. The team that we have is just absolutely amazing. Every aspect of it has been a highlight.""
The critics are also raving about Grouplove's success. Spin Magazine declared Grouplove ""a band to watch in 2011."" According to NME, Grouplove is ""the best new band of 2010"" and their music is ""wild, thrilling, and above all, joyful noise.""
Despite this early success, the band still has a lot they wish to accomplish.
""We want to be able to travel the world and play our music for a living. We want to release more amazing albums…and just bring some joy to people by doing what we do,"" Wessen said. ""When we play, it's totally uplifting and just to be able to do that on a bigger scale. I mean, we've already got to do such amazing things. To continue the way we're doing it would be amazing.""
Grouplove is eager for their Madison show. ""We're so excited. We've never played Madison,"" Wessen explained. ""I don't think we've ever played Wisconsin and we're really, really excited about it.""
So why should Madison residents be equally excited? For one, the band is aiming to bring back the concept of the live show.
""I think if you want to experience a true, honest show of people who are genuinely happy to be doing what they're doing and want to share that love, then I think people should come,"" Wessen said.
Oh, and there is a promised surprise near the end of the set. ""But you have to come to find out,"" Wessen stated.
So gather up some love and head to the Frequency Thursday night for a great show and a very special surprise.
