"We didn't grow up in LA," says primary songwriter and singer Scott Salmon. "We have never had a choice but to make our own breaks." A strong Midwestern work ethic has undoubtedly played a significant role in Cavashawn's success. The band has tirelessly booked themselves hundreds of shows across the U.S. over the past 2 years, from great cities like New York, Atlanta, and Philadelphia to the most humble of college towns in Ohio, Wisconsin, and Indiana. All while full-time students, Salmon and crew also managed to write and demo almost 100 songs.
As a songwriter, Salmon manages to balance pop sensibility with a sharp intuition for authenticity, something that is not lost on Cavashawn's diverse fan base. His thoughtful lyrics often focus upon the common struggles of self-discovery that are encountered in one's coming of age. Cavashawn's unique sound, however, seems to come from each band member's individual musical perspective. "Our tastes are so different that it's kind of bizarre we're all in the same band" says guitarist Chris Hellmann. But it is exactly this tension that makes for the band's distinctive blend of pop, rock, and funk. "We've never really played with anyone that sounds anything like us," says Hellmann. "But at the same time we share bills with a variety of bands across genres and feel completely comfortable."
The group considers musicianship critical to being a believable band. "We have a strong distaste," explains bassist Benton Kubicki, "for bands that sound great recorded but put on cheap, lackluster live shows. Its poor form." Energetic and passionate live performances, an absolutely vital component of the band's success, are highlighted both by Salmon's wild and dramatic presence as a frontman and the skilled, mature musicianship of the rest of the group. "We strive to be tasteful, but exciting musicians," explains Kubicki. "We all appreciate the simplicity of say, 'Blackbird,' or a lot of Oasis songs, but also the musicianship of a Sting solo record, or Steely Dan."
A shrewd business sense certainly hasn't hurt the group either. "We consider ourselves lucky to be able to sustain ourselves with our own original music" says drummer Jesse Feister, who along with Hellmann has undertaken many of the day-to-day responsibilities of the group. The band's hard work traveling and writing has literally paid off, as touring revenue and strong digital sales allow them to live modestly together in Chicago as full-time musicians, a rare situation among independent bands. "The goal has always been to make a career out of music," says Feister. "At this point, we're finally starting to do that on our own. Being the type of band we are, I think we will certainly benefit from working with a label of some sort, but it's comforting to know we can always fall back on ourselves."
As Cavashawn continues to develop and grow, the future is bright for this young group. They recently have earned opportunities to play in front of larger crowds, grabbing opening slots for acts like One Republic, Better Than Ezra, and Ingram Hill and being selected for regional festivals, including Milwaukee's Summerfest. The group is building on that momentum, selling out small venues in Chicago, Cincinnati, and Columbus, and building in other large Midwest markets as well.
Cavashawn released their 4-song EP, produced by Marc McClusky (Ludo, Farewell, Powerspace) in February, with heavy Midwest touring to follow.
Back to Me
Cavashawn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be kissing every misses with my white picket grin
The corner's where you score
Beside the liquor store
They say that she's a thief
But she's really just the girl for me
I know the reason why she won't come
I know the reason why she won't come
Won't come back to me
Love when you hold me in the palm of your hand
I'll be so into the moment that you won't understand
So tell me lies about your troublesome past
And I'll disregard the present 'cause we know it won't last
The corner's where you score
Beside the liquor store
They say that she's a thief
But she's really just the girl for me
And I know the reason why she won't come
I know the reason why she won't come
I know the reason why she won't come
Won't come back to me
She won't come back to me
Love don't you leave me at the Chandalier Inn
I'll be kissing every misses with my white picket grin
Ooo
And I know the reason why she won't come
I know the reason why she won't come
I know the reason why she won't come
Won't come back to
I know the reason why she won't come
I know the reason why she won't come
I know the reason why she won't come
Won't come back to me
She won't come back to me
The lyrics to Cavashawn's song "Back To Me" depict a mesmerized lover who is stuck in a cycle of chasing after someone who won't come back to them. The first verse begins with the plea for love not to leave them at the Chandalier Inn, a hotel known for its grand chandeliers in the lobby. The second line reveals the lovestruck individual's intention to pursue other women with a confident demeanor, however, it is superficial as their heart is fully set on the elusive woman who won't come back to them. The chorus repeats the phrase "I know the reason why she won't come, won't come back to me," implying that the singer has some understanding of what is keeping the object of their affection away from them.
The second verse sees the singer still hopeful in their love, buoyed by the physical proximity of the woman they love. The lyrics express their disregard for the present, and a willingness to overlook the woman's troublesome past if it means a chance to be together. The chorus is repeated again, with the addition of an "Ooo" vocal riff at the end, suggesting a sense of resignation and sadness.
Overall, the song portrays the experience of being hopelessly in love with someone who won't reciprocate those feelings, and the struggle of trying to hold onto that love despite the obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Love don't you leave me at the Chandalier Inn
Please don't abandon me at this hotel named Chandalier Inn, my love.
I'll be kissing every misses with my white picket grin
With my charming personality, I'll be attracting and kissing every woman I come across.
The corner's where you score
The place where you obtain drugs is at the street corner.
Beside the liquor store
Adjacent to the store that sells alcohol.
They say that she's a thief
There are rumors that she's a thief.
But she's really just the girl for me
Despite the rumors, I believe that she's the right girl for me.
And I know the reason why she won't come
I understand why she's not willing to return to me.
Won't come back to me
She has no intention of coming back to me.
Love when you hold me in the palm of your hand
I love when you have complete control over me.
I'll be so into the moment that you won't understand
I'll be so engrossed in the moment that you won't comprehend my feelings.
So tell me lies about your troublesome past
Speak untruths about your difficult history.
And I'll disregard the present 'cause we know it won't last
I'll ignore the present situation because I know our relationship won't continue.
Won't come back to me
She refuses to return to me.
Ooo
(Interjection expressing emotion or amazement)
Contributed by Victoria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ems0626
i love this song its awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
alyssa willey
Oh wow, They're both really talented. I hope to hear more from you guys.