WELCOME TO THE MIDDLE their debut album was recorded in Los Angeles this past Spring with producer Brad Wood (Smashing Pumpkins, Tortoise, Sunny Day Real Estate, Liz Phair, Red Red Meat…) Despite working in an elaborate studio with a name producer, the band stuck to essentials: great songwriting performed with passion and obvious skill. Main singer Joshua Ostrander points out: “We made such an effort to bring the live show to tape. We tried so hard to not overproduce the sounds. We didn’t want to use four guitar tracks or five keyboard tracks when one or two would do. And I wanted my vocals to be totally dry and singular.” On the other hand the band members did take advantage of the studio situation to experiment and expand on certain ideas where they felt it was warranted.
“We’re always trying to come up with new stuff in the studio: what can we add here? Or should it go this way? In the studio there’s time to think, evaluate, and even re-evaluate,” bassist Michael Morpurgo explains.
All the group’s members had a hand in writing WELCOME TO THE MIDDLE, either individual songs or collaborations with one another. Songs like “Holy Ghost” and “Sex” are ambitious yet pithy sonic adventures charged with the palpable air of excited exploration, bursting with raw power to boot. In this and other songs, the chiming guitar lines of Ostrander and lead guitarist Lee Bernstein circle one another with elegant ruthlessness, a fabulous Flamenco danced in zero gravity. Tracks such as “Banner” and “Sleep Over” are more relaxed, expansive and subtle, but still conceptually audacious and masterfully executed. Drummer Greg Lyons spins out sparse but consistently unorthodox rhythms, abetted by Michael’s deft and pointedly melodic bass playing here and through the length of the album. The first single, “Duct Tape,” begins deceptively calm with a reserved vocal and stately guitar arpeggios, but quickly picks up force and fire powered by especially primal drum pounding by Lyons and Ostrander’s singing which grows more and more frenzied by the line. Every number has its own unique, determined agenda to promote in turn and the group delivers the goods with impressive ability and verve. Most importantly, all this exotica has been forged into an album that is undeniably seductive and intensely infectious. WELCOME TO THE MIDDLE is every bit as ambitious and infectious as the four envisioned when they first decided to work together as a group.
Laguardia grew in part out of a reaction against some members’ past experiences as musicians. Morpurgo had spent some ten years playing hooky but raucous post-psychedelia in Philadelphia’s Dandelion, releasing two major label albums. He met Joshua through a mutual friend in 1998 and the pair hit it off immediately. Two years later, they were playing together in Ty Cobb with survivors from another local outfit, Trip 66, who had been label-mates of Mike’s former group. Morpurgo began casually recording with Lee Bernstein, the younger brother of Ty Cobb guitarist Ryan, calling Josh in to help out. Soon afterwards, the trio decided to start a group of their own, Laguardia. All they needed was a strong drummer, smart and technically adept enough to deal with the stylistically diverse, ambitiously composed songs. “We all answered the same,” Morpurgo chuckles, “GREG LYONS! Lee and Josh grew up watching him play in Trip 66 and I watched him grow into the stellar percussionist that he is. It only took one rehearsal (August, 2000) at some crappy rehearsal room in Southampton, Pennsylvania and we ALL knew that this was going to be that ‘something special.’”
After putting themselves through a relentless rehearsal regimen, Laguardia made a conscious decision to make waves-and work out the bugs-outside their home town, undertaking a string of increasingly well received shows in New York. When they finally debuted back home in Philly, they were an immediate hit and proceeded to reach out to music lovers across the country, touring from Coast to Coast again and again with several pioneering bands including Interpol and Idlewild. In Spring of 2003, they struck a deal with Republic/Universal Records and soon thereafter set to work recording WELCOME TO THE MIDDLE. The end result is every inch the “something special” Laguardia intended when they first convened in that crappy rehearsal space six years ago.
Laguardia broke up shortly after the release of Welcome to the Middle. Leadman Joshua Ostrander and drummer Greg Lyons have teamed up with Vern Zaborowski on bass to form The Eastern Conference Champions.
Cuba
Laguardia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Im awake and i fell alive
Shes calling out your name
And i know, yes i know
Living for this time
Im awake and i fell alive
Shes calling out your name
And i know, yes i know
Its hard to be the fool
Im away from what keeps me new
Foolish under ?
So beautiful, such compassion
Remember me just like a photograph
It's just like you, i waited in the rain for days
Wondered if you'd come my way
Wondered if you'll look the same
Wondered if you'd stay that way
Just like you
Just like you
Just like you
Just like you
The first verse of Laguardia's Cuba speaks of being alive, awake and living in the moment, with a woman calling out the name of the person singing. This is a powerful image of being aware and engaged in the present, and feeling the intensity of life in the moment. The repetition of "living for this time" underscores the importance of seizing this opportunity and making the most of it, free from the constraints of the past or future.
The second verse seems to evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia for a past love, with the singer waiting in the rain for days, wondering if the person they're waiting for will come. The imagery of waiting in the rain is a classic symbol of yearning and longing, while the refrain of "just like you" speaks to the idea of finding someone who is a perfect match, who connects with and understands the singer on a deep level.
Overall, the song crafts a powerful, emotional journey of awakening, longing, and connection, with beautiful, poetic lyrics and a haunting musical backdrop.
Line by Line Meaning
Living for this time
I am currently living in the present and cherishing every moment
Im awake and i fell alive
I am fully aware and conscious of my surroundings and feel invigorated
Shes calling out your name
There is a woman who is trying to get your attention and seek a connection with you
And i know, yes i know
I am certain and aware of what is happening
Then i go, its alright
I am leaving the situation or place but I am at peace with it
Its hard to be the fool
It is difficult to be naive and foolish in certain situations
Im away from what keeps me new
I am separated from the things that make me feel refreshed and energized
Foolish under ?
I am foolish under certain circumstances or in the presence of certain people
So beautiful, such compassion
This person is incredibly beautiful and has a kind and caring nature
Remember me just like a photograph
I want this person to remember me clearly and vividly, like a photograph
It's just like you, i waited in the rain for days
I waited in the rain for days, just like I knew you would, because you are consistent and dependable
Wondered if you'd come my way
I had doubts if you would come to me or not
Wondered if you'll look the same
I wondered if you would look the same as I remembered you
Wondered if you'd stay that way
I hoped that you would stay the same and not change
Just like you
I want this person to be consistent and dependable, just like they have been in the past
Contributed by Camilla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Armando Hernandez
Siempre pido por el prisionero Anónimo e los héroes desconocidos los caídos ignorados No por los capitanes y generales .
Ana Rosa Diaz
Que injusticia x Dios
Cómo es posible que Fidel Castro no sabía lo que estaba pasando
Eso no lo cree nadie
Adolfo Garcia Besalu
Ojala se escapara y pudiera contar toda la verdad fue lo.que fue pero pienso ya pago 30 años preso y traicionado por el Dictador y su hermano fusilado.
Elena Hernandez
No creo que le convenga, porque inocente no es, ya que mientras que estuvo con la dictadura colaboró bastante con ellos.
Adolfo Garcia Besalu
@Elena Hernandez lo sé lominmaginonpero para que cuente toda la verdad es curiosidad mia y deseo de saber la verdad por su boca por que se que el dictador asesino si sabía lo del narcotráfico y lo aprobaba y los utilizó y culpo a ellos para limpiar su imagen.
Elena Hernandez
@Adolfo Garcia Besalu pero yo creo que aunque sepa mas de lo que sabemos o nos imaginamos, no dirá nada, porque si supiera de verdad algo que perjudicara a la dictadura, no lo soltarían nunca, mucho menos le permitirían abandonar el país.
Emilio Munox
Adolfo Garcia Besalu No tiene nada que decir que no se sepa o hablaria cosas que no se pueden comprobar para hacerse la victima.Este tipo es detastable al igual que los otros.Fue complice de unos asesinos,si no lo hubieran metido preso,seguia haciendo el daño q estaba acostumbrado hacer.
Silvio Reyes
@Emilio Munox bueno El era malo pero peor era fidel castro
idania betancourt
Recuerdo esa época en Cuba, como a todos los que estaban implicados los degradaron ante todo el pueblo cubano, sin recordar todos los sacrificios hecho para que los Castros obtuvieran los méritos mundiales. Estoy totalmente segura que ellos estaban al tanto de todo.lo que sucedía pero al ser expuesto.por una periodista en una reunión de presidentes la culpa cayó sobre los más débiles, método que siempre ha existido en Cuba.
Orestes Dobao
Hizo un pacto con el Diablo y lo pagó, 30 años con honor fueron los de Mario Chanes De Armas , por poner un ejemplo.