In the midst of a bustling San Diego music scene, Lower Definition had managed to stay on top of the pile playing for packed crowds at nearly every show. Having been invited to play with bands ranging from Angels & Airwaves to Atreyu and tours such as The Vans Warped Tour and The Taste of Chaos, they established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. The bands "debut" EP "Moths" successfully captures the balance between raw energy and aggression mixed with pure emotion and soaring melody rarely found in musicians their age.
"Lower D" as they are affectionately referred to by core fans are comprised of singer Matt Geise and guitarist Eddy Marshburn with Valentino Arteaga on drums and Stefan Toler on bass. The band has been turning heads across the country with their highly acclaimed live show even making an appearance at this years Saints & Sinners Festival in New Jersey.
Discography:
2003 - Upon Fallen Ashes (EP)
2003 - I Defy You Stars (EP)
2004 - Honey Bunches Of Loke (Single)
2004 - Coach Said It's OK... (EP)
2005 - Rough (EP)
2005 - Demo 2005 (Demo)
2006 - Fall 2006 (Demo)
2007 - Moths (EP)
2008 - The Greatest Of All Lost Arts (Album)
2011 - The Infinite Et Cetera (EP)
On 9th February, a new EP titled "The Infinite Et Cetera" was added to Lower Definition's bandcamp, the EP is the first release since leaving Ferret Records.
In 2020 the band got back together and are working on a new album to be released during 2022.
Current members:
Matt Geise - Vocals (2007–2011, 2020–present)
Eddy Marshburn - Lead guitar (2002–2011, 2020–present)
Mark Luciano - Rhythm guitar (2004-2008, 2020–present)
Stefan Toler - Bass guitar (2002–2009, 2020–present)
Valentino Arteaga - Drums (2002–2009, 2020–present)
Other members:
Jordan Wark - Vocals (2005-2007)
Esteban Baena - Vocals (2002-2004)
Willie Caldwell - Rhythm guitar (2009-2011)
Michael McCullough - Bass (2009-2011)
Kerry Carter - Bass, vocals (2002-2004)
Korey Severson - Drums (2009-2011)
The Ventriloquist
Lower Definition Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They sing familiar cries. From the sides they watch with closed minds and breathe on every line with impeccable time. They watch from the sides.
They know we can see right through fingers broken and bruised. They speak with frail sighs. And their throats are dry and ravished of greatness.
They open their arms with jaws of life. They're bandaged, bandaged round the eyes and all I can hear are the cries. It haunts me at times.
Afraid to test what we've done when they come. Shunned by the light. In awe, they know we can see right through fingers broken and bruised and books deprived and ravished of pages. They're all filled with lies. I feel neglected. Bandaged round the eyes.
You do things to me. You do this to me. You pull the strings. It haunts me at times.
The lyrics of Lower Definition's song The Ventriloquist tell a story of fear and deception. The song opens with the band "hiding behind the gates" and being "afraid to test what we've done." It's daylight when they come, and they know they've been tamed by the fire. Meanwhile, the ones who watch them from the sides stay closed-minded, singing "familiar cries" and breathing every line with impeccable time. They watch from the sides, knowing that the band can see right through their bandages and their broken and bruised fingers.
The band feels neglected and shunned by the light, all while knowing that the "books" filled with lies are being deprived of pages. The animatronic puppets sing foolish lullabies, while the jaws of life open to embrace the band, leaving them feeling haunted at times. The person pulling the strings haunts the band, leaving them with questions and fears about what is to come.
Overall, the lyrics of The Ventriloquist speak to the fear of being exposed and the fear of what is to come. It is a story of being watched, and knowing that those watching can see right through the deception that has been created.
Line by Line Meaning
We hide behind the gates.
We conceal ourselves from the outside world.
It's daylight when they come.
Our secrets are revealed when the critics arrive.
Afraid to test what we've done.
We fear judgment for our creations.
Tamed by the fire, they hang on a wire.
The audience is captivated by our performance.
Tonight, they'll have you bandaged round the eyes.
The critics will be blinded by our talent.
Tonight, they watch from the sides.
The critics observe our work from a distance.
They sing familiar cries.
The critics repeat common critiques.
From the sides they watch with closed minds and breathe on every line with impeccable time.
The critics are narrow-minded and meticulously analyze every aspect of our work.
They know we can see right through fingers broken and bruised.
We recognize flaws in our own work.
They speak with frail sighs.
The critics express disappointment with our creations.
And their throats are dry and ravished of greatness.
The critics lack creativity and originality.
They open their arms with jaws of life.
The critics have a tight grip on their opinions.
They're bandaged, bandaged round the eyes and all I can hear are the cries.
The critics are blinded to our talent and only criticize.
It haunts me at times.
The fear of being judged affects us.
While animatronic puppets sing stupid lullabies.
The mainstream media promotes unoriginal and uninspiring content.
Afraid to test what we've done when they come.
We fear judgment from critics.
Shunned by the light.
Our work is not accepted by the mainstream media.
In awe, they know we can see right through fingers broken and bruised and books deprived and ravished of pages.
The critics are aware of our ability to recognize flaws and mistakes in our own work.
They're all filled with lies.
The critics' opinions are often dishonest or misleading.
I feel neglected. Bandaged round the eyes.
We feel unappreciated and ignored by the mainstream media.
You do things to me. You do this to me. You pull the strings.
We feel controlled by the opinions of others and the mainstream media.
It haunts me at times.
The fear of being judged affects us.
Contributed by Dylan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.