Sam- Piano/Organ/BGVs
Tyler- Drums/Perc.
M… Read Full Bio ↴Brad- Vocals/Guitar
Sam- Piano/Organ/BGVs
Tyler- Drums/Perc.
MELODIME (mel·o·dime - [mel-uh-dahym] - /’mɛlədaɪm/) is an award winning band from Northern VA. The band began entertaining crowds large and small in the fall of 2005. Since, they have gained attention, winning Washington DC’s acclaimed battle of the bands and having their hit Sweet Contentment played on two episodes of Fox TV’s So You Think You Can Dance.
MELODIME, a band of brothers from a farm outside Washington D.C., were taught at a young age not to despise small beginnings. From a humble upbringing to lowly tavern shows they’ve fought an uphill battle to become one of the premier bands in the metropolitan area. Their cross-genre sound, a great catalogue of songs and a dynamic live show have garnered them the attention of the industry and music fans of all ages.
Before playing under the glamorous lights of respectable clubs like The 9:30 Club (DC) or The Bitter End (NYC), MELODIME (Bradley, Sam, and Tyler) sharpened their skills in one of the least glamorous places imaginable: the hayloft of the family barn. In the sweltering heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter, the boys emulated the sounds of Tom Petty, Dave Matthews Band, and The Goo Goo Dolls for none other than a heard of horses in the surrounding fields. From there, they transitioned into playing in church bands which keyboardist Sam Duis said, “…was a great experience. You’re constantly playing with a different group of people and songs, which requires you to be flexible and learn fast. Also, to read and play according to the atmosphere of the room and then see the effect your musical gifts can have on people is an incredible thing.” Those influences, both musical and non, are a huge contributor to MELODIME’s songs, image and work ethic today.
Having backgrounds in a wide variety of music, MELODIME has landed on a clean, polished sound they’ve termed “Southern Fusion”: rootsy, colorful and pleasing to those who hold an appreciation for the past, while simultaneously being catchy, contemporary and original. Their live performance is a point of strength as they achieve with 3 guys (without the aid of backing tracks) what many 4 and 5 piece bands struggle to. The sound is full, energetic and refined, commonly praised as being “better than the cd”.
Their debut album, “Memories in the Form of Sound”, received high praise from hometown fans with energetic, feel-good tunes like “Somebody” and won the hearts of their neighbors to the south with the ode to Tennessee, “Orange People”. The ballad, “Sweet Contentment”, was featured twice on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance and caught the attention of critics and listeners worldwide. With producer Jim Ebert (Butch Walker, Meredith Brooks, Madonna) at the helm, MELODIME’s sophomore studio album highlights a tremendous maturity in the lives and songs of the band. “With ‘Memories’, we needed a CD to sell at our shows so we rushed to give them the songs we had at the time.” – Tyler Duis. “This time around we had plenty of original material to choose from, to write, to re-write... to round out a solid record that is truly us and that we’re incredibly proud of.” – Bradley Rhodes. The album is expected to release in the spring of 2011. In addition to the studio albums, MELODIME has an ongoing series of recordings titled “The B.Room Diaries” which has given life to fan favorite tunes such as “High & Low”, “Sailboats” and “Start the Day Early”. Compilation Vol. 1 is available on iTunes and limited edition CD while Vol. 2 is currently being released song by song through free digital downloads.
MELODIME has shared the stage with bands such as:
· Matt Nathanson
· The Alternate Routes
· The Dirty Guv'nahs
· Green River Ordinance
· Carbon Leaf
· The Ready Set
· Stephen Kellogg
· Locksley
· We Shot the Moon
On stages such as:
· The 9:30 Club (DC)
· Mercury Lounge (NYC)
· The Bitter End (NYC)
· Rockwood Music Hall (NYC)
· The State Theater (Falls Church, VA)
· IOTA Music Club (Arlington, VA)
· Kirk Avenue Music Hall (Roanoke, VA)
· Jammin’ Java (Vienna, VA)
· Double Door Inn (Charlotte, NC)
· The Basement (Nashville, TN)
High & Low
Melodime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm driving through an eternity
Tattooed
With gripping agony again
With directions jammed in my backseat
Begging me just to take a peek
But I'm convinced
That the road I seek is mine
with happiness uniquely disguised
and a heart that just can't realize what's inside
Just let me go high and low
I will be back in no time
and I will shout out now (shout out) I will shout out loud
Yeah let me go high and low
Oh, I will create my own rhyme
'cause you missed me but buried me
kissed me but glared at me far too many times
Too many times
Day two, I'm feeling hypnotized
by the hidden sun, broken white lines
shrugging off the trusty highway signs again
And as this infinite terrain
does a number on my tired brain
I continue on with no refrain at all
Oh, I'm alone but can't remember why
Is fault on me or the other guy?
Has inability to compromise backfired?
Just let me go high and low
Oh, I will be back in no time
and I will shout out now (shout out) I will shout out loud
Yeah let me go high and low
Oh, I will create my own rhyme
'cause you missed me but buried me
kissed me but glared at me far too many times
Too many times
Day 3: my sleeps been minimal
I feel like a running criminal
who's committed crimes not memorable to most
I think about this life I live
my family and a couple friends
the job I have no future in at all
Just let me go high and low
Oh, I will be back in no time
and I will shout out now
I will shout out
I will shout out loud
Just let me go high and low
Oh, I will be back in no time
and I will shout out now (shout out) I will shout out loud
Yeah, let me go high and low
Oh, I will create my own rhyme
'cause you missed me but buried me
kissed me but glared at me far too many times
Yeah, you missed me, missed me
now ya gotta kiss me
can move a little fast, can be a little tricky now
Well darling I will be back soon,
I'll be back soon
Yeah
So this day four could have been one
but I don't mind, no I feel I've won
but solitude is some risky fun to trust
I pull into this life I made
remembering the prayers I prayed
and packing up my selfish ways for good
I'm finally living high again
the battle scars have healed within
oh yes, and I can embrace them again
In Melodime's song "High & Low," the lyrics describe the singer's journey through life, symbolically represented by road trips through various mountain landscapes. The mountains are portrayed as symbolizing the singer's struggles and need for personal growth. The lyrics detail the singer's internal conflict between the desire for freedom and the fear of losing the past. The singer expresses frustration with feeling trapped by other people's expectations and unable to compromise. The chorus expresses the singer's desire to find their own path and create their own narrative, separate from others' expectations, taking chances both high and low. By the end of the song, the singer has come to terms with their fears and is ready to face the future with open arms.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got these mountains chasing after me,
I feel like I'm constantly being pursued by obstacles and challenges.
I'm driving through an eternity
I'm on a never-ending journey through life.
Tattooed
With gripping agony again
I'm marked by previous painful experiences that continue to affect me.
With directions jammed in my backseat
Begging me just to take a peek
I have guidance and advice, but I'm hesitant to take it.
But I'm convinced
That the road I seek is mine
I trust in my own decisions and instincts.
So the headlights blind my obdurate eyes
with happiness uniquely disguised
and a heart that just can't realize what's inside
I'm so focused on what's ahead of me that I'm missing out on true happiness and ignoring my own emotions.
Just let me go high and low
I will be back in no time
and I will shout out now (shout out) I will shout out loud
Yeah let me go high and low
Oh, I will create my own rhyme
'cause you missed me but buried me
kissed me but glared at me far too many times
Too many times
I need the freedom to make my own choices and discover what truly makes me happy, even if that means taking risks and facing criticism and rejection from those close to me.
Day two, I'm feeling hypnotized
by the hidden sun, broken white lines
shrugging off the trusty highway signs again
I'm feeling disconnected and mesmerized by my surroundings, disconnected from my usual way of life.
And as this infinite terrain
does a number on my tired brain
I continue on with no refrain at all
The endlessness of my journey is affecting my mental state, but I keep going without stopping.
Oh, I'm alone but can't remember why
Is fault on me or the other guy?
Has inability to compromise backfired?
I'm questioning the reasons for my solitude and wondering if I'm to blame or if it's a result of other people's actions. I also question if my inability to compromise has negatively affected my relationships.
Day 3: my sleeps been minimal
I feel like a running criminal
who's committed crimes not memorable to most
I'm not sleeping much, and I feel like I'm constantly on the run for something that most people may not even notice or care about.
I think about this life I live
my family and a couple friends
the job I have no future in at all
I'm reflecting on my life and feeling uncertain about my future, particularly in regards to my career.
Just let me go high and low
Oh, I will be back in no time
and I will shout out now
I will shout out
I will shout out loud
I continue to seek the freedom to explore my own path and express myself loudly and confidently.
Yeah let me go high and low
Oh, I will create my own rhyme
'cause you missed me but buried me
kissed me but glared at me far too many times
I'm determined to find my own way, despite being pushed down and hurt by people close to me.
Yeah, you missed me, missed me
now ya gotta kiss me
can move a little fast, can be a little tricky now
Well darling I will be back soon,
I'll be back soon
Yeah
I'm feeling confident and moving forward quickly, suggesting that those who doubted me will regret it. Irrespective of this, I'll soon return.
So this day four could have been one
but I don't mind, no I feel I've won
but solitude is some risky fun to trust
I'm acknowledging that I could have done more in my life instead of being alone, but I'm comfortable with the path I've chosen, even if it's uncertain.
I pull into this life I made
remembering the prayers I prayed
and packing up my selfish ways for good
I'm returning to my life, recalling the times when I prayed for guidance, and making a commitment to put my own interests last from now on.
I'm finally living high again
the battle scars have healed within
oh yes, and I can embrace them again
I'm rediscovering my happiness and contentment after facing difficult circumstances previously, and accepting that these experiences have shaped me.
Contributed by Gavin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.