Since forming in 2… Read Full Bio ↴San Luis Obispo, California, USA (2004 - present)
Since forming in 2004, Still Time has made the transition from local notoriety to a rapidly growing regional and national presence through a dedicated grass roots and word of mouth process. Still Time began carving out a name for themselves in the San Luis Obispo, California bar and college scene as their music spread through rough-cut songs passed from fan to fan. By 2006, Still Time was playing to a regularly sold out house at San Luis Obispo's most popular music venue, Downtown Brewing Co., and began touring across the West Coast.
With their music being hard to place into any one genre, Still Time's sound is best defined as groove rock with an eclectic mix of instruments such as; harmonica, mandolin, slide guitar and upright bass. With a unique style reminiscent of dynamic artists such as Ben Harper, Van Morrison and Dave Matthews Band, Still Time offers a positive, high-energy show that appeals to many different musical tastes and backgrounds. They have had the opportunity to entertain at a broad range of venues, from small, intimate acoustic sets to festivals with several thousand attendees. This diverse style and live performance has allowed them to share the stage with a variety of artists such as Ziggy Marley, Michael Franti & Spearhead, UB40, Steel Pulse, Ozomatli, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Robert Randolph, Mad Caddies, Pepper, Strung Out, ALO, David Lindley, Jackie Greene, etc.
The band's debut album "Stream of Consciousness", released independently in 2007 under their own record label When It Hits Records, was quickly embraced by fans, putting the single "High Tide" in the 1 spot on San Luis Obispo radio station New Rock 107.3 for over 7 weeks. The album reflects the bands' ability to connect with audiences of all ages and backgrounds and has sold several thousand copies.
With the release of their second album "See America" in May 2009, Still Time continues to progress with their cross-generational sound. To capture the right feel for each song, the album was written and recorded in multiple locations throughout the West Coast including an abandoned boxcar on the coast of Oregon, a forrest in the hills of Santa Cruz, an empty mansion in San Francisco, and an after hours bar in San Luis Obispo. The album was then mixed by Grammy Award winning engineer Fred Vogler, at the world famous Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood, California.
With musical stylings far beyond their years, the experience that Still Time provides is comparable to a day at the beach with close friends, great times, deep conversations, and contemplation. It's this experience along with a feeling of community that Still Time hopes to always provide for their diverse fan base.
Think Dave Matthews impromptu harmonica solos with Jimmy Page in his element, but better. Think Sublime flow while slowly biking alongside the velvety sands of Negril, but better.
- Julia David, Urban Climber
The best band to come out of the lively Central California Coast...
- Mi2N
Stream of Consciousness--a highly polished collection of 14 tracks--also represents the band's new maturity as artists.
- Glen Starky, SLO New Times
The Fabulous Life
Still Time Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All I saw was money when I turned on the TV
Mama always asked me to go outside and play with friends
But they'd be watching re-runs of Puff Daddy in his Benz
Money and fame
Our ball and chain
Stuck inside this prison
We grew up believing that it's good looks gets you seen
All I saw was beauty when I read my magazines
Mama always walked around with a smile in her eyes
But she would never buy herself the clothes that were in style
Beauty and fame
Now they're our ball and chain
And we're stuck inside this
Prison reading People Magazine
We grew up believing that no anger makes you weak
All I saw was violence when I looked at the big screen
Papa always asked me, "ain't it great to be alive?"
But he would never get mad when his problems would arise
Power and fame
Now they're our ball and chain
And we're stuck inside this prison
Until we can find a way
Money and fame
Now they're our ball and chain
And stuck inside this prison is a
Generation dazed
Beauty and fame
Now they're your ball and chain
And you're stuck inside this prison
Until you can find your way
The Fabulous Life by Still Time is a song that addresses the wrong beliefs that ones grow up with concerning wealth, beauty, power and fame, and ultimately the influence of mainstream media on shaping their perceptions towards life. The opening verse indicates that the singer perceives that there’s nothing good in life that comes for free, and the only thing that he saw in the world was fame and wealth when he looked at the images portrayed on TV.
The second verse touches on the topic of beauty and how it sets you apart in life. He mentions that all he saw in his magazines was beauty and that people with good looks get seen. He then portrays the mother as someone who has a positive attitude towards life and carries happiness in her eyes, but never buys trendy clothes, thus hinting at the societal pressure that exists to attain a certain level of outwardly beauty to be deemed attractive.
The final verse talks about violence as a method for gaining power and control in life. His dad viewed life as an excellent thing to be alive for and didn't show any hint of anger even when confronted with challenges. The chorus ties all these verses together and mentions how they're now stuck in a prison of their beliefs and perception of life, the prisons they created through the influence of mainstream media.
Line by Line Meaning
We grew up believing nothing good in this life's free
We were taught that everything valuable comes at a cost.
All I saw was money when I turned on the TV
Television emphasized the importance of wealth in society.
Mama always asked me to go outside and play with friends
My mother wanted me to enjoy a childhood without being consumed by materialism.
But they'd be watching re-runs of Puff Daddy in his Benz
My friends were also captivated by the riches they saw on TV.
Our ball and chain
We are trapped by the pursuit of materialism and fame.
Stuck inside this prison
Our obsession with these things has confined us to a limited and unsatisfying lifestyle.
Just for watching MTV
Our exposure to popular culture has influenced us negatively.
We grew up believing that it's good looks gets you seen
We were led to believe that physical appearance is a key factor in achieving popularity.
All I saw was beauty when I read my magazines
Magazines perpetuated the idea that beauty is essential to success.
Mama always walked around with a smile in her eyes
Despite the pressures of societal beauty standards, my mother found contentment in her own self-worth.
But she would never buy herself the clothes that were in style
She refused to conform to ideals of beauty that were imposed on her by media and consumer culture.
Now they're our ball and chain
The pursuit of physical beauty and fame have become our burdens.
Prison reading People Magazine
We are imprisoned by superficiality and celebrity culture.
We grew up believing that no anger makes you weak
We were taught that anger is a sign of weakness.
All I saw was violence when I looked at the big screen
Entertainment often depicts violence as a means of conflict resolution.
Papa always asked me, "ain't it great to be alive?"
My father instilled in me a sense of appreciation for life.
But he would never get mad when his problems would arise
Suppressing emotions, including anger, is not a healthy way to deal with problems.
Power and fame
The desire for power and recognition has become our driving force.
Generation dazed
Our generation is lost in a superficial and materialistic world.
Until we can find a way
We are searching for a way out of this cycle of unhappiness.
And you're stuck inside this prison
Others who are also consumed by societal pressure are trapped in the same lifestyle.
Until you can find your way
One must find their own path to lead a fulfilling life without being trapped by societal pressure.
Contributed by Hunter D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.