Born of a series of sleepless nights and countless songs in late 2001, Andrew Paley, Adam Meilleur, and other members began playing local shows under the name The Static Age in Burlington, Vermont in 2002. Not even a band for a full six months, the band self-released the full-length demo The Cost Of Living which quickly sold out of its first pressing and was picked up by a Boston-based indie, who ended up selling over 2,000 more copies in 2003. A buzz had started in New England and The Static Age soon found themselves playing with such artists as Hot Hot Heat and Interpol. From the strength of their first recording, they were chosen by AFI to open their Canadian tour. Also around this time, the band took time out to record The Past and Now single with Kurt Ballou of Converge.
The result of all this momentum was the band's proper debut full-length Neon Nights Electric Lives, produced by Matt Squire, which saw a tour-only release in late 2004, but a fully-distributed release on the art-centric Tarantulas Records in 2005. The critically-acclaimed album also boasted bonus remixes by Jade Puget of AFI and Daz of The Explosion. The Static Age's momentum could not be stopped even when their drummer bowed out of the band's rigorous touring schedule in the last half of 2005 -- Coby Linder of Say Anything filled in for the band on multiple tours into the fall.
Following up on Neon Nights Electric Lives and a year in the van, the band spent a good deal of early 2006 working on a new record (in between a few shorter tours). The result was Blank Screens, out on ReIgnition Recordings. After the album's release, Carlson joined up with the band for the subsequent tours on guitar. Blank Screens garnered high praise from critics and fans alike, and the band hit the road again, spending over half of 2007 on tour with the likes of Tiger Army, Street Dogs, Theo and the Skyscrapers, and others.
Currently, The Static Age is writing and demoing towards its next release, while releasing a series of videos built around the themes explored on the "Blank Screens" record. The trilogy of videos complement the "Cherry Red" video (released to MTV/Fuse, etc in 2006) and are being released only online. A new episode debuts every month at SeventeenScratches.com.
*Bio taken directly from thestaticage.com. For more information visit thestaticage.com or
myspace.com/thestaticage.
Canopy
The Static Age Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
False pageantry
Beneath the circuitry we breathe
And find ourselves still stuck
In spaces in between
How could one thing ever go so wrong?
So wake up
We're always
Always needing more
The beat's alive
She laughs out loud
Soft and in motion
I catch my breaths
On nights like this
In hands that can't hold them
She fights for sleep
Over and over
(and it feels the same)
She fights for sleep
Over and over
(as the faces change)
Buried in the dream
She laughs like you
You laugh like me and
Sometimes we just have to scream
Sister dear still stuck down
In spaces in between
She wonders
How could one thing go so wrong?
The Static Age's song Canopy speaks about the overwhelming influence of technology and the artificial world around us. The opening line "Beneath the canopy of electric art" refers to the digital world we live in, which is created and sustained by technology. The line "False pageantry" suggests that this world is not real, but rather a manufactured version of reality that we are presented with. As we breathe beneath the circuitry that surrounds us, we find ourselves stuck in the spaces in between. This could be interpreted as the gap between the digital world and the real world - a gap that is becoming increasingly difficult to bridge.
The line "How could one thing ever go so wrong?" is a poignant reflection on how technology has both improved and destroyed the world we live in. While it has given us unprecedented access to information and made communication easier, it has also disconnected us from our natural state and desensitized us to the world around us. We are constantly needing more, never satisfied with what we have. The beat of the music and the woman's laughter provide a stark contrast to the underlying message of the song. In spite of everything, life goes on and people find moments of joy and happiness even in a world that is a far cry from what our ancestors experienced.
Line by Line Meaning
Beneath the canopy of electric art
Under the influence of modern technology and artificial culture
False pageantry
Pretentious display or show of something insincere or worthless
Beneath the circuitry we breathe
Living and existing in a world dominated by technology
And find ourselves still stuck
Unable to escape or move on from our current situation
In spaces in between
Caught between two worlds or experiences
How could one thing ever go so wrong?
Questioning how something could go so badly or unexpectedly
So wake up
Realize and become aware of the situation
And scratch your eyes alive
Shake off the haze and see the world clearly
We're always
Continuously
Always needing more
Constantly desiring more than what we have or need
The beat's alive
The rhythm or flow of life continues
She laughs out loud
Individuals continue to enjoy life and its pleasures
Soft and in motion
Expressing emotions and moving forward in life
I catch my breaths
Taking a moment to reflect or pause in life
On nights like this
During particularly difficult or emotional experiences
In hands that can't hold them
In a situation where we can't control or contain our emotions
She fights for sleep
Struggling to find rest and peace
Over and over
Repeatedly
(and it feels the same)
Even though the situation is repeated, it still has the same effect or impact
(as the faces change)
Even though the people or specific circumstances may be different
Buried in the dream
Lost in a world of imagination or fantasy
She laughs like you
Sharing a common experience or feeling with others
You laugh like me and
We are all connected in some way
Sometimes we just have to scream
Occasionally we need to express our emotions in a forceful, passionate way
Sister dear still stuck down
A loved one or close friend who is in a similar situation
In spaces in between
Caught between two worlds or experiences
She wonders
Reflecting on and questioning the current circumstance
How could one thing go so wrong?
Asking how something could have gone so unexpectedly or terribly
Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.