Meet the Band: Tom Fihe (bass), Zack Kelly (drums), Jeff Kalal (guitar), Cody Kelly (guitar), and Michael Socrates (guitar)
They Want to Be Your Friend: Formed in 2005, the instrumental quintet has built a substantial international following from its Akron stronghold using social media and licensing deals to spread its music. Their debut album, Above the Earth, Below the Sky, arrived in 2009.
What They Do: "I feel like the Trees represent a different side of the so-called post-rock genre," says Socrates, noting that If These Trees Could Talk usually skip the trendy crescendos of their instrumental-rock peers for more concise and immediate sounds.
Who They Sound Like: ... And You Will Know Us by
the Trail of Dead, Mogwai,
Red Sparowes
You've Probably Heard Them: The band's songs recently appeared in Levi's ads, MTV's 16 and Pregnant, and the PlayStation 3 game inFamous. "Deus Ex Machina" will be featured in the series finale of Friday Night Lights.
Why They Say They Matter: "Our intentions are as pure as they can get," says Socrates. "We aren't trying to be the biggest band in the world. We simply love making music, and it's a bonus that others are taking joy from it."
Why We Say They Matter:
Rare is the band that can seamlessly transition from delicate beauty to churning, wordless rage like they do.
Where You Can Hear Them:myspace.com/ifthesetreescouldtalk
Where You Can See Them: Beachland Tavern on March 8.
— Andrew Clayman
