Live Theater-August 16
Not quite millions yet for the Billions
Topeka band moves its career along by releasing a nationally distributed CD
For four years now, the Billions have pretty much played it safe.
While the Topeka band's goals all pointed toward making music that could make it nationally, most of the foursome's time and energy was wrapped up in their safety nets -- day jobs and college.
Even their musical endeavors were somewhat safe. They stuck to shows around home (for crowds that already loved the band), and they recorded in the studio of Topeka's best-known producer Kerry Livgren, of the band Kansas.
Things had to change, said the Billion's Dan Billen.
"We've finally given everything up," Billen said. "We've taken off school for the next year, and we've all given up jobs we had."
"Usually that would sound really stupid and that's a huge
risk," he said. "But we waited and waited, and when we knew the time
was right, we took the big leap."
Beyond removing the safety nets, the biggest part of the leap was giving up complete control over every detail of the band's sound.
The Billions signed the first label deal to record the new album, Never Felt This Way Before, which is out this week at release shows and through the band's Web site at www.TheBillionsBand.com.
Working with producers at Northern Records -- a California indie label -- required the band to rearrange its trademark six- and seven-minute songs and boil them down to three- and four-minute "hits," Billen said.
"We had less creative freedom with this last one, but whatever freedom we didn't have, it was good," he said. "If you're really good at something and somebody gives you some restrictions, you should get even better. For the first time, the album really makes sense as a whole. It's a real tight package.
"I think we've accomplished a marketable product without going totally commercial."
And for the first time, the Billions album will be distributed nationally, thanks to Northern. The label plans on sending the first single "Hey Girl" to college radio in the next month.
That song makes for an interesting choice as the band's national first impression.
It is undeniably one of the catchiest tunes on an album chock-full of pleasing alt-rock pop songs. But it is also the only song without a trace of the Billions' usual muse: God.
"It's not like we're trying to hide anything. It's not like we're going to spring it on them later or something. We're comfortable with who we are," Billen said.
Sam Billen, the band's most prolific songwriter, speaks up over his brother: "God's not just with us when we're singing to him."
"People don't get it," Dan Billen continued. "People assume -- a lot of Christians, anyway, assume -- the only times you're being sincere is if you're singing 'Jesus' every other word," he said.
"We were really careful in the songs that went on there, and I think we've said the things we wanted to say, the way we wanted to say them," Dan Billen said.
Though Bible stores and youth groups may prove to be one of their primary markets, the band's not worried about being relegated to the "Christian" bin, Sam Billen said.
"They're only going to pigeonhole us if they hear we're a Christian band before they hear the music," Sam Billen said. "People aren't going to pigeonhole us after they hear us."
To that end, the Billions are getting ready to do something else it has done before -- tour.
After the local CD release shows, the brothers Billen, Ken Komiya and Jared Bowes will go to Minnesota, through the Northwest and California, down to Phoenix and back through Texas.
The Billions have come along way since they decided to make the big leap.
They no longer are practicing in the basement of Komiya's parents or in a stockyard's storehouse.
"That was the lowest place we've ever been," Dan Billen said. "It was the worst, most horrible experience. We were down by the river, under the bridges in Topeka, down where we could've just got killed at any time. It was just a scary time.
"And I didn't think we should be doing music."
But along with the leap came a picturesque farmhouse with acres of land off US-40 highway. The whole band (and Dan's wife, Rosa) moved in together, where they have plenty of time and space to make music. And the rent is priced to tour.
"Besides the music, it's helped us to grow closer, more like a family," Sam Billen said. "We need to be like this if we're going to be on the road together."
Added Bowes: "I love living out in the country. Just being able to walk outside and see all the stars really bright."
Dan Billen said band members have learned that once they were able to let go of everything, opportunities began flooding in.
"For us, it's God helping us," he said. "It's almost like God saying, 'You guys were willing to give it all up, so you're going to be rewarded a little bit at a time.'"
"And everything's been ...," he paused, evidently not ready to say, "great." "We've just had a lot of faith, or we wouldn't be doing this."
Phil Cauthon can be reached at (785) 295-1100 or phil@rockkansas.com.
Tickets
The Billions will have a CD release show and party Saturday, Aug. 17, at the New Earth Coffeehouse, 3953 Walnut, which is one block east of Main at 40th in the Westport area of Kansas City, Mo. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and admission is $5 for the party, which also will feature Laredo, Insects and Spiders and Thom Hoskins. For more about the Billions and the local music scene, go to RockKansas.com
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