Band is more than a hobby

Senior Tim Mattingly has written poetry since the third grade, and his bandmates said it’s obvious through his lyrics.

Guitarist and singer Mattingly and drummer Gordon Lang form the Adultery Brothers with junior Eric Dreyer on bass.

They’ve been playing for eight years — since high school. Lang said it’s such a long time that it’s weird to think about.

Mattingly, however, said he thinks of the Adultery Brothers as three years old, since the band has taken on a completely different feel from high school.    

“Those eight years fostered understanding,” Lang said. “We know what to expect from each other.”

At 8 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Bishop, the Adultery Brothers will perform with Indianapolis-based Great Future. Admission is $4.

“I look forward to every show,” Dreyer said. “Playing in front of people, having fun. But I’m interested in this show in particular.”

Unlike the covers the band often plays at house parties, Dreyer said they’ll show off their original work.

“Something In My Drink” was the band’s first good, original song, Mattingly said.
After that was written, he decided the band should push its songwriting and try to make each one as good as it can be.

Having people approach the band and recognize them added to the focused push, Lang said.

“It’s guitar-driven, hook-filled alternative rock,” said Paul Mattingly, Tim’s brother.
“There’s a happy emphasis on the hooks.”

Tim Mattingly compared his band’s approach in “the art of pop-song writing” to the focus of Rivers Cuomo, the lead singer of Weezer.

“We have a lot of qualities similar to Weezer because our focus is more on the songs themselves than the instrumentation,” Tim Mattingly said.

As for lyrics, Tim Mattingly described his writing as introspective and cynical. He said he’s interested in human behavior and social psychology.

“I think that comes through in my lyrics,” he said. He added that despite some cynical and depressing themes, he usually tries to make the songs upbeat.

As the band becomes more serious, “it’s progressing toward less of a hobby,” Lang said.

Paul Mattingly and Joe Micotto created Real Escape Records specifically to promote the Adultery Brothers. Both are IU alumni.

“I felt (the band) would have an audience,” Paul Mattingly said. “It’s radio-friendly alternative rock.”

The Adultery Brothers’ self-titled debut album will be released mid-November, Paul
Mattingly said. He added the record will be available on iTunes, Spotify and Rhapsody.

“We’re ready for primetime. We’re about to try to make it big,” Paul Mattingly said. “These next two weeks are the kickoff.”