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Going Out > Pop Eye

York rockers share European tour experiences

Daily Record/Sunday News

Article Launched: 04/30/2008 11:29:49 PM EDT

The Underwater wants people to know they mean business.

At a recent video shoot for the single "Red, White and Blind," they rocked more than guitars and drums. With their messy-on-purpose, strategically highlighted manes, it was clear, even to a casual observer, that these guys were serious.

They have the rocker image down pat. They have a solid collection of tunes and more than 59,000 plays on MySpace. They even have a record deal with indie label Megaforce Records and a national release of their full-length album, "Forces" on May 27.

The band has been around since 2001, although it's gone through a series of lineup changes. It's managed to tour regularly and even scored a spot on the Warped Tour in 2005.

Still, it suffers from the same thing as other local bands -- difficulty breaking out.

They fly just under most people's radar, including mine as of a few months ago.

While covering the Daughtry concert at last year's York Fair, apparently the Underwater opened the show. I wondered who the band was, but I was focused on interviewing Daughtry's crazed fans. Months later, I learned that the band high-tailed it from Illinois at a moment's notice to play that night.

The Underwater also opened for Blind Melon at

the Chameleon Club in Lancaster. I failed to put two and two together until I listened to an entire Underwater set at Smalls York in February and realized what I was missing.

I was definitely not the only person. After the Daughtry concert, the Underwater was bombarded with questions from concertgoers. Many people were surprised the band was from York. It was an eye-opening experience, bassist Derek Euston said.

"A lot of people know us from out at the bars," Euston said. "That show was more of a family show, so we were reaching a different crowd."

After emerging from the video shoot in a Spring Garden Township barn, the band -- Euston, Dan Thomas, Matt Holmes, Brandon Deroche and Pat Besecker--talked about their three-week European tour.

Their first show abroad is a sold-out concert in Amsterdam with national alt-rockers Kill Hannah and Aiden. Then, they move onto Germany, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The guys are stoked for the tour.

"The radio is not syndicated (in Europe)," Euston said. "There is not as much media hype, so smaller bands can do really well."

He added that winning over European crowds has a lot to do with presentation and promotion.

"There's a big appeal for the American sound," he said.

In between gigs, the band plans to enjoy German beer, architecture, hotel amenities and snowboarding in Switzerland. And they intend on sharing their experiences with fans back home.

Get to know the Underwater yourself by checking the FlipSide blog for updates from the road.