Song 7: Under Control - Parachute

Released: May 19, 2009 on the album Losing Sleep

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HiRnS4k2Vw&ob=av2n

Lyrics: http://www.lyricsreg.com/lyrics/parachute/Under+Control/


Parachute is among the newest bands we've had on our mixes. Originally calling themselves Sparky's Flaw when most of the members were still in High School in Charlottesville, Virginia, the group of friends changed the name to Parachute in May 2008, coinciding with the group members' graduation from the University of Virginia. Losing Sleep is the band's first - and so far, only - album release. They have reached a measure of fame rather quickly, however! The group signed their first record deal while still juniors in college, have toured with acts that have been a part of recent Mixes (Secondhand Seranade, Switchfoot, 3 Doors Down, Kelly Clarkson and The Script), were a part of the 2008 Nivea New Year's Countdown (with the Jonas Brothers and Taylor Swift....which may or may not be viewed as a good thing!), released their album in May of 2009, got a contract with Nivea for the use of Parachute's songs in Nivea commercials, have been the musical act on many of the Late Night talk shows, members were featured on Episode 20 (June 15, 2009) episide of the "Live at Daryl's House" vidcast, and have performed with Train, Blue October and others at the 13th Annual Bite of Las Vegas Food Festival in the summer of 2009.

You'll notice that the music video uses a slightly different version of the song than what's available on the album. It was an interesting decision by the band to feature the different mix of the song for the video! I doubt such changes are done very often! It isn't a huge change, but - having listened to the song on the iPod a number of times before seeing (and hearing!) the video version - it is a noticeable one! Both versions of the song are good, in my opinion!

Being relatively new, there isn't a whole lot out there about the band. It's a nice storyline for them to have all been friends since childhood. The one non-native Charlottesville member - lead singer Will Anderson, who was born in California - moved to Charlottesville with his family when he was 11, and he now apparently views the Virginia city his hometown.

The band's website touts their willingness to "play for the radio" and have some appeal to the masses. There are some that would immediately label them as a "sellout" group because of this, but Anderson is quoted on the band's site as saying "why play if no one's there to listen?". The band recently completed a tour that took them to many points in Europe, and they are back in the states completing their Fall Tour 2010. The closest they come to our neck of the woods is their concert date at St. Louis on Veterans' Day (Nov 11). They don't even make it to any West Coast cities at all! Maybe they'll come this direction eventually. The band takes some pride in putting on a good live show, so it would be worth a trip to go see them, perhaps!