Search - Mike Stand, Clash of Symbols :: Full Circle

Full of the vim, vigor and barely contained energy that thrust him and his band Altar Boys into the middle of Southern California's nascent Christian punk scene of the early 80's, the aptly titled Full Circle places Mike Stand back in the forefront of the alternative scene that he helped spawn almost 20 years ago. While he can hardly be accused of mellowing by the evidence contained here, Stand has certainly honed his song-craft since the 2 chord, 2 minute rants of his early work. Clearly influenced by the Byrds (down to his omnipresent Rickenbacker) Stand combines elements of British pop, punk and modern rock to create memorable tunes such as the ringing "Always on My Mind" and "Song You Can't Tune Out." The cuts "Live" and "Bound to The Unknown" bristle with taut energy while offering shimmering harmonies and the type of hooks that were The Beatle's stock and trade. Clash of Symbols is a loose collective of Mike's friends, who happen to make up a who's who of seminal California bands including, This Train, Common Bond, The Aunt Betty's, LSU, Brighton, The Holidays and Webber and the Buzz-tones among many others. Woven throughout the project is the theme of wisdom, spiritual and practical, won through hard times and many mistakes, but always leavened with the mercy and grace that is abundant when walking with Jesus. This theme is beautifully summed up on the rootsy "The Hill" "All the things I found out/ there upon the hill "Everything I am now, /will find it's place upon the hill. Full circle finds an artist in full command of his creative gifts, and the wisdom to know from whence these gifts originate