Shortwave Society mixes cellos, computers for sparkling eclectic sound

When musicians with several years of projects under their belts—from a Taking Heads cover band to a femme-fronted string quartet tribute to the Beatles—intermingle, compare notes, and learn to play each other's music, a collective like the Shortwave Society is born. Implementing elements from both orchestral and electronic backgrounds, the Shortwave Society, based in Knoxville Tennessee, considers itself a postmodern sea of jazz, pop, classical and electronic music.

Grant Geren serves as the group's lyricist and leading songwriter. Jason Day co-writes and arranges the musical material. The group is completed by cellist Alexia Pantanizopoulos and multi-instrumentalist Sarah Hurd. Curtis Geren adds the electronic touch with his Handsonic and laptop skills.

"I think what sets this one apart is that we really took our time working on the music before playing out," says Jason Day.

Firmly rooted by a mutual admiration for the Beatles, Beach Boys, Steve Reich and Radiohead, the Shotwave Society's band members draw from a colorful array of influences.

"We have newer pop influences such as Stereolab, The Fiery Furnaces, Of Montreal, Sufjan Stevens, The Arcade Fire, and The Postal Service are definitely in there too," says Day. "We also draw from a bevy of jazz influences, particularly modern pianist Brad Mehldau and my piano teacher, jazz legend Donald Brown (of Art Blakey fame). Classical influences are most anything from the Romantic, Impressionist, and 20th Century eras. We also went through a pretty heavy Brazilian music phase there for a while."

Perhaps the indefinite 20th Century influence sparked the idea for the name of the band, a "postmodern" reference. "We like the idea of older technologies that were at one time deemed to be 'futuristic,' only to be surpassed by something that renders it obsolete," says Day. "I guess the band name sort of hints at that, but it doesn't mean anything too specific. We just liked it."

The Shortwave Society's vivid hybrid of guitar, piano, cello and … computer, is something new, for sure.

"We've been having a lot of fun with this group," says Day. "The banter, the inside jokes, it somehow makes it all worthwhile. Being in a band is not always easy, but Shortwave Society really makes the most of it."

The Shortwave Society just released its first EP and is currently touring the Southeast promote it. Pre-production has begun for a full album, which they are planning to record this summer.

They will perform at the Tin Roof on April 30.