'something different.' | SLEEPING KINGS OF IONA

Considering Buffalo's major contributions to the music world have been the Goo Goo Dolls, Snapcase, Everytime I Die, 10,000 Maniacs, and as of recently, Cute is What We Aim For, most wouldn't expect a powerful, shoegaze slash ambient slash electronica band to be the next thing to break out of Buffalo, now would they? The Sleeping Kings of Iona are just that, and in my opinion are the best band to ever come out of Buffalo.

I had first heard of SKOI in mid-2004, and got to see them open for a small festival featuring Mogwai and The Rapture. They opened with a cover of The Smiths "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want," and immediately stole my heart. SKOI does a masterful job of creating lush soundscapes, drawing influences from Brian Eno, Bjork, Sigur Ros, and Portishead. In seeing them live, the bands members are constantly playing a game of musical chairs, as every member plays almost every instrument and several members provide vocals, showing off their musical skill.

The only thing holding these guys back from national recognition is their touring schedule. While SKOI has opened for great acts like Mogwai and The Rapture, The Books, Mono, Prefuse 73, Aloha, and a recent performance opening for Blondie at the Albright-Knox Art Museum, they haven't toured very extensively. They've only traveled about as far west as Cleveland, as far south as Pittsburgh, as east as NYC, and as north as Toronto. I believe most of the members still have their day jobs, which prevents them from a national tour that they could benefit from greatly.

Sleeping Kings of Iona have two excellent releases, the "Faith (Our Return)" EP and their newest, "We Found a Love in the Streets but it was not Ours," the bands first full-length. I highly recommend both, and they are available on their website. The band is playing new material at their latest shows, and it sounds even better. They've only got two shows scheduled as of right now, but I'm sure a few more will trickle in by summers end.

Sleeping Kings of Iona - "Pheromone" (MP3)

Sleeping Kings of Iona | Summer 2006 Schedule

July 28 - Toronto, ON @ Savoy
August 3 - Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab w/ Oneida, From Monument to Masses