Static electricity

By RACHAEL FISHER
Anchorage Daily News

Published: February 4th, 2009 06:18 PM
Last Modified: February 4th, 2009 06:50 PM

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MARC LESTER / Anchorage Daily News

Singer Jared Navarre brought a fan onstage at Chilkoot Charlie's to give her tickets to the Winter Rocks concert as a birthday gift. Dennis Smith is behind the drums. 090130

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Blind ambition and young energy drive Static Cycle. The local rock band had its business plan in place before its music, but that doesn't mean its sound is second rate. The debut album, "When We Meet Again," is already getting radio play and should be in the play list of any heavy-rock fan.

"Static Cycle has songs that a 14-year-old-girl loves as much as a 43-year-old man. That's what sets them apart," said Bob Lester of KWHL 106.5.

Call it chemistry, synergy or spark -- Josh Witham and Jared Navarre recognized potential when they met. Still, the two came from different backgrounds, and melding their styles took work.

"I would say between the three- and six-month marks we knew we had something," Navarre said. "Early on it was difficult. We didn't know if it was going to work."

After a couple years of writing guitar licks and melodies, the duo was ready to take the next step.

Drummer Dennis Smith was added to the mix, and Static Cycle was formed. Smith's background was more gospel and hip-hop than rock 'n' roll, but he was enticed to make the switch by his partners' business-minded resolve.

"I loved playing with guys who had that drive; they didn't just want to be another club musician. The attitude was 'We make music. That is our career,' " Smith said.

Then the trio headed to Cleveland and got started on "When We Meet Again" at Lava Room Recording. They enlisted Mike Brown, a veteran producer who has worked with Papa Roach and Three Days Grace. A month later the recording was done.

The melodies are tight, and the lyrics are catchy and radio-friendly. "Pressure" is in heavy rotation on KWHL, and the station said it fields calls asking for more.

"It's a very polished record, well-produced, with songs full of hooks. You can tell it was done right," Lester said.

After the album was recorded, bassist Johnny Rheaume and rhythm guitarist Travis Hulse came on board. The CD release party in June was their first live show, but nerves were not an issue.

"I don't know if any of us get nervous onstage," Navarre said.

They followed up with a 56-show American tour. Next up is KWHL's Winter Rocks concert. It's Static Cycle's first headlining gig, and the bill also includes up-and-coming rock bands such as the Hoons, Dave Velasquez and Lavoy.

The band hopes to break the attendance record for a concert at the state fairgrounds by selling 1,000 tickets for Saturday's all-ages show.

After the concert, Static Cycle is heading back out on the road for a tour through the Northeast U.S. and Canada.

"I see big things in the road as this band travels. I am proud to say we played them first on K-Whale," Lester said.

Band members say their goal is to play with Breaking Benjamin at Madison Square Garden and get signed to a large indie label. At times it seems like a lot of work, but these rock stars are optimistic as their careers gain momentum.

"There are days when you look in the mirror and think we've been pushing so hard for so many months, but everybody is staying positive," Navarre said.

Go to staticcycle.com to download "Pressure" and "When We Meet Again" free.

• Find Rachael Fisher at rfisher@ adn.com or call 257-4466.

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