PureVolume

Members: Gareth, Craig, Sean, Doug

Lost Vegas (as told by Gareth Nelson)

It all began as I tirelessly wrote down my thoughts and feelings in Las Vegas, Nevada. Convinced that my writing would suppress my anxiety, it inevitably led nowhere.

As my journey took me to St. Louis, I sought music as the calming force. However, I quickly realized that music alone was not the answer. I constantly wrote and played, never finding the comfort I sought. Finally, I stumbled upon three individuals who would form the friendship and collaboration epitomized by Ava, Wait.

Through this friendship and collaboration, the words wrote long ago began to lead somewhere, and the story unfolded as driving guitar melodies provided substance to my thoughts and feelings. My words became honest and soulful lyrics as each song lead somewhere. That somewhere became the comfort I sought.

It is in these songs that my crippling thoughts were transformed into a sonic comfort. As strange as it sounds, the experiences and effects of my past seemed to spill out into a hopeful future. The friendship and collaboration discovered through Ava, Wait created this hope.

As we completed the record, sadness swept over me because I had grown accustomed to the pessimistic feelings that these experiences had implanted. But something strange started to happen as I listened to the rough mixes and masters over and over. I moved on.

My message was not sad and depressing, but uplifting and powerful. My pity party became a resurrection of self. My distress became hope for someone else. I realized that I wanted these songs to help someone else through lifes fracture. I wanted the songs to remind you of a good or terrible time in your life that made you question yourself and in questioning, you found answers.

To me, Lost Vegas is an album that portrays a longing for comfort in the most formidable years of a young life as appalling forces attempt to fracture it. However, it is where I hope you find what I found. The feelings are frightening, but it is through honesty we find comfort. With this comfort, we are able to cherish our fragile yet resilient self.

Lost Vegas is important to me. It stands for power. It represents the conquering of an insurmountable past. It boasts a death reluctantly needed and a metaphysical rebirth welcomed. It is a testament to friendship. Its organic soundscape recreates winded conversations and soul-baring revelations that complete friendships.

Overall, Lost Vegas provides a transparency to progressive rock. While the words may hold a specific meaning for me, the songs uplifting messages are felt universally. At times the lyrics reveal destruction and defeat, but the music screams hope. Lost Vegas conveys letting go and moving on.