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Somewhere between Orlando and Tampa , hiding from the rows of mobile homes and churches that comprise Lakeland, Florida, Brad Register and Curtis Brown began cultivating the sound that would soon grow to be far too big for such a little town.

In the early years, their paths crossed in various bands and venues, and by the time they both moved out to Orlando, they were solidified as a writing team. With drummer Tyson Bodiford on board, Summerbirds in the Cellar was born.

The fledgling band caught its first break opening for Saddle Creek artist and Athens, GA's own Now It's Overhead. Singer and star producer Andy LeMaster ( R.E.M., Chris Martin, Bright Eyes) was immediately entranced by Summerbirds, and invited them up to his Chase Park Transduction studio to record.

As if by divine intervention, thousands of miles away on the West coast, Slow January Records was simultaneously emerging from the ruins of a nasty car crash and the hefty settlement that followed. Former Orlando resident and label-founder Chris Sapone invited Summerbirds onto the roster and provided the financial backing to make recording with LeMaster a reality.

The resulting release, "With the Hands of the Hunter It All Becomes Dead," is a stunning collection of songs that's long on mystery and short on cliche'. The quartet's sound is rooted in rhythm and is layered with a dense wall of guitars that spills beautifully over the listener. Croonin vocals with richly layered harmonies are all punctuated by a throbbing synth line thick enough to carpet the floor with. LeMaster's expert ears and attention to detail is vastly apparent in the graceful production of the record.

Summerbirds spent much of 2006 on the road, headlining numerous tours and supporting Now It's Overhead nationally. Register and Brown performed double duty on the tour, performing in both Summerbirds and as the current guitarist and bassist for Now It's Overhead.

While trekking back and forth across the nation, Summerbirds continually crafted new material that was marked by the intensity and aggression of their live performances. By the end of the tour, the band was more than ready to return to the studio with LeMaster.

Initial demos from "Druids," the forthcoming full-length release, showcase staggering growth and suggest a monumental follow-up record. Summerbirds' ambitious project features a 30-person children's choir on three of the songs, and massive, epic production.

After recording is complete, Register and Brown will be sticking around Athens for good. There's only so long a band can stay in a town like Orlando before maxing out its exposure, and Summerbirds is hoping the thriving music scene in Athens will be a better launching pad for the next stage in its career.

Music critics in Georgia have already taken notice of Summerbirds' success, with Atlanta 's Creative Loafing naming Summerbirds one of the "Top 10 Bands to Watch for 2006." While Slow January Records is tentatively on hand for the current recordings, Summerbirds are actively seeking a more seasoned label home for "Druid's" release.

for booking/info: curtis@summerbirds.com

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