Perspective

Perspective is the name used by two different bands in the input: a straight edge hardcore band from Denver, Colorado, and a separate quartet from Memphis, Tennessee. The Memphis group forms in early 2003 and is described as a band with guitar, vocals/guitar, bass and drums, featuring Zack Smith on guitar, Matt Wood on vocals and guitar, Brandon Earl on drums, and Zack Kirk on bass.

Memphis band

The Memphis Perspective plays a mix of punk and hardcore-influenced music, but the available description focuses more on its melodic and lyrical approach, with clever, hopeful and heartfelt writing and developed musicianship. It starts out in 2003 and spends its early years playing radio- and television-backed events, local showcases and support slots.

In 2003, the band plays an industry showcase at the New Daisy Theatre in Memphis, where an estimated 800 people attend. It also appears at the WMFS production concert “93X-Mas” in 2003 and 2004, supporting acts including Shinedown, and performs with Hot Action Cop in May 2003. Over this period it shares stages with Ingram Hill, Bo Bice and other national acts.

The group’s first EP appears in 2004, and its follow-up, Living, Breathing, etc., appears in 2005. The first EP sells 2,000 copies in Memphis in 14 months, and the later EP sells 200 copies in its first two weeks. The release is engineered and produced by Scott Hardin, who is associated with Saliva, Third Day and Sister Hazel.

Radio exposure forms a major part of the band’s activity, with airplay, interviews and live acoustic sessions on Memphis stations including 94.1 WMBZ “The Buzz”, 92.9 WMFS “93X”, WEGR 102.7 “Rock103”, 89.9 WEVL, and college radio such as Ole Miss station 92.1 in Oxford. The single “Last Forever” receives airplay on 94.1 WMBZ, 102.7 WEGR and 92.9 WMFS.

Perspective also takes part in charitable concerts, including events for The Sunshine Girls’ Home in Hernando, St. Jude in Memphis, and the Memphis MusiCares Festival organised by The Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy for the Katrina crisis. It plays the 2005 New Year’s Eve Beale Celebration and opens for Ingram Hill at the Hernando Music and Heritage Festival in September 2005.

Several tracks receive recognition on Garageband.com: “Homecoming” and “Before You Know” are named for their drums in alternative pop, while “Last Forever” is recognised for male vocals in rock, drums in rock and as a rocking track in rock. The band is also voted into the top three unsigned bands in the Midsouth on Rock103.com.

The discography listed for the Memphis group includes 747 Sessions EP from 2004 and Living, Breathing, Etc. from 2005.

Denver straight edge band

Another band using the name Perspective is a straight edge hardcore band from Denver, Colorado. It is associated with the Bandcamp address xperspectivex.bandcamp.com.