The Eames Era

• The Eames Era’s first show was opening for Last Chance Dave and McCloud at Ichabod’s (now Northgate Tavern) on Friday the 13th in December 2002.

• Bassist Brian Waits fronted a punk band called Subject Dolt while in high school in Hattiesburg, Miss.

• Drummer Greg Gautreaux’s dad is a percussionist in the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C.

Ted Joyner, guitar

Grant Widmer, guitar

Greg Gauthreax, drums

Ashlin Phillips, vocals

Brian Waits, bass

By now most have heard about the TV song placements, the Grey’s Anatomy soundtrack, the shout-outs from TimeOut New York, Spin and The Washington Post.

But for a young band that—for the last two years at least—has looked like Baton Rouge’s best chance to produce a break-out hitmaker, The Eames Era is decidedly nonplussed with its position atop the city’s Sisyphus ladder of musicians hammering away at the reinforced glass ceiling of indie rock success.

Or maybe the goals of the self-stylized garage pop fivesome truly are as grounded as its members often claim. Though one look at the band’s timesheet evinces otherwise. No, they won’t be heard at the same three bars week-in and week-out, but if recording, publicity and cross-country touring are accounted for, The Eames Era must be considered one of (if not the) hardest and smartest working bands from Baton Rouge.

Fine, good. But will it all pay off in 2007?

That answer rests squarely on the shoulders of Heroes & Sheroes, the band’s sophomore full-length CD out next month. Daniel Black of The Oranges Band produced the set, recorded in just two weeks at his parent’s Baton Rouge home. Compared to 2005’s loveable, if safe, Double Dutch, guitarist Ted Joyner promises the band took more chances this time around. “But it’s not like we’re all of a sudden Pink Floyd or anything,” he says. “There are still Eames Era moments on it.”

“I actually think it sounds more like our live show,” chimes singer Ashlin Phillips. “It’s dynamic and not as polished.”

Heroes & Sheroes also happens to be the group’s first official release outside of local label C-Student Records. With a new album at the ready and a steady stream of invites to music festivals across Europe and the United States, 2007 is the band’s best chance to finally bend the ears of bigger independent labels and build on those early successes. Visit myspace.com/theeamesera for more information.