UCD band Bad Maps still finds its way

Two years ago the amalgamation of metal drumming, recording arts piano, symphonic guitars, and groovy bass all came together to form a kick ass band. As it turns out, that band is Bad Maps, a CU Denver student band, that is electrifying the local indie-alt rock scene.

Originally hailing from Colorado Springs, where some members originally met in high school, the five-piece band has had substantial exposure and experience in the music world before settling into its current line up.

Luke Randazzo, guitarist and vocalist, and Billy Overton, vocalist and keyboardist, recently sat down with the Advocate to discuss the style of the band and the direction they foresee their master project going.

“When we first started developing our sound we wanted to have an auxiliary of instrumentalists,” said Randazzo in response to the unique alternative indie rock genre the band most closely resembles. “For years and years all I ever wanted to listen to was classical music and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.”

Nevertheless, the band came together, and formed a synthesis of its respective influences and sounds into the current state of Bad Maps.

Despite hailing from an experienced and diverse musical background, all members agree that Bad Maps is their first foray as a legitimate band.

“It’s kind of like the difference between having a quick fling for a while, and then when you actually have a girlfriend for a long time and actually move in together. It’s more on that kind of level,” said Randazzo, describing how Bad Maps is their principal life work as musicians.

Bad Maps’ current EP, Better Weather, has garnered some local attention and displays its unique dynamic of having one member who is a recording arts major and others that bring a gamut of different perspectives, applied into a foray of symphonically composed works.

To clarify, the writing process was explained. “We are so meticulous, Luke writes a lot of the skeletons, and takes it to the drummer or myself, and we work on structuring that more in depth before taking it to the rest of the band,” Overton said.

In fact, the writing process led to the origin of their name. Having argued over the name of the band, they finally decided on Bad Maps as a symbolic term for the band’s lyrical content describing the struggles and faulty paths of life.

Discussing the goals of the band, Randazzo summed them up by saying, “I just want people to feel the way I feel when I listen to and create our music,” Overton said. “And if anyone comes to our shows I want them to know that they can approach us and talk to us, I love to get to know people and chat about anything.”

Currently on the band’s radar are plans to tour late this summer, establish a merchandise mailing service, and to release a full-length album early next year. Its next show in Denver is April 9 at the Larimer Lounge and the band’s Facebook has a coupon that gets you in for $5.