Division Day making its mark on local music scene

By Kristine Wedum, Maggie Beidelman

CD review: Strong, steady beats make album worthy of a listen

I like to believe that I have an eclectic taste in music. My favorite mix on my iPod includes Jay-Z, Matt Wertz, Lloyd Banks, Eddie Money and Coldplay.

The only type of music I really can't listen to is "gangsta" rap and heavy metal.

This being so, I was fairly optimistic for Division Day's new album, "Beartrap Island."

After listening to the album, Division Day is now on my favorite playlist. However, there were moments when I wondered exactly what vocalist Rohner Segnitz was saying.

If you mix the electric keyboarding of The Killers, the raw vocals of Snow Patrol and the tone of The Postal Service, you get a sense of Division's sound.

They are fairly original with a decent variety of slow and spirited songs, all while keeping a strong drum line and streaming guitar.

Division Day is music to listen to when you need a strong and steady beat that doesn't dominate the room. Songs like "Littleblood" would be good to run to and others such as "Tap-Tap, Click-Click" remind me of cruising around in my car.

Like something out of an episode of "The O.C.," the California-cool manner of the Santa Cruz-based band's new album is fun, sultry and overall an enjoyable experience.

Live review: Energetic music and personalities make this band a must see

Not just another indie-rock band from Los Angeles, Division Day's unique sound has begun to carry them from the realm of the unknown to the world of recognition, and rightfully so. Last week at a local skating rink, a small crowd of intrigued listeners found themselves absorbed in a sound far too impressive for such a mediocre venue. The pleasant accord of bass, guitar and drums reverberated between the electronic tones echoing from the staple keyboard, creating a sound familiar to the likes of Death Cab for Cutie and Keane with a hint of Jimmy Eat World.

A local-type band with a world-renowned feel, Division Day showed that they truly knew how to entertain their crowd.

Their slower, thoughtful songs such as "Is It True What They Say" induce a certain languorous, pensive state, invoking crowd appreciation for a band that has nearly perfected the art of true expression. "Tap-Tap, Click-Click," the emphatic closer which represents their more upbeat songs, instigated compulsory beat-clapping from the audience, who looked eager to join in with a third tambourine.

The humor and spark of this band is obvious in their performance.

If the fact that guitarist Ryan Wilson has a 1950s beach babe tattooed to his Fender doesn't amuse, then possibly the "Audubon and Zoo Camp" T-shirts donned by singer/keyboarder Rohner Segnitz and bassist Seb Bailey will.

Drummer Kevin Lenhart clearly deserves the reputation of the able musician, and not just because he can play the maracas and drums simultaneously.

Even certain lyrics amuse, such as the ones: "I want your blood inside my head..." from the song "Tigers," for they can either be interpreted as completely ambiguous or simply an expression of the impressive genius of the writer.Remember the Death Cab for Cutie concert earlier this year?

Though Division Day generates a similar professional sound, their show is far livelier and diversified, actually making the audience want to dance, to sway - basically, to do more than just stand with eyes glazed over for two hours straight.Division Day's show is not one to be merely endured like so many amateur bands struggling to imitate the brilliance of others.It is an experience in itself, an opportunity for the most conservative toe-tapper to dance and sing and simply enjoy some real, captivating, exceptionally singular music.

The album has not yet been released in stores. To purchase an album, visit the band's web site at www.divisionday.com.

Contact Kristine Wedum and Maggie Beidelman at (408) 551-1918.