The brainchild of songwriter/composer/arranger/screenprinter Jared Mees, "The Grown Children" are the catchall name for the current amalgamation of players collaborating with Mees on recordings or on stage. Mees" first solo effort "If You Wanna Swim w/ the Sharks" was named one of the best albums of 2007 by Willamette Week and called "fucking fantastic" by current Willamette Week Music Director Casey Jarman. The first incarnation of the Grown Children was borne of a Panamanian Island, where Mees, his wife (and Tender Loving Empire co founder) Brianne and 2 friends wrote the bulk of the songs that would eventually become "Sharks..." After recording Sharks in L.A. and moving to Portland Mees embarked upon 2007"s ill fated and aptly named No A/C tour, with the members of Finn Riggins playing many of Mees" songs. Since then many friends have joined the Grown Children Family, and while the constant lineup changes and improvised, infrequent rehearsals would cause many bands to suffer, they have become the vitality of the Grown Children, giving live shows a devil-may-care energy and keeping the recordings on the new album Caffeine, Alcohol, Sunshine, Money dynamic, vibrant and honest. "an album full of rustic themes and sing-along choruses, as informed as much by Dylan as it is Neutral Milk Hotel." -OPB "...catchy, rollicking, cuddly pop music." -THE PORTLAND MERCURY "Stories are told with the cleverness and refined skill of an old-fashioned songwriter and filled with words that need to be heard - and shouted along to." -PERFORMER MAGAZINE "Wicked-smart lyrics are in full effect...the brash, powerful sound of Mees' acoustic guitar and jumpy vocal melodies continues to chop his songs into delectable little pieces." -LOCALCUT "each song on Caffeine, Alcohol, Sunshine Money exudes a tone of child-like optimism." -NPR "With Caffeine, Alcohol, Sunshine, Money, Mees has divorced the pursuit of a quick buzz and has wed himself to his band, who prove that man cannot live on guitar alone." -PENSATOS "...one of the BEST I've heard in a while. Seriously - this band is my new favorite." -REVOLT MEDIA "...quirky and trippy folk rock pop bop in the vein of The Flaming Lips, Weezer, King Missile and The Violent Femmes." -THE RUN OFF GROOVE |
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