The Undeserving excited for album release
Written by Mike Bauman | | mbauman@toledofreepress.comWhen The Undeserving releases “Almost Alive” on Sept. 6, it will be the culmination of a journey that began nearly seven years ago for the Fremont-based band.
“We’ve always been pretty confident we could have some sort of career,” The Undeserving bassist and background vocalist Jimmie Getty told Toledo Free Press Star. A 2007 graduate of Clyde High School, Getty joined the group in 2005. “We’ve always believed in the music, and our goal has always been just to write the best songs that we could and to play as much as we could. It actually feels more tangible now than it ever has before, now that we have this record coming out.”
Comprised of Getty, Brennan Willis (lead guitar, background vocals) and brothers Clay (lead vocals, piano, acoustic guitar) and Kyle Kirchenbauer (drums, background vocals),The Undeserving started getting attention from multiple record labels in early 2005 with its song, “There For You.” After putting a small team together, the band did two years of showcasing from 2006 to 2008, playing in markets like New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago before landing a joint record deal with Warner Bros. Records and Cause for Alarm Records through Kevin Law in the summer of 2008.
The Undeserving
The Undeserving completed what was to be its major label debut in May 2009. The album was recorded in Nashville, Tenn., with producer Allen Salmon, mixed at the famed Electric Lady Studios in New York City by Michael Brauer (who worked with The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney) and mastered by Ted Jensen. However, the investor for Cause for Alarm Records pulled out that same year, and The Undeserving got absorbed by Warner Bros. Records completely.
As the label went through multiple personnel changes, The Undeserving was worried about what would happen next.
“We were kind of nervous that we made this record that had been mixed by Michael Brauer and mastered by Ted Jensen, and something we were really proud of and had worked on for a long time — we were afraid no one was ever going to hear it,” Getty said.
Through the support of Lori Feldman, who is the senior vice president of brand partnerships and music licensing at Warner Bros. Records, The Undeserving was able to get its music out to millions last year when “Something To Hope For” was used in a promo for Season 9 of “American Idol.” In addition, the band’s music has been featured on the TV shows “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew,” “The Biggest Loser,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “So You Think You Can Dance?” and CNN’s Haiti Relief public service announcement, among others.
“She was really passionate about the music and pitching it around everywhere she could,” Getty said of Feldman. “We owe a lot of gratitude to her. She’s responsible for all the syncs and stuff, and it was really just because she was passionate about the music and wanted to see it do well.”
While The Undeserving is no longer with Warner Bros. Records, the label has since signed the record back to the band and allowed it to release “Almost Alive” independently.
“It’s kind of cool to be back in the driver’s seat, and we can release it on our own,” Getty said. “We’re doing everything ourselves now.”
Getty said the plan after the album’s release is to continue touring and promote the album.
“Our main goal is basically just to keep going,” he said. “If we can support ourselves and keep doing it and be able to give back to our families some, that would be incredible.”
Pre-orders for “Almost Alive” are available on the group’s website at theundeserving.com, and the album will also be available through online retailers like iTunes and Amazon on the official release date. The band will host a release show for “Almost Alive” at Grace Community Church in Fremont on Sept. 6, as well as an additional show at the Maumee Indoor Theatre on Oct. 14. Admission for the show in Fremont is $12, while the show in Maumee is $10. The price for each event includes a copy of “Almost Alive” and kids 12 and younger get in free at both shows.
Tags: Allen Salmon, Bob Dylan, Chicago, Grace Community Church, iTunes, Jimmie Getty, Lori Feldman, los Angeles, Maumee Indoor Theater, Nashville, New York City, Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, The Undeserving, Warner Bros.
