Hailing from Long Beach, California, Manuel the Band blurs the lines between rock, pop, and jam music, creating a warm, wide-ranging sound that’s every bit as diverse as the group’s Southern California stomping grounds.
Rooted in the savvy songwriting of frontman Manuel Grajeda, it’s a sound that makes room for electric guitar, pedal steel, a two-piece horn section, and deep-set rhythms. A sound that aims not only for the head and the heart, but also for the dancing shoes. Nowhere does that sound pack a bigger punch than on the band’s new album Things That Can’t Be Seen (February 4, 2022), whose songs of love, loss, and personal growth find Manuel the Band putting a personal spin on the universal experiences we all share. Some of these experiences can’t be seen… but they can be heard, turning this album into a soundtrack for the ups and downs of modern-day relationships.
Created during a time of global uncertainty and isolation, Things That Can’t Be Seen celebrates the joy of coming together, sharing the workload, and creating something that’s bigger than oneself. Co-produced by the band and recorded at Jazzcats Studio, Things That Can’t Be Seen casts a wide net, finding room for electrified riffs, acoustic interludes, pop hooks, and multi-genre influences. If that doesn’t sound like anything else that’s blanketing the FM airwaves these days… well, that’s sort of the point. This is the product of six musicians who’ve learned to celebrate the very things that set them apart. It’s wide-ranging music with a central message, delivered with determination, drive, and the daring to be different.
Today Glide is excited to premiere the band’s video for the standout track “Without Me,” which finds them building their way toward a radio-ready chorus, with all six members — Grajeda, Madrid, saxophonist Matt Kalin, trombonist Richard Fernandez, bassist Kevin Nowacki, and drummer Charlesworth — stacking their instruments into thick, lush layers. There is a mellowness to the track that is heightened by the unexpected presence of the pedal steel guitar alongside brass and saxophone to make for something that truly stands out. There is a 90s rock vibe to the music that makes with pop and soul. Dreamy guitar complements charming, infectious harmonies and a big saxophone-driven breakdown to make for a song that feels euphoric and hopeful.
Manuel Grajeda describes the inspiration behind the song:
“The riff in this song is actually one of my favorites to play. It’s super simple, dreamy and atmospheric sounding; I had it written for a while and the lyrics sort of spilled out, one night. The song exudes a sort of quandary, in that it’s meant to be a real time realization of being involved in a situation that you weren’t exactly planning on being involved with. The bridge articulates a state of vulnerability, making for an almost uncomfortable discussion, but the outset of the song evolves to a melodic resolution, and one thing becomes clear: this person is probably better off if I’m not around.
I really love how the horns at the end underscore that melodic line and, although the lyrics are melancholic, the melody allows for a glimmer of happiness, or perhaps hope. While I love how this song came out, it was a tough one to write. Ultimately, the unguarded truth became cathartic, and also a means of highlighting a point in my life where – as a person – I probably could have gone about things differently.”
WATCH:
Photo credit: Cesar Sanchez
