Mike Toschi
Vocals, Guitar
Chris Croft
Drums
Matt Dente
Bass
First Day of Spring is the follow-up album to the critically acclaimed first album by the Seattle based power-trio At the Spine. First Day of Spring offers a blend of sometimes explosive and sometimes tender indie rock that, combined with ATS's energetic and sincere live shows, creates a powerful package.
At the Spine is primarily the vehicle for the songwriting, instrumentation and vocals, of Mike Toschi (Toskey). The songs on FDOS traverse various living and working experiences in places ranging from the South Bronx and Harlem, to Portland, Seattle, and San Diego. As the son of a McGovern voting Vietnam Veteran, and someone whose 21 year old cousin in the US Army had a third of his skull blown off in Iraq, Toschi draws on strong anti-war/anti-Bush/anti-imperialist sentiments in fiery songs like "First Day of Spring" and "Eyes that Cry." There are also the more familiar themes of relationships and broken hearts ("Kiss and Remember", "Mouth of Hell", "Another Day", and "Luna") and of working mindless labor jobs for stupid rich people (cover of Hank William's "House of Gold"). "La Frontera" is a rousing southwestern flavored tale of an 18 year old bribing Mexican cops to spare an acquaintance a sentence in a Tijuana jail. Mellower songs like "Razors" tell tales of working in inner city schools teaching day laborers, gang involved and at risk youth amidst streets lined with addicts, housing projects, and the homeless.
While the album addresses some heavier issues, like the live show, it is meant to be an album that sonically celebrates life. Domestically, we may be losing the battle, but as Emma Goldman reportedly said, "If I can't dance, I don't want to be a part of your revolution." The album is about resisting the senselessness of the military industrial complex without letting them take away our laughter, dance, music, and right to revolt.
The album was mixed and mastered by Eric Oz at Iron Orange studio. Eric is an engineer at Glenn Sound in Seattle, WA, who has recorded sessions with The White Stripes, Elliott Smith, Built to Spill, Sebadoh, etc. The album was recorded at Supply & Demand Studios by Chris Cox and El Vecino de Los Muertos studio in Seattle, WA by Mike Toschi.
Live and touring, this music is being performed as an energetic trio with Chris Croft on drums, Matt Dente on bass and Toschi on guitar and vocals.
Mike Toschi is the ex-lead guitarist for The Plains and occasional guitar player for Colin Spring and Portland based folk rockers Bit Part. In 2000 he released a quiet solo album and from 1995-1998 he played in the Portland power trio, The Help. In 1996 he founded Global Seepej Records, trying to assist like-minded artists that put out authentic music.