FOX Japan members begin side project with new sound

In the entertainment world, some things, like band lineups, seem to be constantly on the move, and aside from the always constant change in Hollywood relationships, new bands and new lineups seem to crop up like reality show contestant troubles.

Within this industry, a few groups on the local level have been able to further explore their creative abilities without breaking rank with the group that got them started.

This is the case for Pete Wilmoth, drummer for local rock group FOX Japan.

When Wilmoth and two of his bandmates, Sam Wilmoth and Andrew Slater, wanted to explore a different style of music independent of FOX Japan, the trio created The Overcoat, all the while sticking to their responsibilities with FOX Japan.

"The three of us have played music together in some capacity for over 10 years so working together on this project wasn't a huge change," Wilmoth said.

It was their desire to experiment with a different style of music that ultimately led to the formation of The Overcoat.

"We sort of set out to make some gloomy, unsettling music," Wilmoth said. "I think mostly because we find that kind of aesthetic both appealing and challenging, and we had never really taken a stab at it before."

Wilmoth also said the music from The Overcoat will not only experiment musically, but the songs will also tell a story through lyrics.

"Most of the songs are about characters who are at their wit's end or the horror of domesticity or both," Wilmoth said. "The name of the band actually comes from a Nikolai Gogol story about a terminally boring man who fits into both these categories."

With this new experimentation in The Overcoat, some would believe that his time and dedication to his other projects with FOX Japan may get placed on the back burner.

For the time being, Wilmoth is adamant that this is not the case at all.

"We'll have to see where this project goes," Wilmoth said. "For now, we need to write more material and try to get that recorded, maybe play a few more shows this year – that's as far ahead as we're thinking, because we're all busy with other projects – like the forthcoming FOX Japan release – as well."

To hear new music and to see any upcoming shows for The Overcoat, visit the band's MySpace account at www.myspace.com/theovercoatmusic.

Wilmoth will next perform Sept. 19 at 123 Pleasant Street when FOX Japan and The Librarians take the stage at the downtown venue.

Music and information for FOX Japan can be found at www.myspace.com/foxjapanband