MATT DRISCOLL: TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE >>>

Later this week, Friday and Saturday, to be exact - Colonies will celebrate the release of a debut full-length album, Thirty Thousand, with two record release shows in Tacoma. On Friday, the band will strap it on for those of us with iron livers, playing a show with Canon Canyon, Wheelies and Jason Clackley at The New Frontier that starts at 8 p.m. and will cost you $6 to get into.

Then, on Saturday, Colonies will do it up right for the kids at The Den, playing a gig with Freeze and Fur Coat and Xylophones that starts at 7 p.m. and also costs $6.

A long time ago in a far away place (like, sometime last year, in Ron Swarner's poor, poor condo), the Weekly Volcano reviewed Colonies' debut EP, Sleep Patterns. At the time, we probably said things about the rising indie band like, "Colonies demonstrate they know their way around a loud/soft dynamic better than most," and "Singer Travis Shumate's vocals glide atop cascading walls of on-the-money guitar work and stampeding drums, just as well as they sit beside beautiful silences."

But who knows. We were also probably high.

In preparation for Colonies' two record release shows in Tacoma this week, we caught up with Shumate to get his take on things. This interview will be posted in two parts, with the second portion scheduled to hit Spew on Friday.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: First of all, the natural place to start is with the new record. In 2008 the Weekly Volcano reviewed Sleep Patterns - and we liked what we heard. Where will this new record take us?

TRAVIS SHUMATE: Thirty Thousand is a warmer record. There is more movement and texture.

In addition to being a longer recording (13 songs), there is a greater variety of material. From an acoustic-based Spanish pop song to dark piano-based songs, we didn't refuse any idea based on style. But even though there is a wide variety in the styles of the songs, there is certainly a more cohesive feel based around the overall mood and lyrical themes of the record.

VOLCANO: Readers want to know - Thirty Thousand what?

SHUMATE: This record is based on the Argentine Dirty War from 1976 to 1983. The Argentine military dictatorship took control of the government and carried out atrocious acts of terrorism against its citizenry. Up to 30,000 Argentine citizens were murdered or disappeared. The songs on this record tell different stories from the perspective of the Argentine people in this period of history, with the themes of the album ranging from love and fear to victory and freedom.

VOLCANO: How has the band evolved since Sleep Patterns, and does that show up on Thirty Thousand?

SHUMATE: Since we recorded Sleep Patterns, we have added Ben Wheeler to the band. Ben is an extremely competent musician, and the record illustrates that. From upright bass and clarinet to pump organ and mandolin, Ben's addition to the band has helped solidify the sound we have been searching for.

We have also figured out what we do well as a band. We have worked more on creating a dynamic record with more restraint. South American melodies and rhythms play a larger role in our songs, balancing out the Puget Sound influences that we can't seem to shake.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jaquilyn Shumate Photography