Earthbound Misfits enter new universe
BY JULIA COX (cape cod times)

EBM will be appearing on "Cape Cod Covers Vol II" to be released in June '07. Details
Earthbound Misfits are more than just a Cape Cod cover band. You can find out why Friday night, at the release party for their original album, ''Undercover Hero.''
With influences ranging from Pink Floyd to Santana, Earthbound Misfits have rocked various Cape venues for years, but Friday's performance at the British Beer Company in Falmouth will mark a new stage in their musical career.
Guitarist Rick Lockwood and British bassist Steve Vaughan have merged their musical styles to create a rock sound that often defies categorization. The musicians mix plenty of catchy hooks with blues, jazz and Latin twists, sometimes channeling Brit-pop rhythms and always bringing a contemporary feel to their songs. In the past the band has depended on revolving session drummers, but Jim Beauchaine is the percussionist who now completes the trio. ''We all get along well musically because we respect each other,'' says Vaughan.
Lockwood and Vaughan started the recording process with only fragments of their CD pinned down. Both agree, though, that despite the financial and scheduling hardships, the creative experience of messing around in the studio was amazing, and listening to the finished product was gratifying.
''Our approach is unconventional,'' says Vaughan. Lockwood and Vaughan put together their own songs; occasionally they don't even appear on the same track. This approach ''allows for creative freedom that always seems to come together,'' says Vaughan. The CD maintains cohesiveness throughout; the last track even ties together themes and titles from previous songs and alludes to universal messages of the album.
''Undercover Hero'' is for sale at Earthbound Misfits shows, Borders in Hyannis, and online at CDBaby.com. So far, word of mouth has brought excellent feedback to the band mates. They have integrated some new music into their recent cover gigs, but Friday's performance will be the broadest showcase of their original work.
The diversity of Lockwood and Vaughan's sound mirrors the diversity of their roots. Vaughan spent most of his life in England, where he developed his musical tastes and honed his talent. Having spent a year on the Cape as a kid, he moved back to the states and soon after met up with Lockwood, who had pursued his own musical passion on both U.S. coasts. Lockwood owns The Guitar Shop on Jones Road in Falmouth, which he opened in 2004. This intersection of cultures produced a band that doesn't pigeonhole itself into one genre; EBM maintains a creative flexibility that is worth checking out.

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