When The Features made their major label debut, 2004’s Exhibit A, and exploded with the coiled energy of Eddie Vedder fronting The Voidoids while maintaining an exquisite melodic sense, the Sparta, Tenn., quartet had already been a band for a decade. Starting out as an eighth grade trio covering Camper Van Beethoven and Guns N’ Roses, The Features expanded to a college quintet and self-released an eponymous EP in 1997. The group then signed with Spongebath, a label started by Self’s Matt Mahaffey, but things didn’t pan out (two full-lengths were shelved) and the band released The Beginning EP on Fierce Panda in 2003.
The Features toured constantly and the buzz surrounding The Beginning attracted bigger label attention, which resulted in a deal with Universal. The label reissued The Beginning in 2004, quickly followed by the irresistible Exhibit A. But a lack of promotion sank the album. Universal wanted The Features to cover The Beatles’ “All You Need is Love” for a credit card commercial and when they refused, they were dropped.
The Features soldiered on, self-releasing 2006’s Contrast EP and 2008’s full-length Some Kind of Salvation. In 2009, Bug Music and Kings of Leon formed the Serpents & Snakes label, and The Features were their first signing. The label reissued Salvation, followed by the album Wilderness in 2011 (the song “How It Starts” was used in a Mustang campaign; they’re not averse to commercial work in the right context) and their eponymous and excellent fourth album last year.
While The Features have always successfully translated their visceral energy in the studio, it’s their live presentation that seals the deal. Get Featured in person.
THE FEATURES play The Ballroom at the Taft Theatre on Friday with Seabird. Tickets/more info
here .
This article appears in Sep 10-16, 2014.
