Something From Nothing

Go! feature

When Screaming Mimes first got together in 2002, they made sure that the music came first and foremost, above any dream of hitting the big time.

Since then, the Mimes have encountered some modest success: Good reviews and local radio play for the debut full-length CD “Live My Life” in 2002 and a serious of prestigious gigs, including four MidPoint Music Festivals, two Earth Day concerts, and two Redsfests, where the band performed in front of crowds as large as 38,000 people.

The downside is that with a concern for quality production and juggling the demands of day jobs and families, it takes a long time to get the music out there.

But the time has arrived, and Screaming Mimes will celebrate the release of their second CD, “Tragedy Comic,” Jan. 18 at the Southgate House.

“We went into it with all intents and purposes of getting it out in 2006,” said guitarist Randy Campbell, a graduate of Ross High School, who also co-produced the effort with singer/songwriter David Storm. “It’s been a long process, but I think the final product is a giant step up from our first CD.”

Of course, such a long production time means that the shape and focus of the project evolved, but Campbell said there was no overall plan except to present the new songs as a cohesive unit.

“We had changed drummers just before the last record, so this is the record that presents us as we are now,” he said. “All of the songs were hand-picked for the album and we wanted something that flowed a little nicer.”

The band is making sure that the next set doesn’t take quite so long, admittedly putting together a grab-bag of songs for release later in 2008.

“This will be a hodge-podge of stuff that we’re pulling from the vault,” he said.

In the meantime, “Tragedy Comic” will be available at area record stores and online (with samples) at www.CDBaby.com. Tracks from both albums can also be heard at www.myspace.com/screamingmimes.