Camera Can't Lie

In three words, they're Camera Can't Lie.

In one word, they're passionate.

This Minneapolis-based band consists of Eric Arjes (vocals/guitar), Josh Bendell (drums), Kyle Lindsay (bass), Tim Nustad (keys/sampling) and Travis Stearns (lead guitar/vocals). In the past few months, CCL has been spotlighted on several big-time sites such as The Daily Chorus (top third unsigned band) and PureVolume (where "Losing You" was the most-played song for six days in a row). But the band is certainly not letting the success get to their head.

"A title is only a title," said Arjes. "We're very proud of the work we put into our music. We work very very hard and don't take it for granted ... There were a lot of great bands on [The Daily Chorus], and it's incredible to get that respect."

CCL released their first album, Love the Noise, in December of 2006 and their latest album, Camera Can't Lie EP, in July of 2007. The sound is much like Switchfoot, with hopeful, enlightening lyrics that many kids of the younger generation can relate to.

"[The lyrics] are influenced from life and what life throws at you," said Arjes, who writes most of CCL's lyrics. "I feel boring sometimes, though, like I haven't been through that many hardships, so I like to take my friends' experiences and express what they may not be able to. I just want the music to mean something."

The entire band helps collaborate on the instrumentals of the music, creating something that the whole band can be proud of. Their music is melodic and keyboard-inspired with very catchy choruses. Don't be surprised if their songs (particularly "Losing You") get stuck in your head for days.

Camera Can't Lie is currently touring and putting out demos with hopes of getting into the studio later this year. They've played over 150 shows in their time span and just finished up with the Always Clothing Tour with Windsor Drive and select dates with Abandon Kansas.

"It was our first tour down south and there were a lot of kids," said Arjes. "We had a lot of fun. It was pretty relaxing and very successful."

As a band that's always on the road, Arjes said that playing all the live shows for different kids is one of his favorite parts of being in a band.

"Getting on stage every night for 30 to 40 minutes is just a whole different world," Arjes said. "It's an experience that you can't really relate to anything else. Music has such an impact on me as it has to so many others. It's an amazing way to connect with people."

While the boys have toured many areas of the country, being from the Midwest certainly doesn't get their hopes down. In fact, they think it helps.

"When you're on the coast, it's so overpopulated and harder to stick out," said Arjes. "Here, it's easy to be original and unique and you still have so many opportunities."

I predict these boys will be playing many many shows in the future and are a rising star in our area. It's only a matter of time until they are 'discovered' by a label that believes in them as much as their large fan-base does. You can check them out at www.myspace.com/cameracantlie.