The Central Standards

Adapted from the band's website at http://www.centralstandards.com At the time of their first show together early in 2001, The Central Standards' founding members and songwriters Jeff Capps and Ted Horrell had no intention of forming a band. After stints with Missouri groups 10shy (One of These Years) and Resident Clark (Horseshoes and Handgrenades), Capps and Horrell both had embarked on careers as high school teachers.

At the time of their first show together early in 2001, The Central Standards' founding members and songwriters Jeff Capps and Ted Horrell had no intention of forming a band. After stints with Missouri groups 10shy (One of These Years) and Resident Clark (Horseshoes and Handgrenades), Capps and Horrell both had embarked on careers as high school teachers. The two singer/songwriter friends, who taught in classrooms next door to each other, booked the show simply as an opportunity to perform--a chance for each to work out some new songs and strum along together on a few from each artist's existing catalogues. What happened from that point, however, was a result of the two artists' mutual respect for each other's songwriting and a shared drive to continue creating compelling, lyric-driven music.

The Central Standards, as they came to be known, started as a duo, featuring Capps and Horrell both playing acoustic guitar and sharing vocal duties in a way that many said was reminiscent of early acoustic rockers like the Everly Brothers. While the two reworked many of the songs they had written with their respective bands, Capps and Horrell focused on crafting new original tunes that complemented their two-guitar, two-voice style. Both appreciated this kind of classic, stripped-down approach and the fact that they were hearing little of it on the music scene at the time. Beginning in 2001 and continuing through 2002, The Central Standards played dozens of shows in and around their hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. They became known primarily for their inspired delivery of sharp roots/pop original tunes and also unique acoustic arrangements of songs by artists ranging from the Kinks to Bruce Springsteen to Stephen Malkmus....

By the end of 2002, having established their joint performance style and built up a catalogue of new original songs, the duo was ready to expand its vision. On a trip to New Orleans in February 2003, Capps and Horrell committed to the idea of filling out the band's sound, while still attempting to maintain the dual singer/songwriter approach for which they had come to be recognized. Shortly thereafter, The Central Standards began rehearsing with drummer Marty Christopher and bassist Casey Smith. The 4-piece incarnation of The Central Standards played its first show on May 24, 2002.

[Three albums later, sounding as great as ever!]