With only one full-length album to its name, the up-and-coming post-hardcore band Saosin will start its nine-week stint on the Taste of Chaos Tour on Thursday, making a quick detour from the chaos to visit Chico State on Friday.
Saosin, pronounced "say-oh-sin," released its self-titled album in November, and it hit No. 22 on the Billboard Top 200 chart in its first week.
Since the album was released, the band has been touring the United States and Europe to promote it.
"Every tour changes because we've never really had a record out," said bassist Chris Sorenson. "But it's hard to complain about an all-expense-paid trip around the world."
Saosin could be compared to the popular post-hardcore, screamo, emo rock of bands such as Thursday, Taking Back Sunday and The Used.
Even with Saosin's mainstream success, it has been able to maintain its underground mystique, Sorenson said.
The band draws most of its inspiration from bands outside today's mainstream rock styling, citing Oasis, In Flames and Pearl Jam as its main influences.
"I think our musical approach is different because we don't listen to bands that started the scene," Sorensen said.
With the huge success of rock groups such as Panic! At The Disco, which got a record deal while most of its members were just out of high school, Saosin has been critical of bands that walk onto the music scene with ease because most have been relying more on image than talent, Sorenson said.
"It's not about make-up and blood and bats," Sorenson said. "It's about musicianship and song writing."
Although Saosin is very critical of the music it creates, the band members are not afraid to speak their minds about albums that are similar to Saosin's genre, Sorensen said.
"If a CD that comes out sucks, even if they're our friends, we're going to call them on it," Sorensen said.
As the Taste of Chaos Tour starts, Saosin will be playing with radio favorites The Used, 30 Seconds to Mars and Senses Fail to sold-out crowds in basketball arenas and large amphitheaters around the U.S.
The band enjoys playing at smaller venues because of the intimacy, Sorenson said.
"If the response is good, the difference between 500 kids and thousands of kids doesn't matter," Sorenson said. "You really lose your perception of depth with larger venues."
Saosin hopes to one day incorporate into its shows the imagery and spectacle of great live bands such as Muse and Pink Floyd.
"We haven't yet reached our goal of completely involving the audience, but hopefully we'll get there some day," Sorenson said.
Saosin will play with Halifax and Idle Discourse at 8 p.m. Friday in the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 at the University Box Office with a student ID, $12 without. Check out www.aschico.com/presents for more information.
Mike Murphy can be reached at mmurphy@theorion.com
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