Chapel Hill-based Cool Ethan formed in State College, Pennsylvania while swimming in a sea of cover bands and college bars. After refining their live show and building a following, the band headed south for the warmer climate and venues of North Carolina. When chief songwriter and guitarist Sean Spollen was diagnosed with tinnitus and hearing loss in his left ear in late 2007, the young band’s future quickly became uncertain. As Spollen took a hiatus from playing live, the band’s original bass player also departed to focus on another project. Things suddenly seemed bleak, but Spollen, singer Bart Hipp, and drummer Jim Logrando, weren’t ready to give up yet. After auditioning a range of local musicians and experimenting with a few short-lived line-ups, Cool Ethan added lead guitarist Tyler Drake, a fellow Pennsylvania transplant attending Duke University. The band continued to play local shows, with Hipp taking over the rhythm guitar duties, as they tightened up their live set and worked on new material. Using sound-muffling drum pads and acoustic guitars for low-volume practices, Spollen continued to be an integral part of the songwriting process from off the stage. The band worked hard, progressed, and solidified their rhythm section by bringing in bassist Jay Lowe, a long-time friend of the band who had recently graduated college and was ready to commit to the project. In the summer of 2008, Cool Ethan entered the studio to record their debut EP, Songs For Your Self-Esteem. Tracked and mixed at Last Chance Studio in Durham, NC by Canon O’Briant, the EP showcases the band’s progressive pop-punk sound, fusing driving drums and guitars with catchy hooks and plenty of vocal harmonies. Mastered by Derron Nuhfer of Less Than Jake, the EP’s five songs glisten with thoughtful lyrics and melodies that listeners won’t easily forget. From the tasteful percussion loops of “Relapse” to the epic final track, “The Homecoming Game,” Cool Ethan pushes the boundaries of pop-punk, while maintaining the energy and attitude of the genre. As Songs For Your Self-Esteem was being mixed and mastered, Spollen had enough of sitting on the sidelines. Equipped with custom hearing protection and a “you only live once” attitude, Spollen rejoined Cool Ethan on stage in October, bringing with him the extra energy and additional vocal harmonies needed to take the band’s live show to the next level. Armed with an expansive fan base and a brand new EP, Cool Ethan is poised to make their mark on the world. Judging from the band’s touring plans and catalog of new songs in the works, you should expect to see big things from Cool Ethan in 2009.
