A Big-Eared Southern Sound

This Statesboro-bred quartet took their name from the arresting, glowing aura of the late-afternoon Georgia sun that often penetrated the baffles of their tiny rehearsal space. So, too, glows the music emanating from The Orange Constant’s confident and polished debut, Time To Go, which was engineered and recorded at R.E.M. and Widespread Panic producer John Keane’s Athens, Ga., studio. Laden with connective riffs and melodious charm, much of the album evokes a ‘70s FM AOR vibe, without appearing self-conscious. At times, these four musicians—who met on the campus of Georgia Southern University a little over three years ago—sneak in drops of reggae and a West Coast haze that slightly belies their firmly planted roots. “From the start, we knew we wanted to be a band that was known for original material,” says drummer Lee Guentert. “Accessible, somewhat catchy, but at the same time, diverse and drawing from a lot of genres to form our own unique sound.” Though he admits he has been surprised by the support the group has received across the Atlantic—thanks to their Europe’s progressive leanings—Guentert insists that the band intends to continue to grow their fanbase at home, and they are currently performing over a dozen dates per month throughout the Southern U.S.