Friends since elementary school, Michael Harris and Daniel Anderson began to collaborate musically at age 12, forming your typical run-of-the-mill full-member bands. Eventually they settled into being a two-piece, recording acoustic demos at a local studio in their hometown of Bellingham, WA. The studio’s staff took them under their wing and helped the boys learn the mechanics of production and engineering, which later proved to be key in the band’s development as they spent the next several years conceptualizing and executing their vision. After compiling songs for about two years, the duo’s debut full-length album was finished, the self-released Strange We Should Meet Here. Constructed in Anderson's bedroom on pirated software, and mixed and mastered at the same local studio, Seattle radio stations began spinning tracks from the album. This started a bidding war for the band which led Harris and Anderson to sign with Reprise Records, which re-released Strange We Should Meet Here in 2005.<br /><br />Despite the album, a tour with Team Sleep, and a stint on Rockstar Taste Of Chaos being well-received, no one would have expected what the band would achieve with their second album, Wolves, which they recorded earlier this year with Ross Robinson (At The Drive-In, Glassjaw) and Mark Hoppus (bassist for +44 and Blink-182). Wolves takes Idiot Pilot’s sound to previously unexplored cinematic levels. “What was important to me was that Ross was always very concerned about the spirit of the song,” explains Harris, who paints Robinson more as a guru than a producer.<br /><br />Although the band and producer struggled during the recording due to Harris and Anderson’s perfectionist tendencies, ultimately Wolves is that much stronger for its omniscient sense of tension. “We love and respect Ross, but the way that we operate is that everyone’s opinion is offered up and then we reach a specific compromise,” Harris explains about the way these two 21-year-olds have been collaborating for nearly a decade. “I think we’re probably one of the more difficult bands he’s worked with because we have such a strong idea of what we want,” he continues. “It was definitely important for us to let go of certain aspects and let him have his take on things—and I think that made the record better.”<br /><br />Wolves, as a recording project, represents many firsts for the band. Not only was it the first time they looked to outside sources for production and collaboration, it also marked the beginning of Harris contributing musically to the recordings by playing various instruments. The resulting balance is also being reproduced in the band’s new live setup with Harris playing guitar onstage and a live drummer.<br /><br />In addition to Anderson's unique programming, which provides much of the Idiot Pilot sound, Wolves also features live drums, courtesy of Blink-182/Transplants drummer Travis Barker on “Elephant” and the Dillinger Escape Plan’s Chris Pennie on the remaining tracks. “When we called Chris, I was surprised to hear how into the record he was based on his previous work,” Anderson explains, referring to Pennie's bent for technical jazz-tinged metal. “It was a very different vibe than just getting a hired drummer; he was very much a part of the process.”<br /><br />Anderson shouldn’t be too surprised that Pennie loved Wolves. The soaring symphonic opener “Last Chance” will hook listeners immediately; anthemic rockers such as “In Record Shape” and “Red Museum” will lull them into a false sense of security that is eventually shattered by cathartic screams; and more straight-ahead down-tempo tracks, such as “Theme From The Pit,” prove that despite the band’s well-placed aggressive tendencies, there’s a pop foundation at the heart of Idiot Pilot that keeps them grounded while their music arcs toward the stratosphere.<br /><br />Indeed, in many ways Wolves marks a reinvention for Idiot Pilot, who have already garnered much attention from overseas. “I definitely feel like this album is a huge progression for us, and I’m just excited to see what happens next,” Harris says, "Music is the one thing that I will always be working on no matter what financial state I’m in,” he says. “If I go broke making music, I don’t care. This is what I live for.” http://www.imeem.com/idiotpilot Delta 0 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <br />Monday, August 4, 2008 - 11:54pmWe are playing a show here in Bellingham, WA on the night of August 23rd! It's going to be at The Nightlight and it's going to be all ages so you can bring all your little friends, literally! NICE! No-Fi Soul Rebellion is going to be there too! If there are tickets available then they are probably just flying out the door but I don't know right now because, well, it's late. Anyway, you guys should come, maybe we will play some new songs.<br /><br /> Idiot Pilot blog http://www.imeem.com/idiotpilot/blogs/2008/08/07/TiduWXeF/oh-whoa-holy-cow-fun Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:56:06 -0000 uN9qG6fZkn Hello friends, those of us over here at Camp Idiot Pilot regret to inform you that we are going to be pulling out of the last 4 shows of our current headlining tour with Nurses. Specifically that means that the Denver, Casper, Rapid City and Billings shows are all canceled. This has occurred after taking our drummer Ryan Soukkala to the hospital this morning this morning. He had been having trouble breathing after shows and eventually started coughing up blood, so we took him in and discovered that he has come down with a nasty case of pneumonia. We are currently in route back up to Bellingham were we are taking him to the hospital there. Thank you all so much for your understanding. We will be back soon to make it up to you.<br /><br /><br />Daniel<br /> Idiot Pilot blog http://www.imeem.com/idiotpilot/blogs/2008/06/26/5eDrdsfa/show-cancellation Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:59:14 -0000 WqxmjPABPU In June we're going on a co-headline tour with The Nurses!! Check out the dates below and come see us rock when we're in your city. And don't worry if you don't see your town on there yet, there are more dates COMING SOON!<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/2564301168_76ce388761_o.jpg"> Idiot Pilot blog http://www.imeem.com/idiotpilot/blogs/2008/06/26/oneS2GII/tour-with-the-nurses Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:57:18 -0000 t1msGRCD2N <a href="http://links.imeem.com/23u86EHQM" title="http://www.idiotpilot.com/user"><img src="http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/8254/guitarbanner4ys7.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a><br /> Idiot Pilot contest http://www.imeem.com/idiotpilot/blogs/2008/04/16/K2BciMEE/enter-to-win-a-signed-guitar-from-idiot-pilot Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:32:23 -0000 U1u7xUCX6b Some more press about Idiot Pilot, Taste of Chaos, and Wolves. Ch-ch-check it out!<br /><br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/232X7DUyK" title="http://media.www.newsrecord.org/media/storage/paper693/news/2008/02/28/ArtsEntertainment/Idiot.Pilot.Touches.Down.In.Ohio-3239205.shtml">The News Record</a><br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/23J67EUyK" title="http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/entertainment/entertainment_item.asp?NewsID=596">The Recorder</a><br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/233X7FUyK" title="http://www.rabbitholemusic.com/wordpress/?p=79">Rabbit Hole Music</a><br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/234X7GUyK" title="http://www.soundthesirens.com/zine/?p=328">Sound the Sirens - STREAMING OF "CRUEL WORLD ENTERPRISE"</a><br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/235X7HUyK" title="http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/13622/tempidx/1/menuid/1">Blistering</a><br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/13pMIUyK" title="http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/press_releases/idiot_pilot_release_wolves__join_rockstar_taste_of_chaos_tour.html">Ultimate Guitar</a> Idiot Pilot blog http://www.imeem.com/idiotpilot/blogs/2008/03/12/MqOEjR9c/read-about-us Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:31:15 -0000 mDZiElKt0G With our new album out and the Taste of Chaos tour on its way we've been getting a TON of press. Check out these links:<br /><br />FEATURE INTERVIEWS<br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/23cJ7unfK" title="http://www.grandcentralmagazine.com/arts_ent/4/">Grand Central Magazine</a><br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/23dJ7vnfK" title="http://www.avoidthescene.com/interviews/view.php?id=13">Avoid the Scene</a><br /><br />"Wolves" REVIEWS<br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/23eJ7wnfK" title="http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/02/29/212720.php">BC Magazine</a><br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/23fJ7xnfK" title="http://acedmagazine.com/content/view/970/44/">Aced Magazine</a><br /><br />PRESS RELEASE<br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/23a02ynfK" title="http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/02/18/idiot_pilot_drops_second_album_titled_wo">StarPulse Entertainment</a><br /><br />TASTE OF CHAOS<br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/23te6znfK" title="http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/genre/e3i074b6c9d80a4405046bb281727193a99">Billboard.biz</a><br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/23zg2-nfK" title="http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/16076177.html">Star Tribune</a><br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/23n66_ofK" title="http://www.livedaily.com/news/13714.html">Live Daily</a><br /><br />And don't forget to pick up "Wolves" and come see out on the tour!! Idiot Pilot press http://www.imeem.com/idiotpilot/blogs/2008/03/05/S10ynNFx/press-clips Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:22:16 -0000 E56dOcGmwj Idiot Pilot http://www.imeem.com/idiotpilot/video/UzLv9aJ9/idiot-pilot-planted-in-the-dark-music-video/ Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:53:37 -0000 <div><a href="http://www.imeem.com/idiotpilot/video/UzLv9aJ9/idiot-pilot-planted-in-the-dark-music-video/"><img width="100" height="75" border="0" src="http://srv0204-05.sjc3.imeem.com/g/v/7b75568d9ec34ef00071051b7dbd47bc_00010.jpg" title="Click to play this video"/></a></div> hv8W0DTKTj Go and read what Absolutepunk.net <a href="http://links.imeem.com/234B7oTSK" title="http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=300357">thinks of "Wolves"</a>... Idiot Pilot press http://www.imeem.com/idiotpilot/blogs/2008/03/01/5mbTvsxA/absolute-punk-reviews-us Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:06:11 -0000 M3EzygX7L2 Idiot Pilot's "Planted in the Dark" is now featured on the music videos page of MySpace!!!! Check it out here....<br /><br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/23o67b7MK" title="http://ca.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=videos"><img src="http://a808.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/23/l_b935552103fbb403af38fc18fe98998f.png"></a> Idiot Pilot press http://www.imeem.com/idiotpilot/blogs/2008/02/27/fiBXGDTS/were-featured-on-myspace-again Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:03:03 -0000 8KHmA1fyui Click on over to the fuse.tv site to <a href="http://links.imeem.com/23te4YpFK" title="http://fuse.tv/contests/idiot-pilot/index.php">enter to win</a> an awesome Idiot Pilot package, including an iPod touch!! Also, check out the rest of the site for <a href="http://links.imeem.com/23te4ZpFK" title="http://fuse.tv/tv/taste-of-chaos/index.php">everything you need to know about our upcoming Taste of Chaos tour!!!</a> Idiot Pilot contest http://www.imeem.com/idiotpilot/blogs/2008/02/25/V8hqdWVf/fusetv-contest Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:49:42 -0000 8RrC4W3Hgc