Photo Credit // Corey Terrill
towns, so they appreciated
when bands would come
through,” adds Rubenstein.
Eventually, ItO got a
booking agent and toured
with other bands on a more
professional level, but that
didn’t stop its DIY ethos in
the least.
Icarus the Owl knows full well
that a big break is statistically
unlikely—this does not deter
its members, and while I
am sure they would love a
magic hand to swoop down
and make them a largely
26
TO N E TA LK
//
famous band, they are at
peace with the slow build.
Those members are creating
a buzz for themselves with a
special blend of progressive
pop-rock—often in an odd
time signature, chock full of
guitar tapping, and almost
always catchy as hell. The
band doesn’t quite fit in with
metal bands or pop bands
and it finds itself purposively
straddling many genres.
While off-kilter rhythms
and guitar wankery isn’t for
everyone, the band at least
makes it catchy for fans
of pop music and it’s not
crammed into every single
song.
“I am a firm believer that
pop music and technical
musicianship can coexist.
Techy songs don’t always
need to be 11 minutes long
and melodically inaccessible.
Maybe we can trick a few
pop fans into appreciating
the 5/4 time signature.
I mean, the Mission:
Impossible theme made it
happen,” Rubenstein half-
jokingly remarks.
stro n g er wi n g s // a c hat with icaru s th e owl’ s j o ey ru b en stei n