There's no place like home

Priory goes national, but this electro-pop band loves being from Portland

When Priory took to the main stage during Portland’s second annual Project Pabst music festival two weeks ago, they played in front of a few hundred fans and spectators in the 90-degree weather on the waterfront beneath the Ross Island Bridge.

Lead singer Brandon Rush drank a Pabst during and between sets and joked backstage in their trailer that not only was it too hot out, but it also was one of the smaller shows they’ve played recently. The band signed with Warner Brothers Records this past spring after their hit single, “Weekend,” took the radiowaves by storm and had major record label executives coveting the band.

“It was a very intimate show. One of the smaller shows we’ve played in a long time,” says Rush, a former Franklin High School student who ended up graduating from Vancouver School of Arts and Academics. “It felt great, but it was too hot.

“We’re in Portland. As a Portlander, our bodies can’t handle this weather. We’re of a different breed.”

Priory, an electro-pop-meets-alt-rock group that recently toured, might be well-known across the country, but that wave of fans hasn’t quite won over the fans in the City of Roses. And Rush and best friend, former roommate and guitarist Kyle Sears are fine with that.

Truly.

“We never set out to be just a Portland band, and we’re OK with that, though we love and are from Portland,” says Rush, 32. “But there is a reason we haven’t moved to Los Angeles or New York City. We love Portland. And our record label wants us out there.”

Sears, 30 and originally from Yakima, Wash., added, however, that it’s always a bonus playing in Portland because “we can stay in our own homes and don’t have to stay in a hotel. We don’t want to move anywhere else.”

Though the duo, along with their traveling band members, Joe Mengis (drums, Reynolds High grad), 36, and Miles Johnson (bass), 24 and from Beaverton and a cousin of Rush’s, have been together since 2009, it took tweaking their style to have the pick when it came to signing a major record label deal.

“More or less Brandon and Kyle are in charge, although we are all considered band members,” Johnson says. “Those guys have their sound and creative process nailed. I’m doing my best to take everything in stride, but it’s certainly surreal.”

And, ultimately, Warner Brothers Records made the most sense since they got to structure their own contract and are guaranteed a second album, along with all the freedom they want, which is important to them, according to Rush and Sears.

“We started recording and playing music a long time ago,” Rush says. “Even when we went our separate ways for a few years, Kyle started sending me tracks.

“We’re always writing, always have things in the works. This process takes a long time, and some things are out of our control. Kyle is a wealth of melodic ideas. Hopefully we’ll have another album within a year. Trust me, we have the songs.”

The group recorded and produced its newest and first major record label album, “Need To Know,” which dropped April 7, in their home studio Loud War in Vancouver, Wash. — the same studio where Willie Nelson got his start during the 1960s.

“Willie (Nelson) and others recorded some of their first albums here,” Sears says. “When we’re home, which hasn’t been often of late, we’re always there in the studio. We only have a 24-hour limit each day. It’s all about time.”

Rush and Sears had help mixing the album between a couple of sessions in London with legendary producer/mixer Mark “Spike” Stent, who has worked with some of the best in the business, including U2, Bjork, Lady Gaga, Oasis and Coldplay. That’s quite a track record.

“He’s a sound legend,” Sears says of his experience working with Stent. “He really liked the new album. And he doesn’t just work with anybody. It was quite the honor.”

This was a nice follow-up from their four-song EP that dropped last year, featuring “Weekend,” which became a fan and charts favorite. They performed “Weekend” on the ABC late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

“As a musician, you always dream about playing on TV — it’s probably the coolest thing we’ve done so far,” Mengis says.

Priory was deemed a USA Today “On the Verge” artist, SPIN “Artist You Must See,” MTV “Artist To Watch,” Delta “Artist of the Month,” and more.

Rush and Sears offer that they’re their own worst critics, just like many in their craft. However, the two were quite satisfied with the end result this time.

“When we first started recording the album, we would lock ourselves in our studio for 12-to-15-hour days,” Sears says with a chuckle, emphasizing the hard work that went into the project. “We weren’t sure what people would think. We knew that both of us were going to like our record. And we don’t give a (expletive) about (becoming) famous. We just want our music to become (famous) and inspire.”

The album consists of one catchy tune after another. The album is 35 minutes long with 10 tracks, including their newest hit single “Put ‘Em Up,” which hits home especially for Rush.

“Hopefully it’s the next big push for us,” Rush says. “We wrote this song about two years ago. It’s all a part of the fight (for gay rights). It was written as a personal experience because my brother is gay and had a rough time growing up in the church. And then he joined the Air Force, where he was harassed when it was still hidden and the ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ rule still applied. He’s doing fine now.”

Sears completely agrees with Rush and hopes the new single can help inspire all

people dealing with their

sexuality.

“We’re celebrating now. I’m just happy to be in a country where gay marriage is legal,” Sears says. “It’s still very frowned upon around the world and here still. We still have a long ways to go, but again, we’re celebrating the victory.”

Rush has been married to wife Marcy for eight years; Sears has been married to wife Kailey for eight years as well.

Priory recently came off tour, after opening for English indie band Kaiser Chiefs, which went from April 20 through May 17.

“The tour went really well, and it felt like we won over a lot of the (Kaiser Chiefs) fans,” Rush says. “People again were responding well to the new

album.”

Priory has actually played in Portland only a handful of times, but they’ve played past shows in the Portland area with headlining acts Foster The People, Young the Giant, and The Kooks.

This fall, the band hits the road for its first headlining tour.

“Nothing is locked in, but we know who we want as our opener,” Rush says, “but we’re for sure playing Portland. Probably at the Wonder Ballroom, Crystal Ballroom, Roseland or even an intimate show at the Doug Fir Lounge. Who knows, though.”

The two haven’t let any outside noise distract them from doing what they love, which is writing and performing music.

“No one gets this opportunity,” Rush says of their early success. “And we aren’t going to start becoming ungrateful. It’s a pretty big dream come true.”

“It’s a ridiculous life!” Sears quickly adds. “Sometimes you’re really tired, sometimes you’re really happy, and sometimes you just want to cry. But in the end, we like to work, and we choose to roll with it.”

Says Mengis: “It’s your classical Cinderella story. The entire industry loved our work and it all happened really quickly.”

Rush and Sears aren’t quite ready for the fame that comes with the nature of the beast that is music and performing at big venues.

“This is not cliché. I honestly hate the pop culture (expletive),” Rush says. “And I know that’s the thing you’re supposed to say. I get anxiety on things that are cultural hyped up. It’s a lot of pressure. I just want to hang out and have fun. The rest of it is fake.”

When the two do get some extra time they like to lounge at their vintage studio, relax and drink some whiskey.

“If we want to drink whiskey at noon ... we’ll do that,” Sears says. “We love our freedom.”

They hope to someday make Priory a legitimate Portland band. But for the time being, the two are satisfied with how things are turning out.