Without music, I’m not very good at functioning. Which is why during this past week I’ve been incessantly humming, whistling, tapping, singing, and just plain not paying attention to others because I’ve been too busy paying attention to the music in my head. I’m in the process of moving, and with my computer in the old place, a nonexistent radio in the new one and a broken Ipod in the purse that goes back and forth from one to the other, I’ve had to make my own music.
So I’m sitting in front of a bonfire at my friend’s house, humming yet again. My friend questions, “Is that the same song you were singing yesterday?”
“Yeah, it’s The Same Fire,” I reply. He thinks I have some sort of visual-to-verbal association that causes me to say the wrong thing. But I don’t. It’s the same song. It’s The Same Fire, and it’s been burning in me for a week.
It’s hard coming across those bands that you fall in love with instantly. And I’m someone that believes that love takes time. But with Bishop Allen, love came easily. Each song is unique and worth the listen. It caused me to not only adore them, but to respect the music that was finding me wondering why my heels were near my head.
Band members Christian Rudder, Justin Rice, Jack Delamitraux, “and friends” create songs that contrast greatly 
yet come together perfectly all at once. While Butterfly Nets starts out with a Hawaiian feel, complete with a ukulele, innocence and charm, Busted Heart has a harder edge with lyrics to boot. I found myself wasting an afternoon in which I should have been unpacking just listening to the diverse songs over and over. And over again. They didn’t get old and they stuck with me throughout the week. Each time Flight 180 said “If you feel like dancin’/ Dance with me,” I did. When The Same Fire told me I was beautiful, I believed it. I clapped along with The Monitor, broke my heart with Busted Heart, and realized only too soon that Things Are What You Make Of Them.
And if Things Are What You Make Of Them, Bishop Allen’s making the most of everything. Ambition is definitely their forte. As if making music, acting in movies (Justin’s in Mutual Appreciation, in theaters this fall), and successfully running and distributing their music on their own label (The Champagne School) weren’t enough, then take a look at their EP-A-Month Project. They’re halfway through this project, which they note as both excellent and weird. I’d say more excellent than weird. A new record every month? Love just keeps on giving.
After singlehandedly pumping up Bishop Allen’s plays on myspace , I decided it was time to get my own little piece of heaven. When I visited their website , it informed me that my cart was lonely. It wasn’t for long. I quickly bought Charm School, their full-length album that All Music Guide says is “How rock was meant to be.” Which to me, is love. And if this is how love was meant to be, then I hope The Same Fire burns forever. 
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