There are musicians, and then there are entertainers. Crown the Cake aims to be both.
Crown the Cake’s vocalist and co-founder Jame Lathren said anyone can get on stage in flip-flops and play songs, but a band needs some real pizazz to make an impact. That mentality has been the group’s motto for the eight years they’ve been together — it’s also why their online bio is the word-for-word definition of a wolverine.
“We like to mix it up by always doing something different ... I sat down to write a bio for something, and I thought it would be absurd to just do something bland. So, I looked up the definition of a wolverine,” Lathren said. “I think that aptly describes us.”
And their bio does not lie. Lathren and co-founder Sara Thomas , who is now on hiatus, play together with bassist Mark Bennett and drummer Mitch Martin to make some powerful, "ferocious" music.
Over the years, Crown the Cake has tried slower and more melodic tunes, but with a history of rocking out, the music always seems to go back to the underlying punk sound, accompanied by the requisite kicking over of guitar stands.
They’re often compared to the post-hardcore bands signed to Dischord Records in the late ’80s and early ’90s, but Crown the Cake has their own way of doing things on stage and behind the scenes. There’s a mutual understanding among the members, and that’s why they’re able to discuss music on a deeper, artistic level.
“I sometimes talk about songs in the context of a color. So, when we’re learning a song, I’ll say, ‘Okay, this song is blues and greens,’” Lathren said. “Strangely enough, these guys get that — or at least they pretend they do.”
Unconventional? Sure.
But as far as Lathren is concerned, they’re lucky enough to be on the same wavelength. This is exactly why stage presence is a priority, right down to the dress code.
“I asked Jame why there is a dress code with this band. Not that there isn’t with other bands, but because I find it interesting when people pursue a specific image,” Bennett said. “His response was that ‘People … need some kind of direction, and when they see us all wearing jeans and black shirts, they’ll [know] this is how this works.’”
A unified presentation is almost as important as being in tune to the band — that's why they outlawed “jorts” during performances. Hours of preparation go into a single show, so the last thing Crown the Cake wants is to seem thrown together.
“If you’re going to stand on a stage and propose that you’re entertaining people, you need to at least show up like you intended to do something beyond sit at the shop and eat a hamburger,” Lathren said. “You need to present something.”
As unified as they are, the band’s creativity primarily comes from working with one another, as opposed to other bands or albums.
“I rely heavily on these guys,” he said. “Mark and Mitch are very talented musicians, and they’re also good sports. They’re willing to try different things and to combine different nuances together.”
Crown the Cake just recently downsized to a three-piece while their lead guitarist is on leave, and they’ve felt a real absence in the band’s persona without Thomas. Lathren pointed out that having a woman on lead guitar shaped the band.
It’s an uncommon setup, but there’s no reason it should be seen that way — female representation in Columbia’s music scene is something Crown the Cake feels we could stand to see more of.
“Not only do you not hear of women in this scene that often — if you do, they’re the bassists, which is great — but you don’t hear about a rocking [female] guitarist that often,” he said. “When we have looked at bringing other people in … it needs to be a female ... I think it brings such an organic dynamic by having a female perspective in the band.”
Crown the Cake is unique in plenty of ways, and that’s the way they like it. It’s all about trying new things and branching out of their comfort zone, which may be why of all foods Bennett could compare their band to, he chose a cold Spanish soup.
“Gazpacho,” he said. “It’s unique, it’s not something I’m accustomed to, and it makes me think differently because I make myself eat it, nonetheless. It’s not something I’m familiar with yet, but I’m learning more about it. So, this band makes me think differently.”
Whether it’s wolverines or gazpacho, Crown the Cake is hard to describe. For the past eight years, this has been an artistic journey for Lathren. Through all the changes, he is incredibly grateful for the band he has now. Regardless of how many shows they’ve played or songs they’ve recorded, it’s the experience that keeps him feeling young.
“I’ve always had my hand in art,” he said. “What I’m finding with this band is that music is a priority for me. It’s a true passion for me — it’s something that makes me genuinely happy.”