Air Traffic Controller – “You Know Me”
The 6-piece band, Air Traffic Controller, started as the pipe dream of real-life air craft controller, Dave Munro. During his deployment serving the U.S. Navy, Munro sent home 4-track demos he had written. When his term was finally up, Munro returned to Boston, surprised to find significant chatter about his music and a solid fan base. There are a couple things that make this story interesting.
First, naming your band after the occupation you had before becoming a musician is really a fresh idea. What if Jack White had named The White Stripes, Upholsterer? Or Kurt Cobain had named Nirvana, Janitor? Cyndi Lauper… or Dog Kennel Cleaner? Maybe, it’s the first time I’ve heard of it because it’s the first time it was kind of cool…
Second, how long was Munro deployed for and did he know his demos were seeing the light of day? Part of me thinks it would be more powerful to have not known and come back 4 years after sending his first demo home only to find record labels nipping at the bit for his signature on a line. But, that’s just the version I’ll play in my head. It’s probably not true. One thing that is true some good music is the product of this occupationally-named Boston indie rock group.
Enjoy their first album, Nordo, below. (released June 2012 on Sugarpop Records)
This post was written by
More commonly known as Adam Rondeau, Chuck founded Music That Isn't Bad in 2009, has an addiction to live music and in his free time trains seeing-eye dogs using old Phil Collins albums.
