Change

'The way Change is mixed says everything about Crystal City, and why they deserve to be raised above almost all other artists working in the pop realm. The recordings are sharp and clear, while still being warm and mellow and swathed in realistic reverb. They are offering something, making themselves available, without screaming for your attention. It's like they know they have something special, and are sharing it with the world. They don't feign at pretense, no snake oil to sell. This is the real deal, the genuine article.' -J Simpson, The Equal Ground 'I think for a scene that prides itself on it's rural, black soil rock and roll, Crystal City is a welcome addition to that oeuvre and they clearly aren't faking their attachment to that sound.' -Dave Murphy, desmoinesisnotboring 'The band's sound is best described as a mash-up of The Replacements, Wilco and Lana Del Ray.' -Power Popaholic 'Their voices go really well together and the band has great dynamics (fast/slow, loud/soft). Hooks are everywhere. Eleven songs last just 32 minutes, so nobody's jamming much here, but when Dave rips a guitar solo, he makes it stick. Change is stylistically varied, from the punk attack of The Best Way to the moody dissonance of Tangled Down to the soaring glory of Waiting. Looking for a single? Try Dynamite. If there's a theme in Dave's songs, it might be mild relationship anxiety. He's an easy going guy tho, and copious amounts of cheap beer seems to cure most ills.' -John Hiett, Iowa City Music Scence Dave Helmer is a Midwestern singer/songwriter from Marshalltown, IA, with blue-collar roots. Heavily influenced by Paul Westerberg and Tom Petty, Helmer's songs are approachable and relatable, touching on themes of love, the importance of being good to each other, struggles with loss, and celebrating the life we are given. In 2009, Helmer teamed up with choral singer Sam Drella to form his current project, Crystal City. The group draws it's name from the Gram Parson's song Las Vegas, and finds inspiration from the strong, interdependent harmonies of Parsons and Emmylou Harris. The duo quickly got to know each other through music, recording their self-titled acoustic EP just three months after forming. The romantic partnership that developed in these months added an undeniable dimension of authenticity to their already intimate songs and performances. Helmer's appetite for all things music led him to Minnesota to study Guitar Building and Repair while Drella studied Jewelry Manufacturing and Repair, both in Red Wing. Helmer regularly performs on unique instruments that he built himself, like his slope-shoulder dreadnought guitar embellished with brass bridge pins by Drella - a finely crafted complement to his songs.