The Life And Times

The Life and Times came together in 2002 as a shimmering post-rock trio in the aftermath of frontman Allen Epley's exit from his notorious math rock band Shiner. Guitarist Epley assembled the group by bringing bassist John Meredith of Someday I and drummer Mike Myers from Strings and Return into the fold, yielding a fierce three-piece built on dense guitar layers and forceful propulsion. Their debut effort, the EP The Flat End of the Earth issued through 54-40 or Fight!, stops short of fully defining the band's identity yet reveals Epley's fresh latitude to pursue songwriting that echoes Sunny Day Real Estate, Jawbox, and R.E.M. Though imperfect, the release signals an inventive path and open horizons for the Kansas City outfit. ~ Charles Spano