The hunger of a young, unsigned band just might be the most intoxicating rush on the planet. If it could be bottled, it would surely be illegal—few things are as powerful as starry-eyed youth with relentless ambition. Consider the Los Angeles-based four-piece The Hanks, whose drive for success has taken them to the farthest corners of the U.S.

“When we started out, we played some really odd shows just for the exposure,” says frontman and guitarist Josh Grondin. “We’ve played pool parties, rooftops, friend’s houses—proms, even. I think it’s important to start out in those odd circumstances, because if you can make it through those, you can make it through anything.”

Being in a band is amazing because you’re a part of something so much bigger than yourself

Story by Jonathan D’Auria

    With seven years of shows under their belts, The Hanks now enjoy large audiences almost everywhere they play, so it may come as a surprise that one of their most memorable shows was at a quinceanera and prom.

“The quinceanera we played was insane because there were about 20 kids watching us and about 300 family members who were wondering what the hell a rock band was doing there. Not too many of the people there spoke English, but the food was amazing,” laughs Grondin. “The prom, however, was phenomenal. It was in a huge, rented ballroom in the Bay Area, and the event was split between a dance section with a DJ and a rock section, where we were set up. The kids had picked us to be there, so everyone was so appreciative. Shane threw his kit into the pool at the end of the show and then over the wall of the yard. The crowd loved it, but Shane didn’t realize that there was a cliff on the other side of the wall. It was hilarious. “

The band that got their name from watching Tom Hanks on the Academy Awards (there’s really nothing more to it) has been fighting to make it in L.A.’s cutthroat environment, a location preferred by the members. “It’s definitely harder to be a big fish out here, and there’s no huge demand for music. The oversaturation of bands makes everyone have to work harder at everything. We feel that it just conditions us to function on a higher level.”

August 26 marks the release date for their new album, Distance (2008), which hopes to broaden the audience and distinguish the sound of The Hanks. The recent departure of keyboardist Phillip Katz has left Josh, Shane, and Bryan to search for a new member by way of Myspace and other Internet queries. But as they have proven before, The Hanks are more than willing to adapt to any circumstance that leads to their success.

“Being in a band is amazing because you’re part of something so much bigger than yourself,” says Grondin from the back of a van headed to his next show, in Colorado. “Ideally, we’d be playing to really big, international crowds sometime in the future. That’s probably every band’s fantasy, though—having a career like Radiohead.”

We can only predict success for those with the appetite for it, and with an empty stomach and an eager road ahead, The Hanks seem hungrier than most. 

On their debut album, Your New Attraction (Cobra Music, 2006), The Hanks showcased their flare for upbeat indie-pop that was favorably compared to Jimmy Eat World or a young Wilco. Their recent songs, however, might come across as a little more mature. “Our music is typically upbeat and weird or slower and darker. It’s hard to say what will happen in the long run, but our upcoming album is much more indie than anything.”

Songwriting comes naturally to Grondin, who began piano lessons at the age of eight. It’s been a part of his life, in fact, since before he was born—his mom played in a folk band while she was pregnant with him—and his lust for music has only intensified since then.

“The true fingerprint of a singer is in their melodies. Most times I come up with a song, it’s derived from a vocal idea or a melody that just pops in my head,” says Grondin. “When I write, I try to come up with songs that are different than anything we’ve written before—not such a drastic shift, from say, reggae to country—but we definitely never want to repeat ourselves.”

The Hanks started their musical journey in early 2001, but they didn’t fully blossom until a change of scenery prompted Grondin and bassist Bryan Harris to buckle down. “Bryan and I met in high school in Oregon and got serious about music when his previous band broke up. We decided to move to L.A., and without knowing anyone out there, we met our drummer Shane (Mayo), who really dug our stuff. He was in a different band at the time, but we were able to coerce him out of it, and we’ve been plugging away ever since.”

Inspired by seasoned performers such as Elvis Costello, The Rolling Stones, and Feist, the boys of The Hanks have invested a tremendous amount of intensity into their live shows. “Touring and playing out has been a huge part of our careers so far. We try to make every show an enjoyable experience for the audience while keeping everything fresh for ourselves. Someone like Elvis Costello is a huge role model to us because he sings and plays with a crazy fire in his belly,” says Grondin. “He’s playing songs every night that have been in his catalog for 30 years like it’s the first time he’s played them. That’s what we go for.”