Radio station: Listen to music by Billions
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Description
Influences: The Postal Service, Pinback, instruction manuals for electronics, Starflyer 59, Flaming Lips, Japan, the Bible, The Pernice Bros., The Shins, and books on Philosophy.
Genres
Discography
| Name | Released | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Live Home Recordings | 1997 | |
 |
The Billions (EP) | 1999 | |
 |
Quiet As It's Kept | 2001 | |
 |
Never Felt This Way Before | 2002 | Northern Records |
 |
Miracles | 2004 | Northern Records |
 |
Trash or Treasure | 2005 | Northern Records |
 |
Merry Christmas | 2007 | |
 |
Merry Christmas | 2008 |
Musicians
| Ken Komiya | Drums |
| Dan Billen | Bass guitar, Keyboard, Vocals |
| Sam Billen | Guitar, Keyboard, Vocals |
| Simon Bates | Guitar |
Former members
| Jared Bowes | Guitar |
Audio interviews
| Topic | Duration | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Billen: on being a substitute teacher | None | September 1, 2004 |
| Dan Billen: On teaching elementary classes | None | September 1, 2004 |
| Dan Billen: on teaching middleschool | None | September 1, 2004 |
| Do you have to choose between being promoted to the Christian market or to the secular market? | None | July 21, 2004 |
| Do you prefer playing for a primarily Christian audience at youth groups, versus Bottleneck-style bar venues? | None | July 21, 2004 |
| Worried about being pigeon-holed as 'Christian' ... | None | July 21, 2004 |
History
More info on The Billions and Sam Billen's side project, Sam, at northernrecords.com
2001 was the debut of The Billions first national release "Never Felt This Way Before." After a year of touring the states the band went on hiatus. During the hiatus the band saw the release of a solo record, the birth of a child, the return of one member of the group, another leaving, and the celebration of a new marriage. 2004 marked the end of the hiatus and a new beginning for The Billions - they called it "Trash and Treasure."
"Trash and Treasure" began somewhat ominously with some false starts and delays. It wasn't until the band: brothers Sam and Dan Billen, Ken Komiya, and Simon Bates, decided to record at their farmhouse in Kansas where they found their stride. It began with The Billions producing, arranging, and recording their own songs. The result was that they were able to find their collective voice; a voice that tries to sum up life here on earth and the beyond.
When asked for influences, The Billions cited what one can call The Billions very own "Trash and Treasure:" The Postal Service, Pinback, instruction manuals for electronics, Starflyer 59, Flaming Lips, Japan, the Bible, The Pernice Bros., The Shins, and books on Philosophy. Out of this potpourri you will find that this record goes beyond the bumper sticker, "one man's trash is another man's treasure." It asks, will either last forever?
Northern Records, and in April, Northern brought them out to California to make a new record. Those who have heard it consider it to be a superlative achievement. "Never Felt This Way Before" is scheduled for national release in October 2002, and has great potential for being the precursor of a drastically expanded touring schedule for the Billions. -Chad Barker (Jun. '02) -->
