The Moscow folk rock band Runaway Symphony was gathered at bass player AJ Stevens’ wedding last June when an unexpected email arrived in its in-box.
“It was casual and straightforward; basically there’s a movie coming out in 2017 and they were particularly interested in one of our songs from our first album,” recalled band member Jason Oliveira, 26. “After doing more research I found out what the movie was and the actors in it. It was a little more serious than I anticipated.”
That movie, opening nationwide Friday, is the R-rated comedy “Bastards.” It stars Owen Wilson and Ed Helms as two brothers who are in search for their real father after
their mother, played by Glenn Close, tells them the man they grew up believing was their dad was a lie. (Find a trailer at the end of this story.)
The requested song was “Lie Awake and Dream,” written by lead singer Daniel Botkin for the band’s first full-length album, 2013’s “Running South.”
It’s a heartfelt song about creating your own story, Oliveira said.
“It was kind of coming together when he moved from his home in Bonners Ferry down to Moscow around 2010. A lot of what he was learning at the time was kind of creating
your own story and your own home outside of the home you grew up in and figuring out how to build relationships with people outside a family,” Oliveira said.
After the song was officially chosen for the film, Oliveira said they were given a brief description of how it will be used and that it can be heard playing in a scene where Wilson’s and Helm’s characters are sitting in a quiet hotel bar talking.
“The lyrics are a little heart wrenching, so I’m curious how it’s going to fit in,” said Oliveira, who plans to catch the movie from a back-row seat of a local theater with close friends and family.
Formed in 2010, Runaway Symphony released its latest album, “American Blood,” earlier this month.
“If people really want to get a glimpse of the essence of our music, this is the best songwriting and the best storytelling we’ve ever done. If they want to know about us that’s easily the best place to start,” Oliveira said of their latest work. Here's a sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZVz8TtRoxw
Runaway Symphony’s music is available for download on Spotify, iTunes and elsewhere online. Physical copies can be ordered from the band’s website. For those wanting to catch a live show, the group will play an album release concert 8 to 11 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Bartlett in Spokane. Tickets are $8 and available online at www.runawaysymphony.com.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNZEtLfShMQ
