Andrew St. James of Fast Times has grown up with music around him all his life, literally. The San Francisco native was born to tour caterers for The Rolling Stones’. St. James developed an early interest in baroque classical music, touring internationally in choirs and by age 11 was singing for the San Francisco Opera. Following the death of his biological father, St. James, then 16, recorded a solo album with a handheld recorder while hitchhiking the Pacific Northwest. The recordings found their way to veteran Bay Area producer Jim Greer (Foster The People, Galactic, Geographer), who in turn began working with St. James on his first proper release. Doldrums, recorded during his senior year of high school, was released September 2013 to critical acclaim. He’s worked with many bands, most notably with Geographer, where he would form a bond with bandmate, Duncan Nielsen. Nielsen has also been performing since a young age, having released solo material under the moniker ‘DONCAT’, along with his work as guitarist, vocalist and keyboard player for Geographer. The two would form a friendship with drummer Cody Rhodes, who was Geographer’s touring drummer and also in other bands in the Bay Area. Fast forward to 2019 where St. James, started curating the Fast Times! series at San Francisco clubs that would feature local bands. Their established bond and mutual passion for rock, soul and folk inspired St. James, Nielsen and Rhodes to form their own band, Fast Times. Their music is steeped in nostalgia and given voice with earnest lyrics, as evidenced in the song, “10th Grade” that was released late last year. Fast Times plan to release more material that’s already in the recording process, slated before the end of the year.
B-Sides ventured to the studio of drummer Cody Rhodes of Fast Times to film the band performing “10th Grade”, as well as two other tracks, “Tuesday Night” and “Vacant Eyes”.
