Formed in Seattle in 2004, Central Services is Kevin Emerson on vocals and (stand up) drums, Jeff Blancato on guitar and Eric Goetz on keyboards. After releasing an EP and LP in 2005-2006, the band created their kids’ music alter ego, “The Board of Education,” releasing an LP in late 2008. They are joined by guitarist Jon Goff, and singer-songwriter Andrea Wittgens.

Central Services has received acclaim for their “boundary breaking” sound (Three Imaginary Girls AstroPop, Sept ‘06).  CMJ’s station of the year, KEXP 90.3, in Seattle, championed the band’s melodic indie-pop songs, giving airplay to 7 of the 10 tracks on their 2006 release. The LP’s edgier songs got spins on 107.7 The End and stations like 103.7 The Mountain emphasized the band’s acoustic side.  The LP charted nationally on the CMJ charts for two months, was featured on NPR’s Open Mic at All Songs Considered, and led to the band’s first invitation to Bumbershoot in 2007.

In 2008, the band released their second LP, an album for kids (and kids at heart!), entitled  “Central Services Presents… The Board of Education!” The record, influenced by Emerson’s science-teacher background and the band’s general fascination with odd factoids (and pretty much anything to do with space travel) received critical acclaim in every major Seattle press outlet, on kids’ music blogs around the country, in a segment with Melissa Block on All Things Considered, and earned the band a second appearance at Bumbershoot in 2009.  It was also selected as a Top 50 Northwest Release of 2008 by Three Imaginary Girls, a first for a kids’ album!  The band is currently gearing up for a second Central Services record, while working to spread the BoE beyond this solar system, or at least across the U.S.

Learn More about the Members

Visit Kevin, the children’s author
Visit Eric, the film composer
Visit Andrea, the singer-songwriter
Visit Jeff, the voice actor
Visit Jon and Self-Adhesive Records