Tag: zombie proof

REVIEW: Founding Fathers “Rapid Transit”

foundingfathers

Founding Fathers, “Rapid Transit”
Snax, 2013

I’ve read a lot on the topic of increasingly non-geographical musical landscapes. Those days of 70’s, 80’s, or even 90’s scenes in cities across the country spawning great bands, venues, labels that shaped my own musical development have been replaced by an internet age where the concept of belonging to a geographic place of permanence is less necessary. Bands pack up and head to Brooklyn, Chicago, Portland, or Austin leaving behind hometown music scenes that may not exist as strongly anymore or they may have had little involvement in. One of Aquabear’s goals has always been to focus on that strong geographic permanence of the state of Ohio and the great music and art in produces. Now before I start getting all philosophical about my work with Aquabear Legion I will promise you that this introductory paragraph has something to do with this record review.

Founding Fathers new album Rapid Transit has an LP insert with an old promotional map of Northeast Ohio with the slogan “Rapid Transit is Rapid Growth!” across the top. Below the map are the following words: WRITTEN, RECORDED, MASTERED, CUT, PRINTED, AND PRESSED IN CLEVELAND, OHIO. The album’s name itself coming from city’s public transportation system of rail and bus, a photo of which graces the cover (by Rose Marancil and painted by Jake Kelly). This record is a great example of why the concept of geography plays an important role in the creative pursuits of musicians that reside in that community. Its songs take a journey around Cleveland’s musical past, present, and future not unlike the Rapid Transit system itself. Growing up in Lorain (west of Cleveland) I spent a lot of time listening to bands from the area during my formative years and there was also something about bands from Cleveland that I never could put a finger on. Founding Fathers are made up of some of Cleveland’s most talented folks: John Neely and Stanton Thatcher played together in Tokyo Storm Warning and Neely and fellow John (Kalman) worked at the Grog Shop for years and Kalman’s band Roue still remains of the city’s most missed projects. The three are joined on bass by Carol  Schumacher Yachanin (Tough & Lovely, Reigning Sound, Detroit Cobras) and together create a pretty amazing record from start to finish.

Rapid Transit sounds immediately familiar drawing on touchstones ranging from Archers of Loaf and Dinosaur Jr. but with a heavy dose of a certain sound that comes from the geographic influence mentioned earlier. A lot of that feeling also comes courtesy of Paul Maccarrone (formely of the legendary Zombie Proof Studios and currently of The Black Eye) who recorded and mixed this record (along a long list of other Cleveland essentials over the years). Opener “Flower Plower” storms out of the gate but its the second song “Sailing Stones” that is the standout for me, recalling for me mid 90’s Yo La Tengo with several moments of perfect harmonization that only come along once in a great while. Songs like “Latest American Hero”, “Secret Win”, and “Dancey Pants” are carried by riffs that switch back and forth, soaring and angling into each other drawing to mind other Cleveland bands of days past like Sun God, Machine Go Boom, The Franchise, and State of Ohio. “Chasing Shadows” is a fitting end to the record leaving the listener with just a few more melodies and progressions to hum along to the rest of the day.

There is always something great happening musically in Cleveland but lately it seems as if new music and new projects or coming out all the time. New bands with familiar friends (The Safeties, Classic Sand, Palaces, and more) are popping up and the Lottery League is readying itself again to mix up some of the city’s finest musicians into a whole new crop of bands. This city is full of some of the most talented people I have ever met and they all seem to be putting out some incredible stuff these days, with the potential of more and more to come. I highly recommend this album.

Best of Ohio 2012: Part Five

volume-2-comp-250x250Aquabear is kicking off a brand new year-end tradition by asking some of the state’s best musicians and music related folks to share their favorite Ohio music finds and experiences of the year. Look for a whole bunch of these before the start of 2013! Here’s the fifth batch featuring Paul Maccarrone (Cleveland – Zombie Proof, Curtis Frey (Cleveland – We March, Palaces),  Josh Antonuccio (3 Elliott Studio), Noah Andrews (Cleveland – Aquabear Legion/Sometimes The Bear Eats You, 5unday 5essions), and Eddie Ashworth (Athens – Ohio University Professor, Producer, Engineer, Mixer). Look for more in the coming weeks and please share, if you would like to participate drop us a line at contact@aquabearlegion.com.

_______

Paul Maccarrone
Cleveland  (Zombie Proof)

What were your favorite Ohio releases from 2012?
Obnox – “Rojo”  (12XU): I still have no idea why I like this so much since I’m not a fan of noise or free jazz in general. Bim started throwing curves here. Wetbrain (Bloodclot) This demo doesn’t even touch them live, but it’s good introduction. McShitz “Wish The Morning Never Came.” (self-released) My favorite of 2012. I still play this every Sunday morning. They hired some prog-metal jerk to print the cover and he turned out to be a deadbeat. Perfect for a band that never actually released a record while they were active, but frustrating nonetheless.

Favorite new Ohio band
New? What do you mean? Safeties, Smooth Brain, Murdered Man, Family Dollar, Royal Blood, Homeowners, Black Puddle Noise, Banging Fragiles.

Favorite Ohio show you saw this year
Homostupids playing Class at the end of December. Sorry, they’re still the best live band in Cleveland. Neck and neck for second are Bad Noids @ Class before George went on vacation, Obnox on Halloween @ the WCSB show (Cleveland Public Theater), This Moment In Black History and Homeowners both here in my living room.

What are you most excited about for 2013?
Safeties. Whenever they finish that recording it’s going to be amazing. I heard that the Inmates recorded something new and I’ve never heard anything bad from them. Steve Peffer and Kevin Jaworski got together with Brandon from Brown Sugar and wrote five songs together. If they find someone to put vocals on it, I’m sure it’ll be a crusher. I’d like to see Homeowners put something official out this year. I’m psyched to record Royal Blood  and Shitbox Jimmy this month. Both of these bands have the capability to lay down bizarre and timeless rock. Generally, I’m looking forward to being surprised once again by all of the talented nut jobs that play music in this town whether I know them or not. Obnox is putting out an E.P., a double 7″ and a double 12″  this year. All completely different from one another, all pissed, distorted, and with great heart. I’ve been accused of liking Bim’s music because he’s black, but I think he just writes better rock songs than most of the crackers around here. So there.

What have you been working on lately?
Cracked Cup – I get to work with Becket, and two Bad Noids (George and Mike), love it;. Tuk Peenerson & His Weinermen – I get to work with two Paint Chips (Richard and Maude) and Jack and Jim  from the Noise Mafia. Put a McShit on drums (Dave), and you have Dick Salad. An acquired taste, but more fun than I’ve had in years, for sure.

What are you listening to right now?
Old mix tapes that people have made me. I’ve been transferring them to CD and playing them in-between bands @ The Grog Shop and Now That’s Class where I’ve been working doing sound.
_______

Curtis Frey
Cleveland  (We March, Palaces)

What were your favorite Ohio releases from 2012?
Founding Fathers “Rapid Transit”, This Moment in Black History “Higher Deffer”, Obnox stuff. Obnox’s Soundcloud page,  “Black Mail Librarian”  (Paul Maccarrone’s soundcloud) is pretty awesome. I don’t buy records anymore, I don’t have anything to play em on, i just listen to shit on the internet. People would give me records and I would just fuck em up. People don’t give me records anymore.

Favorite new Ohio band
The band I had with Nate Scheible and Eben Nichols. Nate moved. Probably the best thing I’ve ever been apart of.

Favorite Ohio show you saw this year
This Moment In Black History @ the black eye. Kill the Hippies/Founding Fathers @ The Black Eye.

What are you most excited about for 2013?
I don’t get excited about things that haven’t happened yet.

What have you been working on lately?
Playing keyboard in Palaces with Dave Straub, Eben Nichols, Roseanna Safos, and Jesse Alison. We March shows in February. Keeping Variants going with Eben either by recording or getting a new drummer. Also gonna be working on getting a label started with Dave and hopefully others to digitally release our old bands’ stuff and release digital singles of our new projects. Of course, we’d like to eventually release stuff physically as well, but you know…poverty.
_______

Josh Antonuccio
Athens  (3 Elliott Studio)

What were your favorite Ohio releases from 2012?
Got to work on some wonderful Ohio albums in 2012 including releases by Southeast Engine, Old Hundred, and Human Cannonball.

Favorite Ohio show you saw this year
There are so many great bands in Athens right now.  I’ve been digging shows by Hexnet and The D-Rays.  WeldyFest at O’Hooley’s was an amazing assembly of talent and saw a fantastic show on Dec. 16th at Donkey Coffee with Justin Gordon, Adam Remnant of Southeast Engine, Michael Nau of Cotton Jones, and Matthew Milia of Frontier Ruckus.

What are you most excited about for 2013?
Nelsonville Music Festival with Wilco and John Prine and heading back down to Austin,TX for South by Southwest.  Rumor is that Nick Cave is playing.  Very psyched for that.  Also, looking forward to the new Nick Tolford album.

What have you been working on lately?
Producing and engineering great albums for 2013, including new Ohio releases by Chris Shaw, Mike Elliott, The Antivillians, and Joey Hebdo.   Also, new music collaborations are in the works with some of my favorite Athens’ musicians.

What are you listening to right now?
Neil Young and Crazy Horse “Psychedelic Pill”, Grizzly Bear “Shields”, Walkmen “Heaven”, Japandroids “Celebration Rock”, The Antlers “Undersea”, JD McPherson “Signs an Signfiers”, Bill Fay “Life Is People”, Bruce Springsteen “Wrecking Ball”, Window Twins “Wish”, D’Angelo “Voodoo”, Jackson Browne “Waiting for the Sky”, Graham Nash “Songs for Beginners”, Big Boi “Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors”, Elmo Hope – “Trio and Quintet”
_______

Noah Andrews
Cleveland  (Bark & Hiss, Editions Mego, Aquabear Legion, 5unday 5essions)

What were your favorite Ohio releases from 2012?
Emeralds – Just To Feel Something, Wesley Bright and the Hi-Lites – Get It Right/Love (I Got It) 45″, Black Unicorn – Rediscovering Infinity, Machine Gun Kelly – Lace Up, Weedghost – “Rooneysghost”, Trouble Books – Concatenating Fields, Boquet Machine Box – live album , Piano & Elektron – “The Hornet & The Velodrome”

Favorite new Ohio band
The Ohio Players

Favorite Ohio show you saw this year
Giant Claw – at the Noise Cave by Rubber City Noise for Ingenuity-fest 2012

What are you most excited about for 2013?
The ending of recorded time and the unlimited possibilities of the future.

What have you been working on lately?
Matthu Stull, but he’s a dunce. I’d rather record/produce myself.

What are you listening to right now?
The Halloween re-issues on Death Waltz
_______

Eddie Ashworth
Athens  (Ohio University Assistant Professor, Producer, Engineer, Mixer)

What were your favorite Ohio releases from 2012?
Real Women: Mt Carmel, Let’s Go Eat the Factory & Class Clown Spots a UFO: Guided by Voices, Arrow: Heartless Bastards

Favorite new Ohio band
Sportfishing U.S.A., HellNaw, Burning River Ramblers, Hex Net

Favorite Ohio show you saw this year
Gotta be honest: Concert for Weldy (Qiet, Amish Electric Chair, Controlled Folly, HellNaw, SassafraZ, Burning River Ramblers, Corbin Marsh, The Porters, Jeff Ellis, Rachel Figley and Ben Leeson, Almost Any Colour, Broken Ring, Maza Blaska) at Jackie O’s in December. Made me feel good to live Athens.

What are you most excited about for 2013?
Wilco at Nelsonville Music Festival.

What have you been working on lately?
Anyway, wrapping up the new album by the great WV singer/songwriter Jeff Ellis, mixing with local hip-hop artist Erik Paul, working on some new material with Columbus-based Maza Blaska, recording Silent Lions from Toledo next month, and am in discussion right now to produce a couple of artists that I’m very excited to work with, but can’t talk about it quite yet.

What are you listening to right now?
Lonerism: Tame Impala (2012), Throw it to the Universe: The Soundtrack of Our Lives (2012), Resurrection: Brian Vander Ark (2003), Silver Age: Bob Mould (2012), Propellor Time: Robyn Hitchcock (2010)