|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
In Memory of Pluto  |
In Memory of Pluto was voted by our jurors – prominent people in the Burlington music scene – as the Deli’s Artist of the Year for 2008.
The quintet met at Saint Michael’s College where they began playing
intergalactic space metal (some form of indie-rock.) In a place
not necessarily musician-centric, Saint Mike’s was nurturing to their
other artistic endeavors – almost all of IMOP’s members are English
Literature majors.
Brothers, Bill and Zach Jandl have
been playing together since as long as they could, and the rest of the
band – Ryan McGrath, John Flanagan and Seth Gallant - have been playing
together for about two years. IMOP are young, and seemingly unaffected,
or even unaware of any negativity or egotistical leanings in
Burlington’s art scene – perhaps it’s naiveté, but it’s good for the
community and their creativity.
They team up often with Villanelles and Husbands AKA at The Monkey House. Catch their next show on March 12th at Oddfellows' Temple in the New North End of Burlington.
Deli - How do you feel about being the Deli’s Artist of the Year?
Zach
- “It’s cool…uh, we feel really excited about it. We were surprised,
really surprised. I kind of wondered who those people are who voted for
us!”
Deli – You seem to have a
great relationship with a few local bands, always sharing shows,
etc. What’s the secret to keeping good chemistry within
Burlington?
Zach - “We generally try to get as many bands
as possible on the shows we play. Whenever I book shows, I try to get
someone we know on with us. We are definitely fans of music
ourselves, and try to find what we like.”
Bill – “I’d say we are
extremely influenced by local bands, bands that are local or have been
local. I listen to a lot of Pretty & Nice, who were here again
recently.”
Zach – “But even smaller bands, like The Narrator - I don’t think they are together any more.”
John – “And Farm.”
Ryan – “Yeah, Farm for sure.”
Deli - Do you play much outside of Burlington?
Zach – “We did our first tour in January for ten days down to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Boston.”
Ryan - We played with the Buzzkillers from Boston. Prawn, Zona Mexicana, who is actually the ex-drummer of Ra Ra Riot.
Zach - One night we played at a yoga studio in new jersey…everyone had to take their shoes off which was a bit strange.
A
tour is something we have always wanted to do. The timing worked out,
and we finally have a van…it was like a vacation…a very exhausting
vacation.
John - We have a 1987 dodge b250…gun metal grey, with Alfa Romeo rims. Kind of a nice feature…
Deli – Tell me about what you are working on.
Zach – We just recorded a new EP yesterday…
Deli – Yesterday?
IMOP
- Yeah, actually. Hah. We recorded with Ryan Power, at Big Orange
Studio. We tracked everything yesterday, and he’s going to mix it all.
Deli – So why record an EP rather than go right for the sophomore album? (*IMOP’s first album is called “Cutting Open Fiction”)
John - Well, looking at economic trends, people are going to be looking for the 4 song CD versus the 12 song album…
Deli – Tell me a bit about the direction you are going with your sound?
IMOP - Well, Jeff thinks [this recording] is a straight rock and roll album.
Zach
- It was a chance for us to take a lot more chances. We did a lot
of stuff that won’t end up on the CD during the last few hours. We
tried things that may or may not work out, and left it all in the
capable hands of Ryan.
Deli - You guys seem to be very positive about the scene – how do you think Burlington nurtures its musical children?
IMOP
- I think [the scene] is truly starting right now, going against all
the years of terrible, terrible music that came out of this town….jam
bands, and other bullshit….
Burlington is a good starting point
and a good incubator for bands for a few reasons. There are a
bunch of good places to play now who will let people do what they want
to do, and aren’t solely concerned about money made at the bar.
It’s the right size, too. There is not too much for competition, but enough community to get people off the ground.
So, as far as we are concerned right now this is a good hub for us.
John
- In the future it’s going to be less important where you are
geographically, actually. We hope to be touring more, and people are
now usually exposed to your music through the Internet, so it doesn’t
matter where you are as much.
IMOP - Burlington lives up to its
reputation in some aspects as a city where art can survive in, but the
music scene is well, pretty strange. In some ways it is divided
–there is a weird relationship between [bands of different genres.]
Ryan
- …there seem to be so many DJ’s now. There is definitely a
difference between places who want to make money and places who simply
want good music played.
…Sometimes we can’t figure out where we fit.
Deli – What helps to connect the scene?
IMOP - I think places like Wasted City, which unfortunately closed, kept the scene really tight knit…
John - I want like a 1950’s Sun Studio, [where I can] go in and record a song for my mother’s birthday…
IMOP
- It’s exciting being a band playing that kind of venue, because you
know everyone is there to see the music, not just to drink at the bar.
(Zach)
College kids don’t go to see music, when you think they
would be Burlington’s biggest audience. We formed at Saint Michael’s
but we don’t see people we know at our shows any more.
Interview by Adena Harford
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
