We begin to wind Seaknuckle Week down with this video of the great Colin Shultzaberger recording drums for a track on the band’s upcoming LP (and by “upcoming,” we mean, “sometime before we die,” of course). We’ll be back in a little bit with a review of their EP, “Nailed It,” but for now, carve out three minutes and watch this man work.
February 2015
Note: The following is part three of a three part series that is part of Seaknuckle Week here at Frederick Playlist. All three parts will run in this week’s 72 Hours as one single story, though Frederick Playlist is the only place you can find all the videos to accompany the writing. We will be publishing two videos with each post. Today’s videos feature the band running through pre-production on one of their songs. They will be holding an EP digital release party on Friday at Cafe Nola and we will also be there as part of our effort to spread the word about our upcoming Frederick Music Showcase. For now, though, behold part three of our three-part series chronicling a day in the life of Seaknuckle.
It’s almost 5 p.m. and Seaknuckle have turned their attention to the second song of the day, “Little Animals.” Shultzaberger is navigating his way through the complex and aggressive groove that’s as angular as it is quick. He liked the first take, but he wants to keep at it, performing the song five, six, seven times with hopes of taking what they like the most from each performance and pasting it together for an end product.
Phelps, for his part, has faded. Sprawled out across Vlachos’ bed, he looks like he just returned home from a 48-hour party and fell face-first onto the first mattress he saw (which, all things considered, might not even be entirely untrue in this instance). No more than 10 minutes pass before that lifeless body has somehow fallen to the floor, face down, unconscious, without anyone even noticing.
As he’s resting, it’s hard not to be reminded of something he said earlier in the day. When we speak, he is unemployed with hopes of landing a job at a greenhouse. Jalette works for Anthony Owens Remodeling and Repair. Shultzaberger picks up bookkeeping work for his girlfriend’s business, Offbeat Threads, in the winter, though he also works at Upward Enterprises, helping out with team building exercises on ropes courses. And Dabson, pink Macho Man shirt and all, works overnight at the Washington County ARC.
Back when he was still able to stand, Phelps was outside with Dabson and Jalette, discussing his goals for the band.
“Social media is an integral part of making it,” he opines, stretching his voice to emphasize his next phrase: “Which we fully intend on doing.”
There’s something so pure about the way he says it. It’s as though he has no choice. It’s easy to meet local musicians who spend their time promising how committed they are to their craft. Each one wants to make it a full-time job. Each one is willing to do whatever it takes to get there. Each one has a dream they want to achieve.
But Phelps? There’s a hunger in his eyes that’s not common. In fact, it’s somewhat unsettling to witness. To him, this music thing is non-negotiable. It’s do or don’t. It’s a means of survival. It’s his life, sure, and of course it’s his passion. But it’s also what he’s good at. Actually, it’s probably what he’s best at. In theory, he could go work in a greenhouse for the next 50 years, but there’s something behind those glasses that suggests precisely how impractical that would be for a guy like him.
“Bands around here go nowhere because they don’t know how to do it,” he said hours before he wound up on the carpet. “And neither do we. We don’t know how to do it.
“But,” he adds with measure. “We’re learning.”
And almost on cue, as that thought flashes through my brain, I hear a collapse. Jalette, who was sitting on one of Vlachos’ parents’ deck chairs, crashes through the apparatus, its legs giving out from underneath him and dropping his entire body onto the snow-filled grass. Vlachos’ mother races out to see what happened and check if Jalette is OK.
He laughs a laugh that would make Seth Rogen blush before leaning back into his now-broken recliner.
“I don’t even know what just happened.”
We take a quick break from Seaknuckle Week to catch up with two members of the local band Ghost Pepper. The group will be performing at Champion Billiards on Saturday night and the group plans on debuting their brand new keyboard player, Jen Warren-Baker, at the gig. This will be the second time they will take the Champion stage, and we caught up with bassist Pete Altieri and Warren-Baker to talk a little about their show, how the band got together and, of course, their perception of the Frederick music scene. Enjoy!
How did Ghost Pepper come about? How long have you been a band, and how did you meet?
Altieri: Ghost Pepper originally formed in April 2012 when Pete Altieri (bass, vocals) teamed up with Joey Hafner (lead vocals, guitar) and two other musicians. As is often the case with startup bands, artistic differences necessitated changes in the lineup, leading to the addition of Wes Abdill on lead guitar and later Mike Henline on drums. After honing their sound throughout the various live music venues of Maryland and Virginia, Ghost Pepper realized that their current playlist would expand much further if they added the right keyboardist. Enter Jennifer Warren-Baker on the keys.
Along those same lines, you guys will be debuting your new keyboard player, Jen Warren-Baker at Saturday’s show. How did you guys get together with her and what can you tell us about her background?
Altieri: After agreeing that adding a keyboardist was the logical next step for the band, each member set about combing the various chat boards, professional sites and social networks where active musicians look for work. Pete Altieri found Jennifer’s pianist profile on Gigmasters. After the band viewed her video demos, she was invited to audition and simply blew Ghost Pepper away with her skill, enthusiasm and personality.
Warren-Baker: I am a classically trained but versatile pianist and piano teacher with a broad range of experience in all styles, including jazz standards, classical, blues, Broadway, rock and pop. I was most recently the resident pianist for Salamander Resort & Spa’s inaugural year (in Middleburg, Virginia), where I played original compositions and an eclectic mix appealing to all generations and musical tastes. I was selected to be the accompanist for the Loudoun School of Ballet in Leesburg, Virginia, in October 2014. I’ve accompanied or music-directed 23 musicals for seven theater programs in the past 15 years (including two rock musicals, two I arranged, and one I composed). I’ve also self-produced a CD and concert of original music (“Midpoint“) which is available on iTunes. I am also an event pianist all over the D.C. metro area. My event pianist business has brought me to perform for corporate and private events at notable venues such as The Organization of American States, The George Washington Masonic National Memorial, The National Press Club, and Union Station.
This is will be the second time playing at Champion – what’s your impression of that room? How does it compare to other venues in and around the area?
Altieri: Champion is well known as one of the top – if not the top – place to play in Frederick. They are well known for booking the top acts in the Mid-Atlantic region, and we’re proud (and at the same time humbled) to be included in that company. Their commitment to live music is exemplary, with excellent sound and lighting, and the setup is the premiere location to take in live music. The food is great and the servers/bartenders know how to keep the good times flowing.
What’s your perception of the music scene in Frederick? What are some differences between here and other places, like, say, even Baltimore? Do you see it growing?
Altieri: Definitely, it’s growing! Between Champion, Bushwallers, Olde Town Tavern, JoJos, Cafe Nola, The Raw Bar, Jekyll and Hyde, and others, there is always a place to catch great live local music in Frederick. It’s a proven fact that people come out for good live music, be it cover music or originals – as an artist, you just have to be willing to play what people want to hear and not push your own agendas. As for comparing it to Baltimore or D.C., it’s hard to say. We haven’t played in either of those zip codes … yet.
What are your plans for 2015?
Altieri: Plans include adding new music to the setlist that we haven’t been able to touch without a keyboardist. We also want to play more locally, and hopefully be in the mix for “The Best Of Frederick”and “The Best of Loudoun County” for 2015. We also have our eyes on playing Alive at 5 and Frederick’s In The Street.
Who are some of your major influences and why?
Altieri: My influences include the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Duran Duran, for the simple reason that each band has been globally relevant while featuring amazing bassists. Very funky, each.
Warren-Baker: Motown soul artists like Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin for their soul, groove, and attitude. Carole King and Stevie Nicks for songwriting. Tori Amos for her classical-alternative fusion. French composers like Faure and Debussy, and romantics like Chopin and Rachmaninoff … for their passionate musical voice.
Where are some of your favorite places to play (cities/venues) and why?
Altieri: Champions was our destination gig – when we played there, we knew we had the talent and the following to compete with all of the other touring bands. But Bushwallers and Olde Towne Tavern have been extremely important in giving us our early foundation – they give the new acts a chance. If you find yourself in Virginia country, there are three places that party the way Ghost Pepper likes – Ri Ra in Arlington, Spanky’s Shenanigans in Leesburg, and The Light Horse in Old Town Alexandria. We’ll be playing Ri Ra for St. Patrick’s Day, and that place is incredible. We were the feature band for New Year’s Day and it was one of the best shows ever.
Warren-Baker: The Salamander Resort lobby was an amazing place to play. I’m not familiar enough with the band’s venues yet to select a favorite.
Could you give us some names of some great local original artists we might not already know? Who are you a fan of locally and who should we keep an eye on?
Altieri: For an elegant solo pianist, you can’t do better than Jen. She is a musical chameleon – rock to Bach. But we run in the cover music circuit, so we want to send shout-outs to Quasi Flannel and the Woo Yeahs – both bands are a great way to spend an evening.
Warren-Baker: Mateo Monk is a songwriter, composer, and cover artist who does cool things with a loop pedal and layering.
And finally what can we expect from your show on Valentine’s Day? Do you guys have anything special cooking?
Altieri: We’re kicking around playing a slow tune or two for those who want to hold their special friends close. It will be the first time we’ve ever played a slow number. We usually rock out, so it will be fun to challenge ourselves this way.
This is the only photo anybody ever really needs to see when they want to know about what it’s like to spend a day in the studio with Seaknuckle. Behold lead singer Jon Phelps, filled to the brim with PBR, Combos and 7-Eleven pizza, laying down on the floor after initially taking refuge on the bed. At least he looks comfortable, right? We’ll be back this afternoon with our final installment of our Seaknuckle series. T-minus 48 hours until they rock Cafe Nola’s Converse off.
Note: The following is part two of a three part series that is part of Seaknuckle Week here at Frederick Playlist. All three parts will run in this week’s 72 Hours as one single story, though Frederick Playlist is the only place you can find all the videos to accompany the writing. We will be publishing two videos with each post. Today’s videos feature guitarist Jon Phelps recording a scratch track on one of their songs (above), as well as the band explaining why you should go to their digital EP release party Friday at Cafe Nola. (below). We will also be at Cafe Nola as part of our effort to spread the word about our upcoming Frederick Music Showcase. For now, though, behold part two of our three-part series chronicling a day in the life of Seaknuckle.
It began in late 2013. Phelps and guitarist Joe Jalette have been friends for years, each learning how to play their instrument from the other. Shultzaberger and Dabson eventually found their way to the duo via other local bands that achieved varying levels of success. The former played with such Frederick acts as Silent Old Mtns., Heavy Lights, The Marylanders and Katie Powderly, while the latter describes some of his former projects as the “worst bands ever.”
Their first show was at the MET on New Year’s Eve in 2013. Later in 2014, they released a four-song EP, “Nailed It,” that was cut during a weekend in Baltimore at Mobtown Studios. They’ll mark the digital release of the EP Friday with a show at Cafe Nola.
“It’s our fault,” Jalette admits when asked about the difference between a record-release event and the upcoming event at Nola. “The EP has been out for a while now, so it’s not really a release party. But we wanted to get it on iTunes and Spotify and all that, send it to blogs and contact critics.”
“Yeah,” Phelps interjects, peering through his thick-framed glasses. “We want to make sure they hate it.”
Yet even if “they” hate it, it won’t be for a lack of the band trying. Part of why Vlachos is so valuable to the current Seaknuckle equation is his ability to keep the band organized. So much so that he maps out social media schedules for each member (on this day, Jalette is supposed to tweet something from the band’s account at 1 p.m., while an Instagram video for later is said to be in the works).
Earning a degree from Drexel and currently working as a monitor for the Frederick Community College music lab, Vlachos is picky about who he works with. Ideally, he says he would like to produce only a handful of bands. Having known the Seaknuckle guys for a while, he insists there was something about the group that attracted him almost immediately.
“The most important thing is the songwriting,” he says. “If you don’t have a good songwriter in your band, you’re screwed. The thing about Seaknuckle is that not only do they have one good songwriter, they have two.”
And it’s at this moment, that you can hear one of those two good songwriters — Phelps — yell at one of his band members as pizza-flavored Combos shoot through the air. The trio of Dabson, Phelps and Jalette recently returned from a beer run and the bassist picked up a bag of the pretzel-encrusted snack. He invited everyone to dive in.
They did, and now what started as a Combo war has magically turned into a moment of camaraderie: Everyone wants to see how far away someone can stand while pitching the food into each other’s mouths. Feeling the wind of a Combo rip past him, Vlachos can’t help but laugh.
“We’re trying to be really self-sufficient,” he concludes, as the room erupts in cheer. Mercifully, a Combo landed in a mouth, and if only for a second, it appears as though the true goal of the day has nothing to do with tracking drums.
We just keep on keepin’ on with Seaknuckle Week, as Mr. Belding – AKA The Big Bopper – would say on “Saved By The Bell.” Today’s video features the always charming Colin Shultzaberger, drummer for Seaknuckle, trying to balance himself on a ball while taking a break from tracking drums in the studio. Because what’s a Seaknuckle Week without videoing somebody trying to balance himself on a ball? Duh. We’ll be back later today with part two of our three-part series. Are you excited? We are.
Note: The following is part one of a three part series that is part of Seaknuckle Week here at Frederick Playlist. All three parts will run in this week’s 72 Hours as one single story, though Frederick Playlist is the only place you can find all the videos to accompany the writing. We will be publishing two videos with each post. Today’s videos feature the band running through pre-production on one of their songs (above), as well as the band’s collective opinion on the movie “American Sniper” (below). Seaknuckle will be performing at Cafe Nola on Friday to commemorate the digital release of their EP, “Nailed It.” We will also be there as part of our effort to spread the word about our upcoming Frederick Music Showcase. For now, though, behold part one of our three-part series chronicling a day in the life of Seaknuckle.
“Were you on the click the whole time?” Jonathan Phelps, the lead singer for Seaknuckle, asks his drummer, Colin Shultzaberger, as the final lingering notes of their song escape into silence.
“Almost,” Shultzaberger responds in his typical modest tone. “I lost it a little in the middle part.”
These are the kinds of exchanges the Frederick indie/post-rock quartet have more often than not these days. For months now, they’ve been reserving their weekends for work at Maryland Mix and Master, a basement studio in Monrovia run by Myles Vlachos, who himself has become the de facto fifth member of Seaknuckle, adding suggestions to their songs and helping guide them through the always-rigorous process of recording an album.
It’s barely noon, and the guys have a lofty goal for the day: track drums and bass for two songs. Before laying down the performances that will be heard on the record, however, the group repeatedly runs through whichever song they are about to record. They do it to get the tempos just right (hence the aforementioned click-track debate). They do it to make sure their instruments will sound exactly the way they are intended to sound. They do it to better their chance at achieving an impossibility: perfection.
And that’s odd, considering how part of the band’s genius is its imperfection. Spend a day with them and you’ll see why. Rarely is a breath wasted without an accompanying joke, a joke often hilariously inappropriate and unequivocally offbeat. By the time this final bit of pre-production for the day’s work comes around, Phelps estimates he’s cracking his fourth or fifth can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Bassist Matt Dabson is donning the same type of hat Cousin Eddie wore in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” all the while expressing his intense un-ironic lifelong passion for professional wrestling.
When I assume my position in a tiny hallway of the performance area as they rehearse, the following exchange occurs:
Phelps: “Would you like anything to drink?”
Me: “No, I’m good.”
Phelps: “Coffee?”
Me: “No, thanks.”
Phelps: “Water?”
Me: “Really, I’m OK.”
Phelps: “Poison?”
It’s a mindless, predictable quip, but it lands as solid as the drums Shultzaberger plays. The singer’s face is straight and nobody really laughs. The tone with which he speaks goes beyond deadpan, making me wonder if A) he might somehow own a vile of poison and B) he’s the kind of person who might actually try to poison me. In hindsight, it’s hilarious. In real time, it plays like a threat.
Still, it’s clear that there will be no time for poisoning anybody today. There is work to get done, and the bulk of the songs that will be on their album are almost completed. The home stretch for the recording process is within sight. Despite their ability to be seriously unserious, the vibe in the room is very much workmanlike.
Or, well, that is until a discussion about the album title breaks out.
“We don’t really know how to Instagram or anything like that,” Dabson explains between takes.
“Wait!” Phelps interrupts. “That’s what we can call the album: ‘Instant Grammy!’”
Everybody in the room laughs. A lot. And within seconds, you can hear the click track echo through the headphones, one last try at perfection creeping its way back into each band member’s ears.
We take a quick break from Seaknuckle Week to roll out the final Frederick Playlist Presents … session that features a Frederick Music Showcase artist: The Knolly Moles. We recently had E.J. stop by our super-secret facilities to perform a couple of his band’s songs: “Buzzed,” above, and a brand new, as-yet-untitled track that you can find below.
For those who have missed it over the last three weeks, we’ve had Hard Swimmin’ Fish, Old Indian and Heavy Lights stop by to also offer up exclusive acoustic performances of their original songs. You can see all these bands next Thursday, the 19th, at the Weinberg Center for the Arts here in Frederick. Tickets are currently on sale by visiting the Weinberg box office or clicking here. We will have more fun than fun even knew it could ever have, you know. Won’t you join us?
As always, a big thank you goes out to Graham Cullen, who you can follow on Twitter here.
Come one, come all. Welcome, everybody, to Seaknuckle Week here at Frederick Playlist! Those guys will be at Cafe Nola on Friday, celebrating the digital release of their EP, “Nailed It,” and we recently spent a day in the studio with the band as they put the finishing touches on their first LP. We will be chronicling that day this week with exclusive photos, videos, and a three-part story focusing on their studio work, all the while leading up to Friday night when they take the Cafe Nola stage. In the above photo, the band is working on pre-production of one of their songs. Check back later today for another Frederick Playlist Presents … session, as well as the beginning of our three-part series on Seaknuckle! Happy Seaknuckle Week!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, there. Wait a second. Nobody told us Anvil was coming to town?!? Like, really? Honestly? Truly? Madly? Deeply? Wow. That’s fun. To commemorate their appearance at Cafe 611, check out the above video, go watch the movie, read the book, and squeeze into those leather pants. Complete with leather jacket. And leather mask. Anyway. Now that we have our breath back … it’s a First Saturday here in beautiful Frederick, Maryland. You know what that means. It means that … well, it’s a First Saturday here in beautiful Frederick, Maryland. Fill in the blanks. Elsewhere, we have a show that we’ve been hyping all week at Cafe Nola featuring New God and Seagulls. That’s a must-see. Arlo Guthrie is taking over the Weinberg Center (much like we will be doing in two weeks, remember) tonight, though it should be noted that the show this evening is officially sold out. The Vomiting Dinosaur wins the award for best band name this week. Their prize? A free hot dog at Wawa. That’s a lie. The Holy Ghost Tent Revival is returning to the Opera House over there in Shepherdstown. There’s The Few. The Secondhand Ramblers. Art & Ale. Megan Jean. Ten Feet Tall. Burn The House. And, of course, Party Like It’s. And that’s it. That’s the name. Party Like It’s. This will be the last weekend before things start to pick up for us, but more on that next week. Wait. Did someone say “next week?” Oh, that’s right: NEXT WEEK IS SEAKNUCKLE WEEK AT FREDERICK PLAYLIST!!!!! Yep. You read that correctly. What does that entail? You’ll have to check back to see what’s up. For now, though, settle in, enjoy the quick respite from the ice-cold weather, and grab yourself a Fierce Mellon Gatorade. Why? Because that’s the best. (And so are you). Wink.
THURSDAY
Who: Open Bluegrass
Where: Beans In the Belfry
When: 7 p.m.
Who: Art & Ale
Where: Barley And Hops
When: 7 p.m.
Who: Rhyne McCormick
Where: Isabella’s Tavern
When: 8 p.m.
Who: Open Mic
Where: The Blue Sky Bar And Grill
When: 8 p.m.
Who: Open Mic
Where: Bushwallers
When: Sign-up begins at 9 p.m.; play begins at 10 p.m.
Who: Arlo Guthrie
Where: The Weinberg Center for the Arts
When: 8 p.m.
FRIDAY
Who: Seaknuckle, Timberwolves, Samuel Powers
Where: Guido’s Speakeasy
When: 9 p.m.
Who: John Durant Sr.
Where: The Frederick Coffee Company
When: 8 p.m.
Who: Lark Rize
Where: Beans In The Belfry
When: 7 p.m.
Who: Megan Jean & The KFB
Where: Cafe Nola
When: 10:30 p.m.
Who: Anvil, Sun Lord, Pain, Lord Dying, March To Victory, Burning Shadows, Operation: Death
Where: Cafe 611
When: 7 p.m.
Who: Thick, The Bloody 9’s, CassiRaye
Where: The Blue Moon, Shepherdstown
When: 8 p.m.
Who: Tabasco Bustelo with Matt Klen
Where: The Mecklenburg Inn, Shepherdstown
When: 8 p.m.
Who: Organ Trail, Cammo Shorts, Cut The Architect’s Hand, The Vomiting Dinosaur
Where: Guido’s Speakeasy
When: 8 p.m.
Who: Dan Johnson
Where: The Lodge
When: 8 p.m.
Who: Burn The House
Where: The Blue Sky Bar And Grill
When: 9 p.m.
Who: Ten Feet Tall
Where: Bushwallers
When: 10 p.m.
Who: Party Like It’s
Where: Champion Billiards
When: 10 p.m.
SATURDAY
Who: Mark McKay
Where: The Frederick Coffee Company
When: 8 p.m.
Who: Craggy Island
Where: Beans In The Belfry
When: 7 p.m.
Who: Jukebox Underdogs
Where: Red Shedman Farm Brewery
When: 4 p.m.
Who: New God, Seagulls
Where: Cafe Nola
When: 10 p.m.
Who: Secondhand Ramblers
Where: JoJo’s Tap House
When: 9 p.m.
Who: Holy Ghost Tent Revival, The Judy Chops
Where: The Opera House, Shepherdstown
When: 9 p.m.
Who: Poverty Ridge
Where: The Blue Sky Bar And Grill
When: 9 p.m.
Who: Triple Lindy
Where: Cactus Flats
When: 8:30 p.m.
Who: Inside Out
Where: The Main Cup
When: 8:30 p.m.
Who: Here’s To The Night
Where: Champion Billiards
When: 9 p.m.
Who: Girls Night Out
Where: Olde Towne Tavern
When: 10 p.m.
Who: The Few
Where: Bushwallers
When: 10 p.m.