| |
The Deli Philly's Featured Artist(s) Poll Winner: Strawman
- by Alexis V.
Grade school pals and Northeast Philly neighbors, Strawman are contributing their blend of garage rock and indie pop to the local music scene. The four-piece seems to have the rest of 2012 and 2013 planned out. They are the most recent victors in our Featured Artis(s) Poll. You can get to know the band a little better below.
The Deli: How did you start making music?
Strawman: We’ve known each other for quite some time. We actually all went to the same grade school and came from the same neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia, but hadn’t started playing music together until college. We borrowed a basement to practice in - pretty much a glorified trashcan filled with cigarette butts and half-empty beer cans, some of which were our fault. We got locked out by the landlord a handful of times and had to kick in a door or two, but have since moved on up to a relatively clean trash can. Sorry, we’re getting nostalgic.
TD: Where did the name Strawman come from?
S: Urgency, pretty much. We did one house show that we weren’t even close to ready for as Dr. Teeth and The Electronic Mayhem - a stolen name. Then we played a couple of open mics as the Shawn Jacobsen Trio, then The Shawn Jacobsen Quartet and eventually settled on Strawman the night before our first real show. Shawn Jacobsen is our drummer. He deserved it.
TD: What are your biggest musical influences?
S: We’re all over the place, but here’s the short list of the big ones:
Creedance Clearwater Revival, Neil Young, Built to Spill, Jimi Hendrix, Modest Mouse, Pixies, My Morning Jacket, Grateful Dead, Pearl Jam, Jack White, Pavement, Dinosaur Jr., Neutral Milk Hotel, Weezer, Wilco, The Feelies, The Flaming Lips.
TD: What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?
S: The War on Drugs, Fleet Foxes, Kurt Vile, Forest Fools, TJ Kong & The Atomic Bomb, Creepoid, Purling Hiss, Gnarly Head, Dr. Dog, The Men, Sharon Van Etten, Kerry Wing, Birds of Maya, The Roots, The Raconteurs and many, many more.
TD: What's the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?
Matt Schickling: Red Hot Chili Peppers; Weezer - Blue Album.
Mike Schickling: Red Hot Chili Peppers; Blood Sugar Sex Magic.
Josh Carfagno: Willie Nelson/Bob Dylan; The Beatles - Rubber Soul
Shawn Jacobsen: Billy Joel; Billy Joel Greatest Hits: Vol. I and II
TD: What do you love about Philly?
S: It’s a city of neighborhoods, and there are all kinds of different places to go. Music is big. You can always see a good show. McKenna’s Tavern in the Northeast is pretty awesome - home of the 80 cent PBR mug. We all grew up here, and have a lot of family and friends. It’s just a really good place to be.
TD: What do you hate about Philly?
S: The dirt and grime, but it has its charm. SEPTA can be a hassle sometimes, but we’re pretty content here.
TD: What are your plans for the rest of 2012?
S: Write a lot of music, record a lot of music, play a lot of music, grow things in the garden of our minds, gain some fans, make some money, spend some money, make it to 2013 and repeat.
TD: What was your most memorable live show?
S: We played a Phonographic Arts show at Silk City Diner over the summer with Forest Fools, who we’re really good friends with, and some other awesome bands. The sound and atmosphere were great and a lot of old friends came out. Shout out to the soundman - we forget his name, but that guy was on point.
TD: What's your favorite thing to get at the deli?
S: Fresh, delicious, tasty, meaty, turkey-filled cold cut combos. We eat three every day to help keep us strong. And Marlboro Reds.
|
|
|
|
