Math and Physics Club
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| Math and Physics Club | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Seattle, Washington |
| Genre(s) | indiepop, twee |
| Label(s) | Matinee Recordings, Tragadiscos |
| Website | www.mathandphysicsclub.com |
| Members | |
| Charles Bert, Kevin Emerson, Ethan Jones, James Werle | |
| Former members | |
| Saundrah Humphrey | |
Math and Physics Club are an indie pop band based in Seattle, Washington. The members are Charles Bert (vocals, rhythm guitar), Kevin Emerson (drums), Ethan Jones (bass, keyboards) and James Werle (lead guitar), and through December 2007, Saundrah Humphrey (violin).[1] This lineup coalesced in 2004, and has released three EPs and one full length album on Santa Barbara-based Matinee Recordings.[1] They are often associated with Australian labelmates The Lucksmiths[1] and twee pop band Tullycraft, and Pitchfork Media described their work as "music to hold hands to."[2]
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Math and Physics Club began life as a basement project for childhood friends James and Charles, who were joined during the summer of 2004 by Kevin, Saundrah and Ethan. The band's initial demo attracted the attention of both Jimmy Tassos of Matinee Recordings and the influential KEXP DJ John Richards. As they played their second show in December, they were already receiving considerable attention, including frequent spins on KEXP.
The four-song EP Weekends Away was released in February 2005 and received heavy radio play on stations such as KEXP and WOXY, picking up several reviews from the indiepop press. By late spring the band finally had a handful of shows under its belt, including a few West Coast stops with new labelmates The Lucksmiths, and an appearance at the annual Sasquatch! Music Festival (headlined by the Pixies). The Movie Ending Romance EP was released in July 2005 to further reviews and growing live audiences. The audience at the San Francisco Pop Festival saw them perform 'A is for Alphabet' with Razorcuts leader Gregory Webster on vocals.
In September 2005, the band enjoyed playing to a packed crowd at Seattle’s Bumbershoot music festival. Shortly afterward, the band began recording their debut LP Math and Physics Club which was released a year later in October 2006, meriting a favorable review from Pitchfork Media[2] and named "Best Indie Pop Album of 2006" by PopMatters.[3]
The band's newest release Baby I'm Yours was unveiled on October 1, 2007 with a short tour through southern California.
Both Charles and James were raised in Olympia, Washington, home of K Records and Kill Rock Stars, and they soaked up a thriving indie music scene.[4] Before convening Math and Physics Club they were in a band called Drive Car Girl (named after a Beat Happening song). They played about a dozen shows at local clubs and coffee houses with a set of 12-15 original songs, along with covers of songs by REM, Nancy Sinatra and Kraftwerk. Former members of Drive Car Girl include Brent Cole What's Up Magazine and Sean Berry Double Crown Records. Elsewhere, Ethan shared guitar chords with high school friend Carrie Brownstein and later, as a student at The Evergreen State College featured in Jenny Jenkins' musical "Love Is Stupid" opposite Mirah. Kevin played in a number of bands in Connecticut and Massachusetts before moving to Seattle, including a stint with a soul band called Soulwork. Kevin is the singer and co-leader of the band Central Services. Violinist Saundrah Humphrey left Math and Physics Club in December 2007, though it is reported on the band's unofficial myspace site that she may record with the band in the future.
[edit] Influences
Math and Physics Club can be seen as musical descendants of C86 and Sarah Records although no formal connection exists. They are also influenced by The Softies, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, The Posies, Belle and Sebastian, Beat Happening, and The Lucksmiths.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Math and Physics Club, 2006 Matinee Recordings
[edit] EPs
- Weekends Away 2005 Matinee Recordings
- Movie Ending Romance 2005 Matinee Recordings
- Baby I'm Yours 2007, Matinee Recordings
[edit] Singles
- 7, with Acid House Kings, Sambassadeur, and Loveninjas, 2006 Tragadiscos
[edit] Compilations
- Strength in Numbers, 2005
- Matinee Hit Parade, 2007 Matinee Recordings
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Asher, Tizzy. "Math and Physics Club", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 2006-11-17, p. 18.
- ^ a b Hogan, Marc. "Math and Physics Club", Pitchfork Media, 2006-12-05. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ Heaton, Dave. "Best Indie-Pop of 2006", PopMatters, 2006-12-13. Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
- ^ Asher, Tizzy. "Night life: The club scene", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 2005-07-22, p. 5.
