100 Musicians Answer the Same 10 Questions

Part Twenty-Six: Andrew Churchman of Pants Yell!

instigated by dave heaton

The Boston-based trio Pants Yell! represents a bright spot on the current scene of youthful indie-pop bands. Their music is steeped in a sense of music history, and of songwriting skill, yet it's also fresh, playful and very in the moment. Each release of theirs is special, up to and including their first 'proper' full-length Recent Drama, released earlier this year by Asaurus and Paper Cities. Songs and info can be found on their website and MySpace page.

**************************

What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?

Finally being done with college = more time to write songs.

What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?

Same old thing, not being able to tour or practice as much as everyone's schedules allow. Oh, and our van needing too much repair work!

What are you up to right now, music-wise? (Current or upcoming recordings, tours, extravaganzas, experiments, top-secret projects, etc).

Right now it's touring and songwriting time. Aside from our local shows in Boston, we go up to Canada for a couple of days in July and then in August we're going to Europe for twenty days - Sweden, England and Iceland. It goes without saying, we're beyond excited.

What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a recording? How did the qualities of that place affect the show/recording?

We've had our fair share of unusual show locations: ice-cream shops, almost every type of house/apartment/basement/backyard show you can image, the steps of the Peabody Public Library, two different college cafeterias. Most unusual would definitely be this place Pats in the Flats, in Cleveland. It was our first tour and the place was in this, almost industrial wasteland. No joke, it looked like Mama Fatelli's house in Goonies, but inside was this - club. Very strange place, but a fun show.

In what ways does the place where you live (or places where you have lived), affect the music you create, or your taste in music?

(declined to answer).

When was the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about it?

I'm always writing little parts, it's just a matter of spending more time on one than the other. It's been a couple of weeks though since the last song was fully completed, I'm slacking...

As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other people...and why do you think that is?

(declined to answer).

Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener? (Old or new music? Music like yours or different from yours?)

I'm experiencing teenage angst 7 years too late, and have actually been listening to punk rock. I thought I'd never say that, but yeah, the Adolescents, Descendents, TSOL. All the melodic west coast stuff. I never gave punk a chance.

Name a band or musician, past or present, who you flat-out LOVE and think more people should be listening to. What's one of your all-time favorite recordings by this band/musician?

Hands down, the Fan Modine. I don't know why that guy isn't world famous. Considering he's released two albums in the past ten years (the second one just came out a year or two ago) I'd say both are essential.

What's the saddest song you've ever heard?

This sounds lame but Cat Power's "Water and Air" absolutely kills me. I've had that album since middle school, and I can count how many times I've actually listened to the song; it's that hard for me to hear. Oh, and Daniel Johnson's "Careless Soul" from the 1990 album. I'm sad just thinking about it.

To check out the rest of the Q&As, click here.