Optical Atlas » Andy from Denver

Andy from Denver on Split 7″

Jeff Kuykendall — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:33:14 +0000

Last month saw the release of a split 7″ featuring Andy from Denver and Higgins. The AFD track is “Please Don’t Take My Life Away,” also featured on the upcoming album Phreak Phantasy (under Andy’s more familiar alias Marshmallow Coast). You can pick up the 7″ for $6.00 at the Serious Business Records website. The pressing is limited to 300. Thanks to canyr for the tip.

Speaking of Phreak Phantasy, I got my copy this weekend and enjoyed it immensely. It’s different by far from anything Andy Gonzales has released in the past – and not just because it’s the first album of his to feature the Elephant 6 Recording Company logo. Think 70’s synth-driven prog with a big kick of disco. The first 50 to preorder the album get an exclusive painting by Andy, and mine is gorgeous. Expect a track (maybe “Please Don’t Take My Life Away”) to turn up in the Optical Atlas Jukebox this week.

Marshmallow Coast’s Phreak Phantasy

Jeff Kuykendall — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:32:03 +0000

Happy Happy Birthday to Me has announced the latest album by the once-thought-defunct Marshmallow Coast: Phreak Phantasy. Andy Gonzales, the mastermind of the Coast, began the project out of Denver, Colorado, in the mid-90’s with Timesquare. The band moved to Athens and to Kindercore Records, and then to Misra Records, while Andy continued to play with his other band, of Montreal (he receives a shout-out in “The Hopeless Opus” on Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies, and the band also covers his old Timesquare song “In the Army Kid” on The Horse and Elephant Eatery). Andy was also briefly a member of The Music Tapes, and played with Olivia Tremor Control and other Elephant 6 outfits, but his fruitful tenure with of Montreal stretched from The Bird Who Continues to Eat the Rabbit’s Flower through Aldhils Arboretum, essentially covering the band’s entire Sgt. Pepper-styled period. Eventually Andy left of Montreal, and Marshmallow Coast (briefly) morphed into M Coast, with singing and songwriting duties shared with Derek Almstead (also ex-of Montreal) and Emily Growden; Sara Kirkpatrick and Carlton Owens filled out the lineup. This configuration released just one album, Say it in Slang, before Andy and Derek went amicably into separate projects: Andy from Denver and Faster Circuits, respectively. Now Marshmallow Coast is back for Andy’s first album under that fully-spelled-out name since 2003’s Antistar.

“My legend is too small to start all over again, ” says Andy to Optical Atlas, indicating that originally Phreak Phantasy was going to be released under his new solo moniker, before he changed his mind and went back to the old and more familiar name. “I did release two split seven-inches as Andy from Denver. Stupidly confusing, I know.” Once more, Sara Kirkpatrick provides flute, but Will Cullen Hart (Circulatory System) also provides support with “tape manipulations and noises.”

In addition to the new album, Andy “from Denver” (he’s not retiring that name completely) has some other projects lined up: he plays guitar on an upcoming album by The Goons (Joe Rowe, formerly of The Glands), and has been recording with The Lolligags and rap/pop project Simple Teek.

Phreak Phantasy will be released on May 26th, but a pre-order deal (limited to 50 orders) will bag you the album (in either CD or vinyl) as well as an original Andy Gonzales painting. Note that the vinyl, which will be a limited pressing of 100, has a silkscreen sleeve. You can place your order now at the HHBTM website.

Video: Andy from Denver and Keith John Adams

Jeff Kuykendall — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:26:58 +0000

Hysterical.

Andy from Denver and Keith John Adams On the Road and Breaking Down

Athens Popfest: Final Schedule

Jeff Kuykendall — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:45:10 +0000

This week is the 2008 Athens Popfest! Posted below is the finalized schedule per the Popfest website:

Tuesday, August 12
Cine
8:00 PM – Fish Schticks
8:35 PM – Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars
9:10 PM – Allison Weiss
9:45 PM – Titans of Filth

Wednesday, August 13
Little Kings
2:00 PM – Boy Genius
2:35 PM – the Hotwalls
3:15 PM – Amo Joy!
4:00 PM – Afternoon Naps
4:45 PM – Nervous Systems
5:30 PM – Oh Sanders
8:00 PM – Supercluster
8:35 PM – Blondie-Grunt
9:10 PM – Nana Grizol
9:45 PM – Hot Pants Romance
10:20 PM – the Coathangers
11:00 PM – Whistling School for Boys
11:30 PM – Judi Chicago
12:00 AM – Spring Tigers
12:35 AM – the Selmanaires
01:15 AM – We Versus the Shark

Thursday, August 14
The 40 Watt Club
8:00 PM – Patience Please
8:30 PM – Velcro Stars
9:00 PM – Bunnygrunt
9:30 PM – Cars Can Be Blue
10:15 PM – Great Lakes
11:00 PM – the Love Letter Band
11:45 PM – Dark Meat
12:30 AM – Roky Erickson & the Explosives

Little Kings
2:00 PM – That’s My Daughter
2:40 PM – Little Birds
3:20 PM – A Faulty Chromosome
4:00 PM – Panda Riot
4:45 PM – Averkiou

Flicker Theater and Bar
6:00 PM – Night Driving in Small Towns
6:45 PM – Good Graces
7:30 PM – Mary O Harrison

Caledonia
8:30 PM – the Ocelots
9:30 PM – Tom Gorrio (Baby Calendar)
10:30 PM – Twin Tigers
11:30 PM – Dead Confederate

Friday, August 15
The 40 Watt Club
8:00 PM – Cryptacize
8:30 PM – Secret History
9:10 PM – the Faintest Ideas
9:50 PM – Ruby Isle
10:30 PM – the Buddy System
11:00 PM – the Lolligags
11:30 PM – Fishboy
12:15 AM – the Apes
01:00 AM – Boyracer

Little Kings
2:00 PM – Railcars
2:40 PM – Tendaberry
3:20 PM – One Happy Island
4:00 PM – Hat Company
4:30 PM – Fat Planet

Flicker Theater and Bar
6:00 PM – Umbrella Tree
6:45 PM – Noisycrane
7:30 PM – Gospel Gossip

Cine
7:00 PM – “I Need That Record” screening

Caledonia
8:30 PM – Laminated Cat
9:30 PM – Ham 1
10:30 PM – My Teenage Stride
11:30 PM – A Armada
12:00 AM – DJ Other Voices, Other Rooms

Saturday, August 16
The 40 Watt Club
8:00 PM – the Smittens
8:30 PM – Big Fresh
9:00 PM – Thee American Revolution
9:30 PM – Pipes You See Pipes You Don’t
10:00 PM – Andy from Denver
10:30 PM – Casper & the Cookies
11:00 PM – Circulatory System
12:00 AM – Elf Power
01:00 AM – the Music Tapes

Little Kings
2:00 PM – Lognhalsmottagningen
2:15 PM – Bad Animal
3:00 PM – the Young Untold
3:30 PM – American Cheeseburger

Flicker Theater and Bar
6:00 PM – Oh Fortuna
6:45 PM – Marc with a C
7:30 PM – Hot Lava

Cine
4:15 PM – “I Need That Record” screening
7:00 PM – “I Need That Record” screening

Caledonia
8:30 PM – Sgt Dunbar & the Hobo Banned
9:30 PM -The Arcs
10:30 PM – Baak Gwai
11:30 PM – Man Factory
12:00 AM – DJ Other Voices, Other Rooms

Sunday, August 17
Cine
4:15 PM -”I Need That Record” screening
7:00 PM -”I Need That Record” screening

Athens Popfest Full Schedule

Jeff Kuykendall — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:08:20 +0000

You may be enjoying Athfest this weekend, but the Athens Popfest is right around the corner. This year’s festival’s closing night even features a bevy of Elephant 6 artists in a row, including, of course, the long-awaited return of The Music Tapes.

Full Festival Schedule

CINE 8.12.08
8:00 – Fish Schticks
8:35 – Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars
9:10 – Allison Weiss
9:45 – Titans of Filth

LITTLE KINGS 8.13.08
2:00 – Boy Genius
2:35 – the Hotwalls
3:15 – Amo Joy!
4:00 – Afternoon Naps
4:45 – Nervous Systems (not confirmed yet)
5:30 – Oh Sanders
(Break time!)
8:00 – Supercluster
8:35 – Blondie-Grunt
9:10 – Nana Grizol
9:45 – Hot Pants Romance
10:20 – the Coathangers
11:00 – Whistling School for Boys
11:30 – Judi Chicago
12:00 – Spring Tigers
12:35 – the Selmanaires
1:15 – We Versus the Shark

LITTLE KINGS 8.14.08
2:00 – That’s My Daughter
2:40 – Little Birds
3:20 – A Faulty Chromosome
4:00 – Panda Riot
4:45 – Averkiou

FLICKER 8.14.08
6:00 – Night Driving in Small Towns
6:45 – Good Graces
7:30 – Mary O Harrison

CALEDONIA 8.14.08
8:30 – the Ocelots
9:30 – the Besties
10:30 – Twin Tigers
11:30 – Dead Confederate

40 WATT CLUB 8.14.08
8:00 – Patience Please
8:30 – Velcro Stars
9:00 – Bunnygrunt
9:30 – Cars Can Be Blue
10:15 – Great Lakes
11:00 – the Love Letter Band
11:45 – Dark Meat
12:30 – Roky Erickson & the Explosives

LITTLE KINGS 8.15.08
2:00 – Railcars
2:40 – Tendaberry
3:20 – One Happy Island
4:00 – Hat Company
4:30 – Fat Planet

FLICKER 8.15.08
6:00 – Oh Fortuna
6:45 – Noisycrane
7:30 – Gospel Gossip

CALEDONIA 8.15.08
8:30 – Laminated Cat
9:30 – Ham 1
10:30 – My Teenage Stride
11:30 – Violet Vector & the Lovely Lovelies

40 WATT 8.15.08
8:00 – Cryptacize
8:30 – Secret History
9:00 – the Faintest Ideas
9:30 – Ruby Isle
10:00 – the Buddy System
10:30 – the Lolligags
11:00 – Fishboy
11:30 – the Apes
12:15 – Boyracer
1:00 – TBA

LITTLE KINGS 8.16.08
2:00 – Lognhalsmottagningen
2:15 – Bad Animal
3:00 – the Young Untold
3:30 – Bright Lights
4:15 – American Cheeseburger

FLICKER 8.16.08
6:00 – Oh Fortuna
6:45 – Marc with a C
7:30 – Hot Lava

CALEDONIA 8.16.08
8:30 – Sgt Dunbar & the Hobo Banned
9:30 – Thrushes
10:30 – the Sterns
11:30 – Man Factory

40 WATT 8.16.08
8:00 – the Smittens
8:30 – Big Fresh
9:00 – Thee American Revolution
9:30 – Pipes You See Pipes You Don’t
10:00 – Andy from Denver
10:30 – Casper & the Cookies
11:00 – Circulatory System
12:00 – Elf Power
1:00 – the Music Tapes

Athens Popfest’s Initial Lineup Announced: Roky Erickson, Music Tapes Headline

Jeff Kuykendall — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:14:25 +0000

The Fifth Annual Athens Popfest lineup has been announced (well, mostly – there are still 16 more bands to be named), and in addition to featuring the long-awaited return of The Music Tapes (news which Merge Records broke a few weeks ago), Roky Erickson & the Explosives, featuring Thirteenth Floor Elevators‘ legendary frontman, will also be playing, as well as many Elephant 6-related bands such as Circulatory System, Elf Power, Thee American Revolution, Casper & the Cookies, Great Lakes, Andy from Denver, and more. Here’s the list as it stands right now:

Roky Erickson & The Explosives, The Music Tapes, Elf Power, Dark Meat, Boyracer, The Apes, Bunnygrunt, Thee American Revolution, Circulatory System, My Teenage Stride, The Faintest Ideas, We Versus the Shark, Casper & the Cookies, Cryptacize, Ruby Isle, The Great Lakes, Fishboy, Cars Can Be Blue, Love Letter Band, Andy From Denver, The Buddy System, The Smittens, Big Fresh, Supercluster, The Coathangers, The Selmanaires, Spring Tigers, Dead Confederate, Violet Vector & the Lovely Lovelies, Velcro Stars, Red Pony Clock, the Lolligags, Secret History, Judi Chicago, Hot Pants Romance, Nana Grizol, The Sterns, Thrushes, Laminated Cat, Fat Planet, The Ocelots, The Besties, Twin Tigers, The Afternoon Naps, Boy Genius, the Hotwalls, Amo Joy!, Oh Sanders, That’s My Daughter, Little Birds, A Faulty Chromosome, Panda Riot, Patience Please, Railcars, Tendaberry, One Happy Island, The Hat Company, The Young Untold, Bad Animal, Oh Fortuna, Good Graces, Night Driving in Small Towns, Umbrella Tree, Noisycrane, Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars, Allison Weiss, Whistling School for Boys

Festival passes are on sale here. The festival will be held the third week in August in Athens, Georgia.