Pistol Opera has exploded onto the L.A. rock scene so fast since forming less
than a year ago that charismatic frontman Eli Braden, who met me nursing a vodka
tonic at three o’clock in the afternoon, has barely had time to adjust to
life in his adopted hometown. "I’m just now getting used to the sheer
quantity of enormous silicone breasts here," he says. "There’s
no better place to be a nursing infant in the world right now than L.A. Every
day they feast."
A demo CD that singer/bassist Braden recorded in 2004 with NYC producer Bryce
Goggin (Phish, Pavement, Nada Surf) reached L.A. native Scott Lorenzini (drums)
early last year through a mutual friend. Lorenzini was so blown away by the music
he immediately phoned Braden (whom he barely knew) to propose putting a band together.
Braden, who had been performing solo acoustic in San Francisco, took the plunge
south, and Pistol Opera was born when Lorenzini brought high school chums and
longtime musical collaborators Toby Semain (lead guitar, vocals) and Scott Pitts
(acoustic guitar, vocals) into the fold.
"It was really fantastic to step into a situation where three great musicians
who are also cool guys are crazy about my songs and super excited to play them,"
Braden says. "They’ve known each other since they were kids, so they
have this built-in chemistry that helps avoid the dysfunction that plagues so
many bands."
Taking its name from an obscure Japanese Yakuza film, Pistol Opera’s music
easily recalls the melodic excellence and songwriting quality of the Beatles –
seriously. But, they’re definitely a "rock" band, with an intensity
rooted in post-punk and metal that shines through even in beautiful ballads like
"Never Say Goodbye" and "Shrine."
"We give everything when we play," Braden says. "Sometimes we get
so excited onstage we careen out of control – the tempos start rising and
the music gets crazier and crazier. But even at our loosest, weirdest shows, there
are always a few people who come up afterwards and say we’re the best new
band they’ve seen. That feels good."
Pistol Opera is currently recording a 5-song EP tentatively titled Youth of the
Beast, which it hopes to have out in stores by April. The CD will feature live
favorites like the ferocious rave-up "Over and Over" and the strange
yet amazing "Do Ya," which sounds like a surefire hit single despite
being described by Braden as "like Radiohead covering Outkast being hijacked
by Guns N’ Roses."
The band has already been shown some record label attention but, as Braden points
out, "In this day and age, you really have to question what exactly a record
label can do for you that you can’t do for yourself. In the ‘90s, the
goal was to get a record deal so you could get a huge advance to record and quit
your day job. That’s not really happening anymore. But with home recording
technology and the Internet, bands can really take their destiny into their own
hands. It’s a cool thing."
However, Pistol Opera wouldn’t turn up its nose if a major label were to
make some overt advances. "Personally, I think we could be as big as Coldplay,"
Braden says. "We’re the real deal; we’re not Hollywood posers.
We work hard to make great music that will hopefully mean to people what the Smiths
and U2 meant to me when I was a kid. Everybody needs something they can believe
in."
Pistol Opera will perform March 9 at the Gig, in Hollywood & April 15 at the
Hotel Café, in Hollywood. For more information, visitwww.myspace.com/pistoloperamusic
or www.pistolopera.com.
Music: LA Underground [Pistol Opera]
Pistol Opera: Shoots for Success
By Zach Selwyn
Article posted on 2/27/2006
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