Pickwick play in the Constellation Room in Santa Ana Jan. 11
Photo by: Kyle Johnson
Seattle indie rock band, Pickwick, embarks upon a west coast tour in January with a stop at The Constellation Room on Jan. 11.
The six-member group is known for their DIY approach of making and distributing their own 7-inch singles known as the “Myth” series. In 2013 they continued this tradition with their self-released debut album, “Can’t Talk Medicine”.
Setting up shop in their living room, the bands own multi-instrumentalist Kory Kruckenberg (who won a Grammy in 2010 for Best Engineered Classical Album) served as engineer.
The 13 tracks include three re-recorded and fully realized cuts from their popular “Myths” series and a collaboration with Sharon Van Etten on the lead single “Lady Luck”, a Richard Swift cover (who also collaborated on the album).
“A cool thing about this record,” says Kruckenberg, “this house has made its way onto the record. We’ve tried to include the quirks of living here.”
Guitarist Michael Parker wryly spins the situation differently saying, “Our record doesn’t sound like a lot of other records because it was recorded in this living room.”
Front man and lyricist, Galen Disston’s gospel growl is supported with harmonies by Parker, and keyboardist Cassady Lillstrom. Rounding out the group are bassist, Garrett Parker and drummer, Alex Westcoat.
Disston prefers listeners delve into their own imagination with his words instead of providing a literal history of every lyric.
Yet he does state that “Can’t Talk Medicine” mines themes of mental illness. “It’s about art making you go crazy,” he reveals.
Seattle indie-rock comes to the south west
“We idolize and value that insanity when it’s in the name of art.”
The refrain in “Window Sill” speaks of planning a defiant suicide while crowd favorite; “Hacienda Motel” recounts a risqué homicide.
Musical influences and a preference for mystery can be traced to the band’s own voracious interest in music that’s mired in obscurity. Music such as reissues from Designer Records, the seminal output of the Black Ark, Robert Pete Williams, Alan Lomax, The Walkmen, The Sonics, and Abner Jay are among the diverse list of names referred to with reverence in the living room.
2013 saw Pickwick headline a US tour, appear at SXSW, and receive festival invites. Kick off 2014 with them in an intimate setting at the Constellation Room.