Interstate

pellmell.org Reboot!

mike — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:58:23 +0000

Pellmell.org is the official/unofficial website of the U.S. band Pell Mell that existed from 1981 to 1998 or so. Most of the members of Pell Mell have continued on to other projects, so the goal of this site is to keep track of any news related to Pell Mell and its associated members’ projects.

Back in February of 2001 I started pellmell.org as a way to capture and collect the information that existed on the Internet (and some that didn’t) about the great instrumental rock band. Over the years there has been some activity that was worth noting– soundtracks that featured a Pell Mell song and side-projects of the band.

I have had input and support of most of the members of the band, whose lineup changed a couple of times over its existence– mostly from Bob Beerman, the drummer of Pell Mell who has a new project called Grimspex with Gary Waleik from Big Dipper.

The website is now using WordPress as its content manager and the news surrounding the band will be threaded like a blog and I’ll take the discography and work on a WordPress plugin for that. I think that ultimately this will make the content easier to work with, and will afford me the ability to extend creator accounts for the guys so they can create content as well (hint, hint).

Nothing Lies Still Long.
Mike

Updates…

mike — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 22:50:19 +0000

A number of things are happening in the splintered Pell Mell camp. The project that Bob mentioned to me last year is slowly working on an LP worth of tracks. It is called Grimspex and is a collaboration with Gary Waleik from Big Dipper. Take a listen to the tracks on the MySpace page.

Greg Freeman has a project called Checksum with Jeff Palmer that is worth checking out. They have a new album called Grey Ghost that came out on Box Kite Records in 2006.

Bob also said that Dave Spalding has been playing around New York City lately.

Updates…

mike — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:59:28 +0000

A couple of things just to keep things fresh– Bob contacted me last year to tell me he was working a new side project. I don’t have the details on it yet. I’ll see if I can track him down for an update. Also, I have spun up another website to host my blogs called Time To Play B-Sides. This is a site where I journal all of the research and discovery I encounter while trying to stay on top of music.

Another Pell Mell Track Discovered

mike — Thu, 15 Jan 2004 23:00:41 +0000

A search of eBay today turned up a new Pell Mell track I’d never heard before. The song is called “8 to the Breeze” and it is an outtake, apparently. A Google search of the track turned up an archived radio show that has the song around the 50 minute mark. Enjoy!

This song was an outtake from the Interstate sessions and was included in Yeti Magazine issue #2 from 2003.

Cut-Out Album Released

mike — Sat, 17 May 2003 23:04:23 +0000

After almost two years (see June 18, 2001 News entry below) the long-awaited (at least by me) Interlude With Fun Machine by Fisk/Beerman side project Cut-Out. I have been listening to it in my regular rotation of CD’s, and I think it is really good– although I wish it was longer. It has a very distinctive sound, but fits nicely with some of the so-called “post rock” music in my regular rotation like older Trans Am, Tortoise, Fridge, Couch, etc. The ironic thing is that bands like Pell Mell are part of the reason I listen to these bands in the first place. The limited palate of instrumentation gives this album a nicely consistent sound. As much as I try not to be cliche, I will say it works as the soundtrack to my day-to-day activities. While we all wait patiently for the promise of another Pell Mell album, we can listen to Interlude With Fun Machine.

Dave Spalding Live

mike — Mon, 09 Sep 2002 23:06:45 +0000

Dave will be playing Lolita Bar (266 Broom St., NYC) on September 16th. It will be a solo show– most likely Dave and his drummer Tony Leone. Call 212-966-7223 for more information. Dave will also be supporting singer/songwriter Liz Tormez … Continue reading →

Dave Spalding News

mike — Wed, 20 Mar 2002 23:08:11 +0000

Dave Spalding has just completed recording a thirteen-track album. Bob Beerman plays on a couple of the tracks. I have had the opportunity to hear this recording and am happy to report that it is very much in the Pell Mell spirit. Quite a bit of the Pell Mell characteristic guitar sound permeates the album. Dave sings on the album as well. His laid-back vocal style fits well with the music. Dave wanted me to tell you all that he is performing these songs and others on a regular basis in New York City. If you are fortunate enough to be able to see him, please go out an show your support! Dave can be contacted at davespalding@earthlink.net.

Some updates from Mr. Beerman!

mike — Mon, 18 Jun 2001 23:09:25 +0000

“Two HOT HBO series have chosen Pell Mell songs for their soundtracks. SEX IN THE CITY has selected “Interloper” for use in an upcoming episode; and SIX FEET UNDER has continued to show its good taste by selecting “Nothing Lies Still Long” for use in EVERY EPISODE, as it recaps what went on in the previous episode. –Bob”

“Bob Beerman and Steve Fisk are PROUD to announce the birth of their new “project” CUT OUT. CUT OUT is the result of a fruitful meeting of minds in Seattle in may. The first CUT OUT lp, “Interlude with Fun Machine” is still being finalized as we speak, but Bob and Steve are hopeful for its release by year’s end. A possible SHOCK to all Pell Mell fans worldwide: the CUT OUT lp has NO GUITARS. But, one particularly astute Pell Mell fan has already commented “it sounds different, but the Pell Mell philosophy is still all over CUT OUT” and, “it’s EXCITING!”. a sample track is available at www.stevefisk.com. –Bob”

Fisk Solo Album to Drop

mike — Mon, 05 Mar 2001 23:11:37 +0000

Steve Fisk‘s first solo album since 1987′s 448 Deathless Days (SST 148- OOP), 999 Levels of Undo will be released tomorrow (3/6). This mostly-instrumental release also features Pell Mell member Greg Freeman in addition to former Soundgarden member Kim Thayil.

Spalding to Appear on New Love Tractor Album

mike — Sat, 17 Feb 2001 23:12:59 +0000

According to the February 9th Goldmine Magazine in their New Release News section, seminal Athens, GA band Love Tractor is releasing their first new album since a decade hiatus from recording and touring on March 6th. The Sky at Night
on Razor & Tie features Pell Mell axeman Dave Spalding as well as former R.E.M. drummer and onetime Love Tractor member Bill Berry. I was a fan of Love Tractor for their first three mostly-instrumental albums Love Tractor, Around the Bend, and ‘Til the Cows Come Home. The new album features singing and from what I’ve heard from the audio snippets on CDNOW, it sounds really good!