Masters of Jamtronica
Papadosio just wants to be themselves
Within the jam band scene is the subgenre jamtronica, which includes such national acts as The Disco Biscuits, Particle, and Sound Tribe Sector 9. In a nutshell, the style mixes electronics and synths with regular rock instrumentation such as guitar, bass, drums, etc.
One outfit with Buckeye State ties that is quickly rising through the ranks is Papadosio, which includes Sam Brouse (keyboards), Billy Brouse (keyboards, synths, vocals), Tony Thogmartin (guitar, samples, synthesizer, vocals), Michael Healy (drums) and Rob McConnell (bass, vocals). Formed on the Ohio University campus six years ago, the act, which has since relocated to Asheville, North Carolina, is finally starting to see results from its incessant touring schedule that has resulted in a growing fan base around the Midwest and beyond.
For instance, just this summer the quintet played before 22,000 people at the All Good Festival in Masontown, West Virginia. Up next is the group’s third studio effort, which Papadosio is currently working on for a future release. The outfit is also touring, including a hometown gig for the brothers Brouse on Sun 10/16 @ the Beachland Ballroom.
“Right now we are about to go on another 10-day run, while at the same time we’re just trying to find time to record,” said Sam Brouse, a Hudson native and 2007 Western Reserve Academy graduate who joined the group exactly a year ago. “Our next CD is a lot more lyrical and a lot more focused on songwriting. In fact, we’re toying with the idea of making it a double album because we have so much material.”
Among the new tracks in the mix, which the band is currently playing live, are the harmony-heavy (and tentatively titled) “The Direction Song” and the upbeat “Cue.” Looking ahead to the next release, Sam said Papadosio is trying to distance itself from its middle-of-the-road jam-band-sounding debut, Magreenery, and the darker electronic vibe of follow-up Observations.
“This album is shaping up to have more of an indie rock flavor to it,” Sam said. “We’re trying to bridge the gap of this album of where we are now in terms of how people perceive our music, jam-tronica or whatever they want to see with this sort of indie rock side of everything that we kind of hear ourselves as.”
Even though Papadosio is relatively a young band, its members are already feeling constrained with the jamtronic label that follows the group. Sam explains it this way: whereas the majority of the bands his group is often pigeonholed with are known more for creating soundscape live experiences with music as a transcendent vehicle, Papadosio is more focused on the song in which the party is built around.
Sam said a message board posting saying Papadosio doesn’t know whether they’re Radiohead or The Disco Biscuits or Tool perhaps unintentionally encapsulated the band’s musical spirit.
“That’s what we’re going for, we don’t want to be like anyone else,” Sam said. “We really want to just be the first Papadosio. That’s where I like people to start.”
Papadosio is scheduled to play at 9PM on Sun 10/16 @ the Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland. Also on the bill is Dopapod. Tickets are $10 ADV/$12 DOS. Call 216-383-1124. http://Papadosio.com.
Freelance writer John Benson spends most of his time writing for various papers throughout Northeast Ohio.
When he’s not writing about music or entertainment, he can be found coaching his two boys in basketball, football and baseball or watching movies with his lovely wife, Maria. John also occasionally writes for CoolCleveland.com.