Back in the late 90s, a group of local musicians coalesced around a rehearsal/recording space in Lakewood, forming bands and playing in each other’s bands, creating an indie music scene that had far-reaching impact locally.
One of those bands is Extra Medium Pony, a later product of the scene. It was the brainchild of Rick Spitalsky, who also played with Davenport bands the Volta Sound, Afternoon Naps and the Dreadful Yawns. It had a blurry, guitar-oriented college radio type of sound often compared to bands such as Pavement and Sebadoh. The group released its debut album 11868on former Cleveland-based label Exit Stencil in 2012.
We hadn’t heard much from the band in the last several years but that’s now changed with the release of a new album called Traffic, their third album, following 2016’s Meaninglessness.
The lineup supporting Spitalsky has changed since the band’s early days. While all the music is his and he played an array of instruments, the album also features Juan Granda on drums, David McHenry on bass, Nick Tolar on guitar, Aric Hines on keyboard, Liz Kelly on vocals, Clayton Heur on violin, Mike Allen on cello and James Grossenheider on synthesizer.
The album’s 14 tracks are inflected by Spitalsky’s self-described phobic anxiety.
According to the press release accompanying the album, “Spitalsky has been feeling trapped for a long time. Being afraid to leave the house isn’t unique for him. It’s been 2020 for him for years and years. Sometimes the nervousness comes from thin air. Music has been the way to navigate the darkness — to put the nerves into riffs and hope into vocals. You can hear the nervousness captured in the guitar, you can feel the pulse race in the drums, you can feel weakness in the vocals and a sense of being lost in the organ. At times it’s difficult for him to leave the house, which renders playing live locally an immense struggle, and touring feel a lifetime away.”
Fortunately for him, touring and playing live in local clubs aren’t happening these days, but the music is available to listen to in the isolation of YOUR home.
We’re happy to hear though that “He’s been receiving help and has made improvements to where some sense of normal seems possible.”
Now if only that could happen for this country …
Order the digital album here.