Nuvo Newsweekly
June 22, 2006
by Jeff NapierThe uncensored version:
The Pop Machine stuck their finger in their musical buttholes and magic came out of that musical butthole. Which is how Andy Fark, drummer for local evil funhouse rockers Creepin' Charley & The Boneyard Orchestra, describes the recent success of Stereo Deluxe. Whether or not the recording studio owned by the Brothers Johnson did in fact stick their fingers up Stereo Deluxe's musical butthole is debatable, but there is no question that there is in fact magic coming out of that bands musical butthole.
Of course Creepin' Charley's butthole is also spewing forth some magic of its own and when the two bands meet at the next June 22nd installment of the Vogue's monthly Indy Rock Show, magic will practically fill the air. Fat torrid breezes of magic flowing forth from the buttholes of young Hoosier rock gods trying to make the world a groovier place, or something like that.
Creepin' Charley & the Boneyard Orchestra released their first CD earlier this year, called "Bright Lights, Wicked City". It's a bare-fisted ride through an almost pulp-noir cosmopolitan landscape of broken people and dark whispers. Named after an invasive type of ground cover found in the credits of a Tom Waits CD, which tells you more about the music then the name itself.
Chronicling the first batch of songs that Shelby Kelly had in his crutches when the band started two years ago, the LP features such barnstorming classics like "Up Jumped the Devil", "Room 303" and "25cent Peepshow". During the past couple years the band built up its rep with a killer stage show and Kellys guttural vocals. "Creepin' Charley started out as a character that I'd created the band was original there to back up these songs that I'd had written for this character. But as we went along, it was apparent that the character of Creepin' Charley was turning into a band called Creepin' Charley", Kelly explains.
"'High Price in Hell' from Bright Lights is sorta like the beginning of what were doing now," Shelby continues, "and these new songs are really the first songs that weve done as a band, with everybody pitching in and giving their own two cents."
Indeed, when the band lost original members, guitarist Jeff Kleindorfer and vocalist/percussionist Angie Walker, it was a sad day, especially given Walker's undeniable presence upon the stage. But then Eric Grimmett came into the fold and curiously Cheepin' Charley has stepped up a notch. Grimmett, whom you might remember from such local bands as The Beautiful Authentic Zoo Gods, Transportation, and Hypnotic Velvet Propellers, was smarting from the train wreck of his last band, um, Trainwreck and came into the fold fired up and eager to participate in more of a democratic atmosphere.
With a batch of new songs what will be available as an EP at the 'Indy Rock Show', we will get to witness the precise moment when the character becomes a band, with magic musical buttholes. Listening to the preliminary tracks in Kelly's eastside basement/studio/rehearsal space, it is quite clear that the band is heading miles beyond where they've been. "I'm Becoming American", "Go-Go Baby" and "Dirty Money" are gritty, grooving garagey rave-ups that are without a doubt some of the best and most rocking songs to come out of Indy this summer. "Far Hill Road" is a gorgeous ballad wrapped in some of the best performances of each band member. Particuliarly Kelly who is showing off a set of pipes no one knew he had. The EP will likely contain a couple other tracks, including a spot-on reading of Devos "Girl U Want".
Unlike "Bright Lights", this EP has more of an organic and loose feel to it. Recorded in Lead Propeller Jason Bambery's home studio. It is the sound of friends coming together and being comfortable as a unit. Jason has also provided them with a means of recording quickly and cheaply. "Jason's thirst for music is universal", Shelby exclaims. "He (Bambery) knows what were trying to achieve and really you couldnt ask for a better engineer. I mean, hes come to our shows, and he knows what were about, and he likes the music, so it just makes everything that much easier. I just cant imagine going back to the way we recorded 'Bright Lights', it was just too much, man."
Heres to hoping that this fruitful meeting of the minds produces many and frequent releases of the type that will be available June 22. All indications point to this being a Creepin' Charley summer, go to the Vogue and be converted. Also on the bill are Indy up & comers Thrive and South Normal, from Detroit.