by Michael LelloWeekender Editor
Kite Party, the young band that will release the EP “Wish Mountain” on May 26, might be based in Philadelphia, but its coal-country roots run deep.
Recorded in the basement of a movie theater in Coaldale, Schuylkill County, “Wild Mountain” follows last spring’s “Hand Claps Music.” It’s the band’s first release since signing with Scranton’s Prairie Queen Records.
Kite Party’s music is difficult to categorize, with punk and ragged rock sounds clashing against each other.
“Pretty much all of us at the very start started with punk rock, and from there it kind of evolved into whatever,” said multi-instrumentalist Justin Fox. “I know for me my favorite band of all time is Fugazi. I don’t know if I take a lot of that into the writing process. We all like Fugazi, Radiohead and The Clash. Other than that, it gets varied.”
The band will unveil “Wish Mountain” at two CD-release shows, one at Big Momma’s House in Philadelphia on Friday, May 22, and another at Embassy Vinyl in Scranton on Saturday, May 23.
Since the majority of the band moved from NEPA to attend various Philadelphia colleges, the band has maintained connections with Scranton-area bands and venues. In July, Kite Party will tour the Northeast and Southeast with Scranton’s Tigers Jaw.
Fox said he’s noticed some differences between NEPA and Philadelphia’s live music scenes.
“The difference really is since there are so many things going on in Philly, I think it’s a lot harder to convince people that you are worth coming out to see,” he said. “In Northeastern Pa., a local rock show might be the best thing to do on a night, where in Philly that might not be the case.”
Forming in Tamaqua after the breakup of The Mother/Daughter Team, Kite Party — Fox, Tim Jordan (various instruments), Russell Edling (guitar, lead vocals) and Pete Knepper (drums) — recorded “Hand Claps Music” at Angela Studio, the Coaldale studio where the new effort was tracked as well. Dan McKinney, who has worked with Pissed Jeans, Lewis & Clarke and Okay Paddy, mixed “Hand Claps Music.”
Kite Party recorded “Wish Mountain” over the course of three or four days, Fox said.
“I guess it’s a little louder a little rougher, for the most part,” he said, “with the last song being a little softer than anything else we’ve ever done. It’s almost clich� for a band to say it’s more of everything they did before. The louds are louder and the softs are softer.”
The band members went to high school together, but some of the members have known each other as far back as first grade. Jordan, still in high school, is the only member not living in Philadelphia.
“It’s been strange,” said Fox. “At first we would practice in Philadelphia because there was only member that was still at home, and that’s Tim. Around December, his car broke down, so we couldn’t practice in Philly anymore. It cut down on our practices. That’s been kind of a real drag. We’re all going to be in Philly next year and hope to get this awkward year behind us.”
w
Kite Party CD-release show, Saturday, May 23, 6 p.m., Embassy Vinyl (342 Adams Ave., Scranton). Cost: $5, all ages.
