Thursday, December 5, 2013

First/Last-Whistle Peak


"Whistle Peak is pop music in disguise and experimentation at its core. It is music that takes you on a journey of the imagination, inhabiting fantastical lands while drawing from life experience. It is the particular phrased in the universal. It is children’s stories told by grown men. The music is upbeat and hypnotic, pulling you closer with each listen and surprising you with small amulets layered beneath continuous melody. Whistle Peak’s style combines folk and electronic music, blending synthetic and acoustic instrumentation with songs of love and loss, joy and darkness. Not to say these boys are downers, rather their songs are quite optimistic and redemptive, bringing a small smile to man, woman and child alike. Chill out, strap on some ear muffs and enter a world where nature rules and men and women are entranced in dream-filled slumber."

The band is featured on the Paste 50 States Project as part of that Kentucky contingent. Their latest album is "Half Asleep Upon Echo Falls" from 2012 via Karate Body Records. I want to thank Billy Petot (Ukulele/Xylophone/Keys/Tambourine/Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
This was in the days of cassette tapes, I'm pretty certain it was either Metallica “...And Justice For All” or Guns and Roses “Appetite for Destruction”.

Your last album bought?
I just bought Beach House's “Devotion” on vinyl at a new record store here in town called Guestroom Records, but the newest album purchased would be Kendrick Lamar's newest from last year.

Favorite album of all time?
That's tough. If we define "favorite" as "most listened to", it'd be: Sparklehorse “It’s a Wonderful Life” or Neil Young "After the Gold Rush", which is pretty fitting cuz our music lies somewhere in between.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
I have a hard time saying anything disparaging about an artist, publicly at least, but I was slightly disappointed in the new Justin Timberlake album. But only because I loved “FutureSex/LoveSounds” and Dave and I are big Timbaland fans (JT's most used producer).

First concert attended?
Not counting local bands, it was probably Shellac on their ‘At Action Park’ tour with Uzeda. I still have the flyer from that show in 1994.

Last concert?
The last concert I attended that we didn't play was Vampire Weekend at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

Favorite concert ever?
The first time I saw Flaming Lips, on their ‘Soft Bulletin’ tour at Headliners in Louisville. Though around the same time I saw Biz Markie, Talib Kweli, Common, Pharoah Monch, and De La Soul at Bogarts in Cincinnati, which was quite amazing, as one could imagine. The late 90's were pretty awesome for both alternative/indie music and hip-hop. But the Lips show entirely changed my perception of what a live show should be.

Least favorite concert?
I was pretty bored with Wilco's set at Forecastle 2012, but it was the end to a long hot day.


Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Never been there actually but some close friends went to film school there. Ryan Daly, aka cinemanonymous, who has made two of our music videos and Scott Carney from Wax Fang. I know they have a special place in their hearts for Pittsburgh.

Thanks, Billy. I hate to hate on Wilco anymore than one should but they really seem to be insisting on attaining that 'Dad-Rock' crown as of late. I would love to see that band blow me away as they did in the late 90's.

Whistle Peak Website


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