Brandon Can’t Dance
You might already know Brandon Ayres from his work in Faux Fetus along with any number of other acts, but today we send word of the artist’s forthcoming album Graveyard Of Good Times available January 13 from the UK’s own Lucky Number Music & today shares a few listens from the new album along with some exclusive words. The Philly artist has been praised by other local artists such as the noble Alex G among others who has been grinding it out in the cold fringes of the scenes, known as something of an artist’s artist. A family dude & wizard of the self-produced/home recorded variety; the Drexel Hill denizen of all things DIY creates warm, holistic vignettes that sees Ayres reaching in a multitude of creative directions & stylistic disciplines. The following “Angelina” for instance sounds like it could have been an outtake off the recent Alex G records for Domino & Orchid Tapes where odes to others are told in an earnest way where life is observed as it happens where the good, the bad, the meh & more are rolled up into one fat gentle joint.
Now for something completely different—Brandon Can’t Dance’s “Smoke & Drive Around” deals in manners of nu-disco overtures that abides by a minimalist mode with maximum impact. The dance & drive invitation gets lit with tales of getting loaded behind a church, while the sweetest & most amazing synths shimmer & shine bright throughout. Ayes employs a sincere delivery that delves into the wiles of debauchery while raining down the most glorious keys imaginable. Stay with us following the listen as we got up close & personal with the danciest-dude around—Brandon Can’t Dance’s Brandon Ayres.
Give us the latest report from Philly. What’s good? What’s not? What’s in? What’s out? What’s new? What’s old? What’s next?
Well the scene is still poppin’. You can catch my current favorite bands Pet, Blue Smiley, and Arthur Shea in and around the city. Everybody Hits is a pretty bumpin’ DIY spot run by David Gavigan. His venue is literally batting cages by day and rock show by night. My album release show will be there on January 22. I’m living out in the suburbs with grandma so I’m really not the guy who is up to date on what’s in or out. I’ve been trapped in 2005 for awhile.
A lot of bands and kids are moving here for the scene and music community which I’m all for but I read something the other day about a show with hometown heroes and it was a band that moved here like five months ago so that pissed me off. Fuck that crap.
What’s next? Just read 1984 and it looks like we’ll be in a full on 1984 world soon. Also, the Flyers will be the next team to win a championship, mark my words.
Give us the story on the creative brainstorming & making of Graveyard Of Good Times and how you hooked up with the UK’s own Lucky Number Music?
I like to get everything done in one sitting so I usually start with a big ole bowl of corn flakes and two cups of joe. I got to my Grammy award winning status because of corn flakes and coffee. I start with my guitar or synth and play around until something clicks and that gets the juices flowing. I sort of spiral into it and there goes my day. I usually have something done by dinner time. I’ll sort through all the drum settings, pedals and synth presets while I’m recording. I prefer what feels right on the spot as oppose to having a song ready and then record.
Graveyard of Good Times came about while living with eight of my friends in a giant house in the burbs next to West Philly. After my first band broke up I tried a few various bands to take my mind off of that while still recording here and there but I’d say about two years ago, my boy Alex G asked me to open for him as Brandon Can’t Dance at Baby’s All Right and that really rejuvenated me. I recorded as much as possible after that. He also suggested to Lucky Number to check me out and they asked if I’d like to work with them which was also a boost for sure.
In what ways have you found certain echoes or resonances of your previous work in collectives like Faux Fetus playing out in your current work in Brandon Can’t Dance?
The first thing Faux Fetus put up on their site back in the day was a bunch of home recordings on a computer mic in early 2000s with my old band. I feel like when I record a poppy, subtly humorous song I get that rush I had when I first start recording myself and just having fun with it.
What are you really, really absolutely obsessed with right now?
I’m obsessed with recording my music honestly. I’m obsessed with random songs like AZ—”The Come Up”, Delegation—”Where’s The Love”, Antwon—”Sittin’ In Hell”. I was obsessed with Jessica Lea Mayfield’s Make My Heart Sing album while on tour with Alex G recently. It’s probably my favorite album right now. I love how gritty, dark and heavy it is plus her lispy twang melts my brain.
Prayers and projections for 2017?
I pray that I’ll hopefully get to watch aliens land on Earth and make contact with humans live on tv and maybe abduct Ryan Seacrest if we’re lucky. I predict this crap wave of modern country rock idiots will try and weasel it’s way into undertones of rapping and the world as we know it will die.
Brandon Can’t Dance’s album Graveyard Of Good Times will be available January 13 from the UK’s Lucky Number Music.
