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\ 04 Nash out or OH 10 H A a band, we don't really have any Au musical boundaries," exclaims young songwriter Kevin Elliot, lead vocalist for Ohio's action-pop superheroes 84 Nash. "Well play something, and itll sound like The Who one minute and Television or Olivia Tremor Control the next." 84 Nash hails from Columbus, Ohio, but the quintet really got its start a few years earlier in nearby Dayton, where a bustle of underground pop and rock and roll activity was abuzz with a post-punk, melody-driven, lo-fi sound inspired by psychedelic rock from f he '60s, power pop from the 70s and punk rock from the '80s. Elliot and bassist J.P. Herrmann first started playing together in 1994 at a high school north of Dayton. By '95, the two had formed a trio with guitarist Andy Hampel, bought a four-track machine and started playing live and recording dozens of songs. "We had no idea what we were doing, but we put together a 28-song album and shopped it around anyway," remembers Elliot. "It was pretty funny. Since then, we've played with different lineups around the state, but mostly we've been recording and recording; that's what we do best." The 84 Nash story sounds very much like the Guided By Voices story; young kids unfet tered by industry rules and standards deter mined to write a thousand pop gems and rock out on-stage in front of whomever, whenever. "We grew up being around Bob Pollard [the Guided By Voices frontman]; we really loved and envied him and his band," remem bers Eliot. "Early on, we wanted to make a record that sounded like GBV*s Bee Thousand or like Wire's Pink Flag. We were heavily influenced I think by a lot of those Ohio bands: Gaunt, The Breeders, The Mice, Devo... all of that." Certainly, many elements of "Ohio rock" make their way onto 84 Nash's recordings. The latest disc, Band For Hire (Rockathon) is a loose, focused and fluid, 18-song nugget of rock and roll charm, sly melodies and simpli fied pop songcraft. It sounds very much like Guided By Voices in that it's devoid of pre tense and cliche while simultaneously filled with drama, poetic imagery and youthfully romantic urgency. And it sounds like it was recorded on borrowed gear from the Bee Thousand sessions. "We've always kept things simple and experimented with little things—both with the songs and the recording technique," explains Elliot. 'The reason we had no solos and all that early on was because we couldn't play them! We're learning how to craft songs better now with bridges and breaks. If it sounds good and catchy, well keep it." After the release of Band For Hire last summer, drummer Dan Bandman exited 84 Nash, and the band spent several months regrouping with new drummer James Brent and additional guitarist Ben Schetek. Eliot believes the band's chiming, guitar-driven sound has never been stronger. "We definitely put on a full rock show on stage, but there's a lot of melody and ? lot of catchy hooks happening, too," he boasts. "There always a lot of energy on stage, and we always try to play each show like it's our last—no matter the size of the club or the crowd... although we're all for the arena rock, too!" Ballard Lesemann WHO: 84 Nash, FableFactory WHERE: Caledonia Lounge WHEN: Saturday, July 8 HOW MUCH: $5 THE CAUSEY WAY OR NOT AT ALL N otoriously mysterious Causey Way frontman "Causey" leads whoever is still left in his new-new-wave band's lineup to Athens this week for a charged show in a warm, enclosed space. The last time this theo logically-miffed, Florida-based rock group came through the Classic City, the guitar-wielding Mr. Causey was in excellent form; busily "cam paigning" for president, spouting off about political power, biology, romance and hygiene. The band, propelled by a fresh new drummer and keyboardist, was on full-power and thrilled the audience with tunes off its recent slew of albums, WWCD (Put It On A Cracker), With Loving And Open Arms (Alternative Tentacles), and Testimony (Fueled By Ramen). One visibly stimulated observer noted that "the sound was knocking the walls down." Another, less initiated, sour-faced watcher simply dis missed the band as "a pack of robotic curmudgeons in uni forms acting up." Are the members of The Causey Way a group of prol-art threat geniuses or are they simply a pack of paranoid and grouchy impostors obsessed with ratings, maga zine articles and hilarity? Yeah, that what Flagpole can't figure out. To get to the bottom of it all, Flagpole contacted The Causey Way's studio engineer and full-time cheerleader, known simply as "Red Causey." Unfortunately, he was in a dreadful mood: Flagpole: You've said you find musicians unfathomable. What's the mystery? Red Causey: Where did you read that? On the Internet? Unfathomable? So are you on the Internet e lot? ’^o you get excited about it? FP: Not really. Do you? RC: Mind your own business. Hold on. [in the background: Caroline, get me a beer. I've gotta deal with this jerk asking me silly ques tions... get it outta the fridge, I don't want a hot one... ] FP: Exactly who is "The Button"—the guy in eyeglasses who stands at attention next to the cheep synthesizer? RC: You're so damn clever, get on the Internet and find out. Ahahah! FP: Is it true The Causey Way once nearly signed to Kindercore? RC: You're just talking about gossip. FP: People are interested in gossip. RC: it doesn't interest me. Ask me a fucking question or piss off! Are all vour questions just what you've read on the Internet? They're not going anywhere. FP: What do you want me to ask you about? RC: You're just pissed off because you i : ve in Athens. You're a sad sack aren't you? Ask me more questions, you lazy bastard! Hurry up! FP: How is the Causey Way in the studio? RC: They may be the most professional band I've ever recorded. There's never a second take of anything; it's always on one take. FP: Describe a typical Causey Way recording session. RC: Well record an entire bleeding session in four hours start to finish. All the albums are recorded live. The leader is extremely overbearing in the studio. I was once trying to get this kick drum sound he was looking for—he described it as "pud ding"—and he actu ally pulled a gun on me after a few min utes. It was a toy gun, but I don't think he knew the gun wasn't real. Anyway, within a few minutes, he was giving out hugs and all that. His moods swing really heavily. FP: What is the band's best album? RC: They're all the best. They're all better. FP: You've described the band as a "deranged Percy Sledge-meets-Dead Kennedys." Explain. RC: Where did you read that? FP: On the Internet. RC: Can't you think anything cut of your own mind? TL: If you want to say anything about the band members, how dbout the gig? I’m lis tening. RC: All right. So they'll be smashing. That's all I've got to say really. Ballard Lese.nann WHO: The Causey Way, Moonie Suzuki WHERE: Caledonia Lounge WHEN: Tuesday, July 11 HOW MUCH: $5 — SUMMER SPECIAL - Buy One Basic Burrito Get One FREE (yvj'fk'N >1. 2000) XiO IVixfc-i yfuvf ' (.,!! Ill OvJcijnj; IV c1 MUSIC for Less -4 .Mrwirsrrgg: ar..yjte~r isxrcst n mzi -' A FULL SERVICE USED INSTRUMENT SHOP nSjESMSSSEEn IVlUSICfAIViS! We Pay Top Dollar for Used Gear ATHENS' LARGEST & BEST SELECTION OF USED EQUIPMENT 613-6656 136 E. Clayton St. Next to DT's & Roly Poly AUTHORIZED K DEALER Fender • Epiphone • Gibson • Peavey • Olympian • Tacomaij 5, 2000