Algernon
Cadwallader are a hard-working Philly-born band of brothers on the verge of
exploding into your girlfriend’s bedroom and stealing her from you
forever. Or they may just keep playing music for the rest of their lives as
a threesome of beer can-wielding friends seemingly content with life. One
thing’s for sure: whichever direction they go, Algernon Cadwallader will be moving
in a blinding sprint, as they have no reservations about being three down-to-earth
fellows who can play loud and steal a crowd.
Caught in a whirlwind of
infectious melodies and raw, scratchy vocals, you’ll find yourself halfway
through 2008 album Some Kind Of
Cadwallader, rediscovering this fun-loving, shit-kicking juvenile spirit that
refuses to be ignored. Algernon Cadwallader remain completely honest in their
genre — paying homage to late ‘80s and early ‘90s emotive Dischord
releases and inspiring nostalgic memories of way back, when you only had to
read vaunted singer Tim Kinsella’s lyrics two or three times to understand what
he was talking about.
Algernon
Cadwallader’s crowd-pleasing dedication was proven during March’s Harvest Of
Hope Festival in St. Augustine, FL, where we caught up with band members Joe
Reinhart, Tank Burgman, and Peter Helmis for an interview — but only
after they politely asked our girlfriends to step into their merchandise booth
and sell anything they could for whatever anyone would pay. I speak for
myself and co-interviewer Jordan Blumetti when I say we were slightly worried
our significant others were on the verge of hopping in Algernon Cadwallader’s
van on the way to making Philly a newfound home.
William Port Whales: You guys are on Be Happy Records.
How is that relationship?
Joe Reinhart: They’re good to us —
Craig Woods, who’s in Peter & Craig with Peter [Helmis], is in charge, and the
label is all local in Philly. We’ve been friends for a long while.
WPW: How was The Fest 8 in
Gainesville last fall?
Peter Helmis: We get to play with some of
our favorite bands and hangout with dude friends all weekend — it’s
amazing.
WPW: No Idea Records has been
immensely helpful with the production of the Harvest Of Hope Festival —
did they invite you to play in St. Augustine after meeting them in Gainesville?
Tank Burgman: It’s funny, we don’t really
know how they feel about us, but their label has countless amazing bands. We
like them.
WPW: How was your recent
European tour?
JR: Europe was fantastic. We
had the time of our lives and played some great venues in France, Germany,
Scotland, Amsterdam, Ireland, England, Italy, and Belgium. Good food and great
people.
WPW: What’s your favorite Tim
Kinsella project?
JR: I’m pretty sure I have a
copy of everything he’s ever produced on vinyl, but probably Joan Of Arc
because of the amount of material. However, the Owls LP is like the fingerpicking
bible.
TB: Yeah, I love everything
he’s done.
WPW: You guys hit SXSW in Austin
after Harvest Of Hope in March. Are you guys still on the road?
JR: No, Tank had to get back to
school.
WPW: What are you studying, Tank?
JR: Tank’s going to be a nurse.
WPW: A murse, huh?
TB: That’s right, a murse.
WPW: What about you, Joe?
JR: I have to work tomorrow,
but I’m sure we’ll be throwing beer cans at each other by the end of the night.
You guys should try and catch us again then.
WPW: What do you do for a living?
JR: I’m an engineer — I
work in A.V.
WPW: So Algernon Cadwallader is
a working band?
JR: Full on!
WPW: Nice — we live in
Charleston, SC, and have to get back, too.
JR: Can we play in your living
room?
WPW: Yeah, and the bar
where we work.
TB: Can we stay with you?
WPW: We wouldn’t have it any
other way.
JR: Hellfire.
WPW: Being here in Florida, how do you feel about NASA and their
recent financial crisis?
TB: It sucks, but Peter is actually
doing a medical study for them… something about the Milky Way. We’re not really
sure.
JR: I only listen because it’s
my favorite candy bar.
WPW: What’s your favorite hand
fruit?
PH: Pumpkin.
WPW: That isn’t a fruit you hold
in your hand to eat.
TB: Watermelon?
WPW: No, like a fruit you can
buy and just dive into. C’mon, a hand fruit!
TB: Banana — wait. Mangos.
PH: Kiwi?
WPW: Yeah, that works.
JR: Star fruit for
me.
WPW: The punk scene in Philly
right now is amazing — how nice is it to play shows with bands like Snowing,
1994, Boyfriends, etc.?
JR: We’ve lived and played
music with all those guys for years. We’re best friends, and the energy in
Philly right now is indescribable.
WPW: When I first met you Joe,
you said I looked like a surfer. Is it because I talk like a valley
girl? Because I’m actually a genius.
JR: You know (gestures around
body and face) — you look like a surfer. Think Bohdi from Point Break.
WPW: Jeff Goldblum or Steve
Buscemi?
JR: Jeff Goldblum.
TB: Steve Buscemi.
WPW: Gays in the military?
JR: No problem here, just
don’t sign me up.
WPW: For which one?
JR: Either.
WPW: Do you guys think you’ll
ever have fast cars and cash?
TB: No, but vintage seven
strings and girls will be great.
WPW: Thanks so much, guys. We
asked you to come up with a funny name for us — have you got anything?
TB: Yeah [pointing at William],
you’re Travis. [Points to Jordan] Your name is Boyfriend. Travis Boyfriend, collectively.
WPW: That’s bullshit!
[Tank
shrugs it off]
WPW: Our ladies just sold a
bunch of your merch.
JR: Yeah, you should let us
keep them [laughs].
WPW: Musicians are always
stealing our girlfriends.
ALGERNON CADWALLADER TOUR
DATES:
6/9 Secret Art Space.…………………………
Bethlehem, PA
7/16-7/17 Berea Fest…………………………………
Berea, OH
For all things Algernon
Cadwallader, visit www.algernoncadwallader.blogspot.com or www.myspace.com/algernoncadwallader
