Appomattox

I heard one of their albums in a bar last year and hunted them down and started going to all of their shows, says Jonathan Cohen, the music booker for the Jimmy Fallon Show and former editor of Billboard, as he compares the band to early Police and Fugazi. Jonathan Cohen - Booking Agent for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon / former editor of Billboard Magazine - Jonathan Cohen - Booking Agent for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon / former editor of Billboard Magazine

[Appomattox] one of the best live bands in town is taking pop musics ultra-digestible format and cramming politically charged lyrics down its throat. But dont worry singer/guitarist Nick Gaynier makes the medicine go down easy. Mike Levine - The Deli magazine - Mike Levine

I'm not sure Appomattox is the music that will end wars (their name being the Virginia locale that the Civil War ended on), but it will definitely turn heads and spark ears. These three Brooklyn transplants play hard nosed indie rock that leaves nothing behind. Do you remember bands like Fugazi and Shudder To Think? Those bands pioneered an aggressive indie rock sound that I thought I would never hear again. Well Appomattox bring it back, but blend a resonating pop sound into it creating...well...something I haven't quite heard before. Nick Gaynier (vocals,guitar), Dave Nurmi (bass), and James Mello (drums) all come together (Voltron style) and put together songs that have inklings towards beautiful Pixies melodies. Then they smash those melodies apart with thundering rhythms and wild guitars...then some how they find themselves back at the melody again. It's definitely a trip worth taking. Appomattox's debut LP, A O, was just released on Brooklyn's Triple Down Records. They are also playing with Mussels at the Velvet Lounge in DC on March 8th before they head out for some shows at SXSW.

http://pastaprima.blogspot.com/2008/03/surrender-to-appomattox.html - Laurent - Music Blog - Pasta Primavera

Originally from Boston and it shows. Appomattox encapulate everything great in the Boston music scene. Creative chord structures, off tempo rhythms that don't sound off tempo and growling bass that plays more like a rhythm guitar. Very Mission of Burma meets Rash of Stabbings, and each of the tracks on the disc has a story to tell. The band, very creatively, chooses to use the music as much as the lyrics in order to get their point across. This disc makes me long for all the great nights spent in Allston and Jamaica Plain. I expect more great recordings from Appomattox. - Sentimentalist Magazine

One thing we at the Phoenix had sworn never to talk about but have since come to terms with is that we keep this little framed picture of Appomattox under the nightstand. Each night, right before bed, we take it out, gaze at it by moonlight, and release long, girlish sighs. So dreamy. Oh why did you have to move to New York, Appomattox? We’ve had no one to give us regular doses of rapturous, methamphetamined Blonde Redhead–esque post-punk. We’ve been eating a lot and not going out much. Then, just when we assumed you had forgotten all about us, we get a copy your new A O (Triple Down Records) in the mail. Now we feel that our feelings for you have been super-validated, and we wouldn’t mind talking about maybe working toward something more serious with you. Just think about it. The rest of you, butt out and check out “Sparx” — it, like the rest of A O, is kind of ruthlessly awesome. - The Boston Phoenix

It's always refreshing when a band comes around that actually wants to rock. You wouldn't think this would be such a rare occurrence considering pretty much all this stuff we write about is within the genre of "rock 'n roll." But somewhere along the recent way, rocking out became pass￩ and synths became key. F-that and thank goodness for Brooklyn's Appomattox.

These three dudes are a straight up guitar band that rips through peppy power-chord songs with an underlining current of nicely-tempered spazz. I'm not exactly sure what these songs are about, nor do I exactly care. I just know that sometimes the band's slightly-distorted choruses with the proper amount of feedback make me want to raise my fist in the air just like I used to do back in the '90s when I would "borrow" my friend's ID so I could go see shows in bars in Chicago.

Appomattox may be a blast from the indie rock past, but that's definitely a past worth blasting around about. Appomattox blasts. - Oh My Rockness

One thing we at the Phoenix had sworn never to talk about but have since come to terms with is that we keep this little framed picture of Appomattox under the nightstand. Each night, right before bed, we take it out, gaze at it by moonlight, and release long, girlish sighs. So dreamy. Oh why did you have to move to New York, Appomattox? We’ve had no one to give us regular doses of rapturous, methamphetamined Blonde Redhead–esque post-punk. We’ve been eating a lot and not going out much. Then, just when we assumed you had forgotten all about us, we get a copy your new A O (Triple Down Records) in the mail. Now we feel that our feelings for you have been super-validated, and we wouldn’t mind talking about maybe working toward something more serious with you. Just think about it. The rest of you, butt out and check out “Sparx” — it, like the rest of A O, is kind of ruthlessly awesome. - The Boston Phoenix

I haven't seen Appomattox in quite a while. Either I was having a bad night then, or they've gotten WAY better, because I remember kind of liking them, but tonight they are awesome. They're an indie rock three-piece with tuneful and impassioned vocals and noisy guitar. At times, initially, I think the rhythm section is screwing something up, but I think that's just a series of great, weird syncopations and rhythmic breaks. And just when I think that gee, the guitar parts could maybe use more single-note stuff instead of strumming, the guitarist and bassist launch into one of the most wonderful lines-twining-around-each-other sections I've ever heard. Great stuff. - www.apocalypse.org

Appomattox are indie rock instant gratification. Fast, loud and awesome. Their tight, heavy, vigorous music, not laden down by too much instrumentation or showiness, has the kick-your-ass heaviness of favorite 90s bands like Fugazi and Shudder to Think yet with a sort of raw, aching quality to the vocals. It’s punk that’s not poppy, emo of the classic variety, indie rock that actually rocks. Start with the song “Either Way� and you might catch yourself hitting the repeat button. I did. Longing has never sounded so upbeat.

Your band is noisy and energetic, but in a precise way that makes me think you've given some thought to how to get the right sound. What is your essential gear to make the perfect noise?
Nick: Well thank you for noticing that. There certainly is a long process involved anytime you're dealing with tone - especially abrasiveness vs. ambience - and we've definitely made tons of adjustments (and will probably continue to). But ultimately I think that getting the right sound comes down to the way you play much more than what you play through.

Dave: Yeah, we definitely have a certain amount of pride about our tone. For Appomattox, tone pretty much equals distortion. For the record, everything we put down was overdriven. If we recorded something that was too clean, we found a way to distort it. After applying distortion, if we still weren't happy with it, we'd throw some echo or delay on it. That usually did the trick. Generally, we achieve said distortion with old tube amps and lots of pedals. If you wanna get specific, Nick does the whole Gibson, Marshall, Big Muff, analog delay thing and for bass, I rock the Fender, Sunn/Ampeg thing.

Was it a conscious choice to be a three-piece or just something you had to work with? What's the best and worst things about that dynamic?
James: We were in a band called Araby and there were four of us. People in that band had their differences of what they wanted to do and where they wanted to live. But the three of us just kept playing music. It started to sound drastically different and we liked it.

Nick: There was a period where I think we all wondered if we ought to add another member like a second guitarist or a keyboardist or something, but eventually everyone kind of grew into their roles and the whole thing feels pretty complete to me now. My friend Cliff and I were talking once - he's actually the guy that was in Araby with us years ago and now he's in Ladycop - and he was saying that in the great trios like the Police you could focus on any one of the instruments' parts and it would be totally interesting on its own, because all three of them had to be so inventive to make such a good racket with so few guys. I really listened when he said that, and I think as we got closer to recording we just got so much practice playing the songs on tour that we ended up with a really good sound for a trio.

What's next for Appomattox?
James: On top of more U.S. touring and local shows, we really want to tour some far away places like the U.K., Europe, and Japan. World tour for real... That would be rad!

Nick: I'd like to make a video so people can get a visual impression of us on their computers or whatever. I'd like for people to use our songs as ringtones. It'd be nice to get on a soundtrack or two so I can pay my rent while I'm on tour. Is that too buisness-y? Other that that I'm really starting to stress out over writing the next record already. We had a quite a long while to get this one together but we certainly won't have that luxury this time.

Dave: We're basically into exploring any and every avenue that will allow us to make a living doing the "rock band thing." With the demise of record companies and the "album" as we know it, the extreme hike in gas prices, and the fact that trying to have a full time band is basically just a huge money pit, it's a wonderful, yet horrible time for indie bands. - Deli Magazine (NYC) by Liz Schroeter

When I say youth, I mean 20-something-year-olds
working out relationship issues. Appomattox produces
some thick, rugged rock jams that really shine through
with their lyrics that speak out (to me anyways, maybe
not you). In ¡§Gotta Run¡¨ Nick Gaynier proclaims what
is so true to so many people with ¡§I know you want it
so bad until you got it / when you got it you don¡¦t
know why you want it.¡¨ This is human nature at its
bluntest and doesn¡¦t it just sound so great to hear
someone put this into music, and sing it so fast and
make it sound so true. Because it is, and everyone
knows it, but no one really likes to admit it. But
Appomattox does and that makes them rad.

Even more impressive is the last song on this six song
EP, ¡§Create to Break¡¨ with the lyric, ¡§Just like a
man, you covet what you create / Just like a woman,
always afraid it¡¦s going to break¡¨ and ¡§Why you always
foolin¡¦ around / you always foolin¡¦ around / you
always foolin¡¦ around / Why you always fucking around
/ you always fucking around / you always fucking
around.¡¨ I don¡¦t know how many women I¡¦ve known in my
lifetime, in my age range (20-something-year-olds),
that constantly think that everything is going to go
to shit. For instance in relationships, there is that
second-guessing period that women always have to take
in the beginning, where they debate on a day-to-day
basis whether or not they should just jump ship or
not. On the other hand, guys tend to always go the
route of, ¡§I can fix anything!¡¨ or basically ¡§covet¡¨ the relationship. Some may call this symptom lust.
Appomattox gets it correct with the whole coveting
what you create thing.

Can you tell what I love about this band the most is
They¡¦re lyrics? Nothing has spoken more true to me in
a long while, and it feels so great. The first time
you hear that lyric that just rings true to you, and
you get goose bumps down your arms as you¡¦re absorbing
it? Next thing you know, you¡¦ve just gotten in a fight
with the woman you love and your driving away from her
house nearly 30 miles over the speed limit and
blasting Appomattox and screaming the lyrics until
your throat feels raw and about to bleed.
- Ian, empme - www.lovehasnologic.com

I haven't seen Appomattox in quite a while. Either I was having a bad night then, or they've gotten WAY better, because I remember kind of liking them, but tonight they are awesome. They're an indie rock three-piece with tuneful and impassioned vocals and noisy guitar. At times, initially, I think the rhythm section is screwing something up, but I think that's just a series of great, weird syncopations and rhythmic breaks. And just when I think that gee, the guitar parts could maybe use more single-note stuff instead of strumming, the guitarist and bassist launch into one of the most wonderful lines-twining-around-each-other sections I've ever heard. Great stuff. - www.apocalypse.org

For most bands that move to New York City, the road to fame is one navigated by starry-eyed hopefuls clinging to an all too common aspiration. But if you ask the guys in Appomattox why they left Boston to take a bite out of The Big Apple, they’re a little more down to earth in their response. “NYC just seems to have a lot more places to play and people to get to know when it comes to music,” drummer James Mello

says. “You don’t really have a limit. There are so many clubs and DIY shows there. We definitely love and dig Boston very much, though.” And who can blame them — the Boston natives spent years on the indie circuit here before deciding to make the monumental trek. “I really liked living in Boston; it just seemed like club after club kept closing and bands I liked kept breaking up because they didn’t feel like they were going anywhere,” explains vocalist Nick Gaynier. And the move paid off — the trio

managed to get themselves on Brooklyn-based label Triple-Down Records to release the album A O earlier this year. The band has come a long way from their 2005 EP — the boys have a much more cohesive and evolved sound that shows palpable musical

growth as well as their everlasting ability to make their songs as addictive as humanly possible. Luckily for them, the process is something that occurred almost organically.

“We just went in [the studio] with our songs and the way we play. We really wanted the

record to breathe and be dynamic, that goes for the recording and the songs themselves,” Mello elaborates. Appomattox also doesn’t seem too concerned with being pigeonholed with similar bands that are often classified in the same genre. As Gaynier eloquently states: “As far as outside influences go, I kind of prefer to let other folks hear what they want to with that. It feels like we’re ready to move past our formative influences and rules or whatever and get into the future sound.”

That future sound is one that could catapult the threesome into the forefront of the NYC music scene (though Mello regards the term scene as “superficial and fabricated”), as long as they can keep their eyes on the prize. “If we could make it so that we could all sustain life by just doing Appomattox, and not have to wait tables to pay the bills, that would be ideal,” bassist Dave Nurmi preciously asserts. That wish can become a reality with their strong work ethic and DIY way of life, as well as their perpetuation of great music and support from fans.

According to Nurmi, the biggest misconception about indie bands is that it’s virtually effortless to be one. “If people don’t come out to shows, don’t buy the music, don’t buy the t-shirts, eventually the bands will disappear. If you like the music, show your love and support for it in any way you can.” Gaynier was a bit more direct in his response to the question. “The biggest misconception out there is that Appomattox is not available

for soundtracks, television commercials, fashion shows, art openings, children’s birthday parties, corporate events. Because we are very available.” - The Northeast Performer

"Whoa. Have you heard these new Appomattox tracks? Whaddya mean, Who? Appomattox! The best band in Boston that everyone always forgets to call the best band in Boston when it comes time to say silly things like that. Their songs are a perfect wrangling of those middle two Blonde Redhead albums, the first couple Radiohead records, a squeeze of Jawbox and, oh yes, even some original bits that are all them..."
-Boston's Weekly Dig: Humor, News, & Nightlife
- Boston's Weekly Dig: Humor, News, & Nightlife

"Whoa. Have you heard these new Appomattox tracks? Whaddya mean, Who? Appomattox! The best band in Boston that everyone always forgets to call the best band in Boston when it comes time to say silly things like that. Their songs are a perfect wrangling of those middle two Blonde Redhead albums, the first couple Radiohead records, a squeeze of Jawbox and, oh yes, even some original bits that are all them..."
-Boston's Weekly Dig: Humor, News, & Nightlife
- Boston's Weekly Dig: Humor, News, & Nightlife

Appomattox, a three-piece frenzy that harkens the glorious underground days of indie rock. With a sinister vibe and undercut guitars riding shotgun to stop shout vocals that engage and enthrall, Appomattox quirks shape its grinning face. If Black Rebel Motorcycle Club shot up a lethal dose of speed and abandoned the country and Fugazi had higher ambitions, it might sound something like tracks We're Alright or Either Way."
The Pill, www.thepillboston.com
- The Pill - www.thepillboston.com

Appomattox, a three-piece frenzy that harkens the glorious underground days of indie rock. With a sinister vibe and undercut guitars riding shotgun to stop shout vocals that engage and enthrall, Appomattox quirks shape its grinning face. If Black Rebel Motorcycle Club shot up a lethal dose of speed and abandoned the country and Fugazi had higher ambitions, it might sound something like tracks We're Alright or Either Way."
The Pill, www.thepillboston.com
- The Pill - www.thepillboston.com