My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure

Having opened for Mae, Anthony Raneri, and Hellogoodbye, My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure is a pop-punk band from Pennsylvania. The band recently worked with Dave Douglas (ex-Relient K) on their new single "Farewell." Well, today we are happy to premiere the track - hear it at their AP.net Profile or in the replies. - Absolutepunk.net

Having opened for Mae, Anthony Raneri, and Hellogoodbye, My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure is a pop-punk band from Pennsylvania. The band recently worked with Dave Douglas (ex-Relient K) on their new single "Farewell." Well, today we are happy to premiere the track - hear it at their AP.net Profile or in the replies. - Absolutepunk.net

My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure's set featured great harmonies, tight guitar riffs and the kind of friendly on-stage wit that can win over any crowd. "Farewell" showcased Dan Becker's belting skills and vocal clarity, while "So Loud," included spectacular work on the keys courtesy of Alex Robertson. Mikey Meiers let his vocal talent shine in "Never Coming Back" and also provided entertaining banter between songs that kept the crowd interested. Meiers' shtick incited a wealth of laughter in the audience when he encouraged the audience to buy the T-shirts at their merchandise table for just about anyone they knew, saying, "Dress up your cats! That could be cool." The band displayed an obvious camaraderie as musicians and appreciation for the opportunity to open for two talented singer-songwriters. - Pittsburgh City Paper

My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure's set featured great harmonies, tight guitar riffs and the kind of friendly on-stage wit that can win over any crowd. "Farewell" showcased Dan Becker's belting skills and vocal clarity, while "So Loud," included spectacular work on the keys courtesy of Alex Robertson. Mikey Meiers let his vocal talent shine in "Never Coming Back" and also provided entertaining banter between songs that kept the crowd interested. Meiers' shtick incited a wealth of laughter in the audience when he encouraged the audience to buy the T-shirts at their merchandise table for just about anyone they knew, saying, "Dress up your cats! That could be cool." The band displayed an obvious camaraderie as musicians and appreciation for the opportunity to open for two talented singer-songwriters. - Pittsburgh City Paper

Pop-punk band My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure released its new single "Farewell" via the renowned punk-rock website AbsolutePunk.net on July 4. Recorded with former Reliant K drummer Dave Douglas in Cleveland, "Farewell" has received an overall positive response.

Keeping with a true independent work ethic, the band has been able to make a name for itself through the hard work of each individual member. "We don't have a label or anybody that's on our tails all the time," says keyboardist Alex Robertson. "No pressure."

So, the band members have funded recordings and booked tours themselves, and the persistence has paid off: My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure has developed a decent following after a handful of independently booked tours along the East Coast.

The initial idea for the new single came from collaboration between bassist Dan Becker and lead vocalist/guitarist Mikey Meiers; that iteration is included in one of the band's videos posted on YouTube. "Mike and I just sat down with acoustic guitars, just hanging out. We recorded it and just put a snippet of it in a video," explains Becker. "As soon as it was posted, Alex and [drummer Andrew Hapeman] heard it and brought it together." The song was written in a week and recorded with Douglas in two days.

"Farewell" represents a slight change in direction for the band. Partly thanks to producer Douglas, who helped the band craft the song's structure in the studio, the song maintains the epic pop hooks the band has become well known for, but adds enough grit and tightness to present the group as a contender for the Pittsburgh pop-punk championship.

On the AbsolutePunk website, a longtime fan from Tampa, Fla., commented on the song, telling the band that it was headed in a good direction. Becker says the band loves hearing the opinions of fans who have grown with the band.

Robertson adds that debuting the song on such a popular site is "the biggest litmus test of whether or not we're doing something right." - Pittsburgh City Paper

Pop-punk band My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure released its new single "Farewell" via the renowned punk-rock website AbsolutePunk.net on July 4. Recorded with former Reliant K drummer Dave Douglas in Cleveland, "Farewell" has received an overall positive response.

Keeping with a true independent work ethic, the band has been able to make a name for itself through the hard work of each individual member. "We don't have a label or anybody that's on our tails all the time," says keyboardist Alex Robertson. "No pressure."

So, the band members have funded recordings and booked tours themselves, and the persistence has paid off: My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure has developed a decent following after a handful of independently booked tours along the East Coast.

The initial idea for the new single came from collaboration between bassist Dan Becker and lead vocalist/guitarist Mikey Meiers; that iteration is included in one of the band's videos posted on YouTube. "Mike and I just sat down with acoustic guitars, just hanging out. We recorded it and just put a snippet of it in a video," explains Becker. "As soon as it was posted, Alex and [drummer Andrew Hapeman] heard it and brought it together." The song was written in a week and recorded with Douglas in two days.

"Farewell" represents a slight change in direction for the band. Partly thanks to producer Douglas, who helped the band craft the song's structure in the studio, the song maintains the epic pop hooks the band has become well known for, but adds enough grit and tightness to present the group as a contender for the Pittsburgh pop-punk championship.

On the AbsolutePunk website, a longtime fan from Tampa, Fla., commented on the song, telling the band that it was headed in a good direction. Becker says the band loves hearing the opinions of fans who have grown with the band.

Robertson adds that debuting the song on such a popular site is "the biggest litmus test of whether or not we're doing something right." - Pittsburgh City Paper

Pittsburgh pop-rock band My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure is about to blast off for a two-week tour, but first you catch the launch show Sunday at the Smiling Moose.

The South Hills-based band, which released its first physical EP, "Before You Change the World ...," in August, is headed for Long Island, NY., then south to Maryland, Virginia, Georgia and ultimately Nashville and Covington, Ky.The venues are an interesting mix of a high school, a Six Flags amusement park, all-ages clubs and a book store.

"We have more of an all-ages audience," notes frontman Mike Meiers. "We tend to not play too many bars."

The group formed 2 1/2 years ago when the singer-guitarist brought in drummer friend Buddy Hoebler to play on his demos. The drummer said, "Let's make a band out of it," so they added bassist Andrew Hapeman and keyboardist Alex Robertson and took a name inspired by "Calvin and Hobbes" strips.
The band got a boost by getting its EP in the regional Hot Topic stores, thanks in part to one of the members working there. The plan is to get out and tour as much as possible.

"It can be hit or miss," the frontman says. "We've done great shows for like 900 people and the next day it's a crowd of 30. But we enjoy playing music period."

When the members get back, MCSA will cut three songs for a digital release. The recording process has gotten smoother with Mr. Hapeman and Mr. Robertson recently graduating from Duquesne having studied sound recording. They also play jazz and classical, respectively, but there are no plans to work that into the sound.

"We joke in rehearsal about playing our songs in a country style," Mr. Meiers says. "We could go out as My Rickety Old Pickup Truck." - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh pop-rock band My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure is about to blast off for a two-week tour, but first you catch the launch show Sunday at the Smiling Moose.

The South Hills-based band, which released its first physical EP, "Before You Change the World ...," in August, is headed for Long Island, NY., then south to Maryland, Virginia, Georgia and ultimately Nashville and Covington, Ky.The venues are an interesting mix of a high school, a Six Flags amusement park, all-ages clubs and a book store.

"We have more of an all-ages audience," notes frontman Mike Meiers. "We tend to not play too many bars."

The group formed 2 1/2 years ago when the singer-guitarist brought in drummer friend Buddy Hoebler to play on his demos. The drummer said, "Let's make a band out of it," so they added bassist Andrew Hapeman and keyboardist Alex Robertson and took a name inspired by "Calvin and Hobbes" strips.
The band got a boost by getting its EP in the regional Hot Topic stores, thanks in part to one of the members working there. The plan is to get out and tour as much as possible.

"It can be hit or miss," the frontman says. "We've done great shows for like 900 people and the next day it's a crowd of 30. But we enjoy playing music period."

When the members get back, MCSA will cut three songs for a digital release. The recording process has gotten smoother with Mr. Hapeman and Mr. Robertson recently graduating from Duquesne having studied sound recording. They also play jazz and classical, respectively, but there are no plans to work that into the sound.

"We joke in rehearsal about playing our songs in a country style," Mr. Meiers says. "We could go out as My Rickety Old Pickup Truck." - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

As band names go, My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure sounds like the title of a beloved children's book. That's actually not far off the mark; singer and guitarist Mike Meiers came up with the name by way of the comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes" and the "Spaceman Spiff, interplanetary explorer extraordinaire" alter ego.

"There's a reason behind the madness," Meiers says, noting he was riffing on Calvin's penchant for playing with cardboard boxes.

While the name has a whimsical aspect to it, the quintet, which hails from South Park, West Mifflin and Uptown, is serious about the music. My Cardboard Space Adventure releases its new album, "Before You Change the World," on Sunday at Diesel, South Side.

In a mere two years, Meiers, drummer Buddy Hoebler, guitarist Jeff Morgan, bassist Andrew Hapeman and keyboard player Alex Robertson have gone from basements to stages across the country, including New York City, Cincinnati and Chicago.

The music is "kind of punk rock that's delved into pop," Meiers says, which explains the band's rather-schizophrenic resume. They've opened for Disney pop star Emily Osment and appeared on the Vans Warped Tour.

"I think it's kind of amusing that what we do is pretty versatile," Meiers says. "Our crowd can average anywhere from 11 to 20. We definitely have songs that appeal to the pop genre that younger kids like."

Even as it features the rhythms and sunny hooks prevalent in peach-fuzzed pop, it would be wrong to dismiss My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure as a tweener-oriented group. Specifically, the music benefits from Robertson's keyboards, which are reminiscent of the Hooters or early '80s new wave. Noting his affinity for bands such as Motion City Soundtrack and Jimmy Eat World, Meiers allows that the synths and keyboards do add another layer of sound to the music. But the band especially seems to thrive on live performance, as clips on their MySpace page indicate.

"I think if you can show a little bit more passion when you're playing live, it helps form a stronger connection with your audience," Meiers says. Since My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure often plays for younger audience, there's no small amount of responsibility implied. Yes, they'd like to expand their audience, especially as they age (all band members are between 21 and 24). But for now, they're cognizant of their standing.

"We're really trying to give them something positive," Meiers says. "We're not an in-your-face band trying to take things to the extreme so much as one that's trying to make great music." - Pittsburgh Tribune Review

As band names go, My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure sounds like the title of a beloved children's book. That's actually not far off the mark; singer and guitarist Mike Meiers came up with the name by way of the comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes" and the "Spaceman Spiff, interplanetary explorer extraordinaire" alter ego.

"There's a reason behind the madness," Meiers says, noting he was riffing on Calvin's penchant for playing with cardboard boxes.

While the name has a whimsical aspect to it, the quintet, which hails from South Park, West Mifflin and Uptown, is serious about the music. My Cardboard Space Adventure releases its new album, "Before You Change the World," on Sunday at Diesel, South Side.

In a mere two years, Meiers, drummer Buddy Hoebler, guitarist Jeff Morgan, bassist Andrew Hapeman and keyboard player Alex Robertson have gone from basements to stages across the country, including New York City, Cincinnati and Chicago.

The music is "kind of punk rock that's delved into pop," Meiers says, which explains the band's rather-schizophrenic resume. They've opened for Disney pop star Emily Osment and appeared on the Vans Warped Tour.

"I think it's kind of amusing that what we do is pretty versatile," Meiers says. "Our crowd can average anywhere from 11 to 20. We definitely have songs that appeal to the pop genre that younger kids like."

Even as it features the rhythms and sunny hooks prevalent in peach-fuzzed pop, it would be wrong to dismiss My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure as a tweener-oriented group. Specifically, the music benefits from Robertson's keyboards, which are reminiscent of the Hooters or early '80s new wave. Noting his affinity for bands such as Motion City Soundtrack and Jimmy Eat World, Meiers allows that the synths and keyboards do add another layer of sound to the music. But the band especially seems to thrive on live performance, as clips on their MySpace page indicate.

"I think if you can show a little bit more passion when you're playing live, it helps form a stronger connection with your audience," Meiers says. Since My Cardboard Spaceship Adventure often plays for younger audience, there's no small amount of responsibility implied. Yes, they'd like to expand their audience, especially as they age (all band members are between 21 and 24). But for now, they're cognizant of their standing.

"We're really trying to give them something positive," Meiers says. "We're not an in-your-face band trying to take things to the extreme so much as one that's trying to make great music." - Pittsburgh Tribune Review