Paper Symphonies

Photo by Frank De Blase (Rochester City Newspaper)

SPORTS

Quick Facts:

Most recent album: (Upcoming)

Sound: Pop Rock, hint of Soul, Organ Rock that makes you want to dance

Recommended Song: “Started So Tall” (2010)

Keeping with the theme of organ oriented pop/rock music, I present to you a band from my hometown of Rochester, NY called SPORTS.

Now don’t be put off by the name, it’s not a bunch of jocks fumbling around with their instruments pretending to be a band. It’s quintet of fun-loving Rochestarians who love making rock n’ roll—well whatever the genre, they make music that you just want to rock out to (organ and all).

They struck a chord with me when I saw them play live on a whim (isn’t that how discovering good music always happens?). They were the perfect soundtrack for the Bug Jar’s stage—a room covered in day-glo psychodelic swirls and an entire apartment furniture set nailed to the ceiling. They just plain make you want to dance, dance, dance, and that’s exactly what everyone was doing.

The sound of their music is most certainly Elvis Costello inspired—Ian Proper’s voice even has the same quality. The guitars and the organ blend together effortlessly, but I think the most endearing quality is that the organ isn’t hidden behind everything else. It is front and center, but not in a gloomy, ominous way either, it just makes you want to blast it’s happy beat louder.

I look forward to seeing their album out soon, and in the meantime if you want to check them out there are a few songs on their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thesaintchristopher