(Casper & The Cookies) - Ever wondered what would happen if you created a loop of the sound of green beans being snapped combined with cupboards being slammed? Wonder no further, as
Casper & the Cookies solve the mystery on "Krotenwanderung", the first track on their newest album, The Optimist's Club.
Casper leader and producer Jason NeSmith's songwriting prowess is bending ears, and his production techniques are of great interest too.
Venerable music website Babysue caught on to this saying, "Folks who just happen to be paying attention may have noticed that at least every third or fourth underground pop CD being released in the Southeast is either produced or mixed by Jason Nesmith. The man is a wizard with technology and machines to be certain...but this young fellow's real talent is making the music himself.... The tunes are basic smart, modern pop.... Pop fanatics will immediately be going bonkers. There's no denying that this man [Jason NeSmith] is one of the best tunesmiths in the world."
The Athens, Georgia power popsters reach confection perfection with The Optimist's Club, their second release on Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records. Casper is Casper Fandango, aka Jason NeSmith, formerly of Athens favorites Of Montreal. The Cookies are Kay Stanton, Jim Hicks, and Davy Gibbs.
The concept for The Optimist's Club is based around two friends from Atlanta visiting New York and falling in love. The result is classic meets unconventional, as boss guitars and powerful drumming are intertwined with loops made from green beans, pet sounds, and microcassette recordings.
NeSmith reveals the inside scoop on a couple of the tracks, saying "The record is balanced between Kiss A Friend, the story of that first exhilarating kiss of a new relationship to Learn How to Disappear, which is about a woman that has to change her name, leave town, erase all traces of herself and never return. These are some of the ideas we've got waiting for the listener." Throughout The Optimist's Club the Cookies maintain a sturdy pop backbone, with little fear delving into experimental sounds and harder rock.
Live performances include finding energetic ways to entertain the audience. Jason says, "Every night we try to find a way to interact with the crowd. Sometimes one of us gets bruised." Don't miss them when they hit your town on their upcoming fall tour. You might just hear their renditions of Wire's "Dot Dash" or Danzig's "Mother"!
Casper & the Cookies On Tour
08/24 Little Rock, AR Whitewater Tavern
08/25 OK City, OK The Conservatory
08/26 Ft. Worth, TX The Metrognome
08/27 Austin, TX Flamingo Cantina
08/29 Tucson, AZ The Living Room
08/30 San Diego, CA Che Cafe
08/31 LA, CA The Echo
09/01 San Fran, CA Bottom of the Hill
09/02 Eugene, OR Diablo's
09/03 Olympia, WA TBA
09/04 Portland, OR The Holocene
09/06 Salt Lake, UT Kilby Court
09/07 Denver, CO Hi Dive
09/08 Omaha, NE O'Leavers
09/09 Rock City, IA Daytrotter
09/10 Des Moines, IA The Vaudeville Mews
09/11 St. Paul, MN Big V's
09/12 Dubuque, IA The Busted Lift
09/13 DeKalb, IL House Cafe
09/14 Chicago, IL DarkRoom
09/15 Beloit, WI Beloit College
09/16 St. Louis, MO St. Louis University