Bands like Portland-based, indie poppers Derby are the reason audiophiles justify thumbing through thousands of albums just to find their perfect fix. Set to persistently catchy claps, stomps and guitar licks, the band’s music gives worn out cliches an extreme makeover, capturing the reason they became infamous in the first place and reintroducing them to society with pluck and enigma. They are the musical personification of field frolicking and curious peaks into foxholes, teasing you with simultaneous energy, melodrama and poise.
This band may save the long player
Bands like Portland-based, indie poppers Derby are the reason audiophiles justify thumbing through thousands of albums just to find their perfect fix.
Set to persistently catchy claps, stomps and guitar licks, the band’s music gives worn out cliches an extreme makeover, capturing the reason they became infamous in the first place and reintroducing them to society with pluck and enigma. They are the musical personification of field frolicking and curious peaks into foxholes, teasing you with simultaneous energy, melodrama and poise.
In other words, all you audio addicts can stop thumbing and pay attention.
Derby is the most recent incarnation of Dave Gulick and Nat Johnson’s 2003 U of O folk duo. Since then, Derby has added Isaac Frost to the band roster, along with a rotating fourth member to maintain their live shows’ notorious spunk. Despite the fact that the entire trio is as easy on the eyes as their music is on the ears, the guys are humble and focused on their audience.
“There are some huge shows that aren’t as fun as the ones for five people,” Johnson says. “For us, it’s about crowd interaction.”
They should know. Derby has played with everyone from the Decemberists to Crosstide, and recently shook the stage at both South by Southwest and Bumbershoot.
In their hometown studio, Green Submarine, Gulick generally begins the song writing process simply, with his smart, emotional lyrics and harmonies. These are respectively admired for a moment, before the three manipulate, decorate and expand out of the ideas. The end result is a piece dripping with novelty and surprising authenticity.
“We do things that make us happy,” Johnson says. “We want to get the respect of our fellow musicians and friends. And when other people are interested in that, it’s the bonus.”
Since the release of Derby’s sophomore album, Posters Fade, in early June, they have received rave reviews from everyone with two properly functioning ears. And rightfully so.
The album is sprinkled with gems, yet designed as an all inclusive, singly threaded whole. It began with Gutnick’s artwork, noteworthy in and of itself, which inspired the entire album. Generally, the tracks don’t have a certain end, but rather blend one introduction into another.
Similar phrases, inflections and ideas pop their effervescent heads up throughout the LP, paying homage to the album-based forms of yester-decades.
It’s fresh yet familiar, with a track for every happy to somewhat optimistic situation. If you can’t get an antiquated tune out of your head, Derby’s “Stop Stalling” is the one to replace it. The lyrics of “Stumps” have a staying power deserving of every poetic soul’s quote book.
Since their inception, Derby has received recognition from a plethora of respected outlets, including the BBC, Willamette Week and Splendid Magazine. Their music has been played on half a dozen television shows, and, most appropriately for their “classic pop” feel, they have recently signed a deal with Coke.
With such a back-catalogue of quality and critical recognition it will soon be hard to catch Derby in their hometown haunts. This, however, isn’t deterring them from local performances over the next couple months, as one of Portland’s best indie pop projects returns the adoration twofold to a growing collection of heartfelt devotees.
DerbyThe Doug FirNov. 1, 9 p.m.21+
