Hospitality are a minimalist Brooklyn indie-pop trio fronted by Kansas City expatriate Amber Papini, who also handles guitar and piano. Her voice is immediate and unique, at times like a Mo Tucker but with stately Jesy Fortino/Tiny Viper intonations. Or Amelia Fletcher, fronting a super spare NY-based Heavenly or Talulah Gosh. She’s backed by drummer (and flautist and harmonica player) Nathan Michel and singing bassist Brian Betancourt. They’ve been together for a couple of years, but in Betancourt’s words “only recently started to get serious.” If you’re into electronic music, you may already know that Michel‘s released idiosyncratic, enjoyable records on Tigerbeat 6, Tomlab, and Sonig. Makes sense: There’s a surprising (and refreshing), at times non-linearity to Hospitality’s compositions — it’s pop music that doesn’t take an easy way to a hook. Sometimes it feels like Michel is drumming to some jazz piece in his head. In many cases silence and space are as important as the sounds they make. On top of it all, Papini writes liyrics worth listening to and decoding. So far Hospitality’s just self-released a six-song EP, produced by Karl Blau. Betancourt explains how it happened.
We met Karl Blau at a show we both happened to be playing at the Cake Shop. He heard our soundcheck and asked if he could record us in exchange for being his backing band sometime in the future. Naturally, we agreed! He recorded a few of our songs on 4 track (which became the EP) and he wrote a few songs specifically for us to play live with him, which only happened once…
No worries, they sound plenty great on their own. Take a listen for yourself: We have “Betty Wang,” an instant and mysterious twee classic, and the fragile, flute-lined “Argonauts,” the first two tracks from the EP.
You weren’t hearing double: Amber’s sister Gia appears on the EP, but has since left the band. Their sound remains in tact, though; we first encountered Hospitality at a Brooklyn band party this past weekend, and were immediately hooked. For a group that’s only recently started to get serious, Hospitality has experienced big moments: Outside of Bau’s assistance, Frog Eyes asked them to open for them a ways back and Stereolab had them open for them at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza last October. We expect bigger things to come. If you want the EP, it’s only available from the band at this point, so stop by their MySpace or if you’re in the New York area, go see them play 3/11 at Zebulon.
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if you want to check out a band i just randomly went to a show to see a friends band and i saw a band called Little Red Radio.. they were amazin live i havent a seen a show like with the energy they had for a long time… there music is very fun its like a Peaches mixed with some Lady GaGa or something really fun stuff.. myspace.com/littleredradio
this is good shit, i might compare it to camera obscura, but i don’t know how to compare things
her vioce reminds me of thao nguyen.
i like it.
the band is awesome…look for big and better times.
is there music outside of brooklyn!?!? jesus fucking christ! eat a dick, brooklyn. your parents can’t support your sub-par music forever. i’m not even talking about this band particularly; i’m just tired of the fact that people with any talent have to mecca their ass over there to get a stereogum/pitchfork review. the bands these fuckers dick suck have half of the life-span of Chumbawumba. take a road trip, dicks.
Boring, her voice is cute. But seriously? Brooklyn Indie is so boring, dull, mundane and done.
What’s your favorite band? Envious Cracker Moron Devoid of Talent?
HOSPITALITY! I love this band.
I found these guys on myspace a few months ago and couldn’t believe they were still under the radar. Their songwriting is top notch, and Amber’s vocal delivery is so engaging. They’re my favorite new band, and their EP might be my favorite release from 2008.
I was a little confused until I realized that in the first sentence you meant expatriate. Not ex-patriot.
Ahh, this music is beautiful.
her voice reminds me of Angus & Julia Stone, (well Julia specifically)
anyone?
i really enjoy Hospitality. the Brooklyn band party they played was hosted by The Mugs (www.themugs.com) in our space. we’re working to bring good people together, and Brian’s one of the good people who made Hospitality happen.
fyi, The Mugs will be playing a Hospitality track while we’re guest dj’ing on KEXP tomorrow night (Thursday, 2/19). check it out online at kexp.org on the rizzladio at FM 91.5.
this band is one of my favorite recent discoveries. i saw them at bruar falls a few weeks ago with karl blau, and the songs are really evolving wonderfully. the ep is phenomenal! i can’t wait to hear more recordings from them.
here is an interesting interview with amber: http://yersweetchimneys.blogspot.com/2009/06/interview-with-hospitality.html
this band is one of my favorite recent discoveries. i saw them at bruar falls a few weeks ago with karl blau, and the songs are really evolving wonderfully. the ep is phenomenal! i can’t wait to hear more recordings from them.
here is an interesting interview with amber: http://yersweetchimneys.blogspot.com/2009/06/interview-with-hospitality.html
Seriously, is anyone in Brooklyn not in a band, I agree with the Julia Stone comparison – now there’s a good non-Brooklyn (Australian) band. I saw another Australian artist at a show last week, Dave Moss. His songs are great, a little raw but great.
nice sound