Telefonics: Pop with a Twist

The Erie group explores the terrain where sunny melodies meet dark swells of distortion and waves of feedback.

Preview by Dave Richards--Staff writer--Erie Times Showcase

John Johnston says "Heroin" changed his life, but don't call the cops. He means the harrowing Velvet Underground song from their 1967 debut, which broke so many pop rules they should have been arrested.

It was long, at 10-minutes plus. It was about a taboo subject matter. Musically — like the best Velvet Underground material — it was not only compelling but also groundbreaking in how it fused melody and dissonance, white heat and white noise.

Noise-pop was born, and it influenced scores of musicians down the line, including Johnston. He plays keyboards and guitar in the Telefonics, who will celebrate the release of "Colour Delux," their first full-length CD, on Friday at the Beer Mug.

Influenced by bands such as VU, Jesus and Mary Chain, the Primitives, Pixies, and other independent-minded ones, the Telefonics play pop with a twist, graced by Gina Rullo's soft-purr vocals. They craft hummable melodies and choruses, but subvert them with distorted guitar, otherworldly theremin effects, and new-wave keyboard hooks.

Some tunes are perfect for dancing, like "Silver Plastic Space Bag," which sounds like a rapturous blend of Blondie and B-52s. Others are made for trancing, like "Hallowed Ground," a sculpted, slow-building, eight-minute epic, not unlike their Velvet heroes. Telefonics delight in exploring the terrain where sunny melodies meet dark swells of distortion and waves of feedback.

Sure beats Top 40 pop, says Johnston, about the marriage of noise and melody.

"It probably goes back to listening to that first Velvet Underground album. It has those beautiful songs on it, but also this completely chaotic, dark underbelly," he said. "There are other bands that have done it, like Mazzy Star and Jesus and Mary Chain. Some are a little harsher, and some are a little more pop. I like pop music and melody, and I think songs have to have hooks. But mainstream Top 40, it's a little too straight-ahead for me. I like it a little bit darker, I guess."

On "Colour Delux," Telefonics also stretch out a bit with help from special guests. The Shrugs' Eddie Sanford sings on the chugging "Getting Over You," which sounds like a pop hit from an alternate universe. Torn Curtain's Alethea Bodine sings on the fragile, country-inflected "Message to Finder," which closes with the "Bonanza" theme. Also appearing: Gary Anderson from Pittsburgh's Viragos, and Don "Medicine Man" Dombrowski, who plays lap-steel guitar on two cuts.

"We definitely took more time to record this one," said Johnston. "With the first one [an EP], I don't want to say it was thrown together, but it really was. ... This one, we took time. We did all the basic tracks live, then overdubs where needed, and brought in a bunch of guest musicians."

The Telefonics are serious about their music, yet the CD never feels serious, which is part of its charm. It's got an intentionally cheesy, campy, sci-fi-meets-lo-fi quality that comes from the theremin, overdubs like the "Bonanza" theme, and horror-film samples. Then there's Johnston's straight-outta-the-'80s keyboards. He uses old synths, a Farsifa organ, old voxes, even a Fender Rhodes piano.
"We love ['80s new wave]," said Johnston.

Guitarist Pete Burke is an accomplished player who knows how to keep it simple. You won't find many solos in Telefonics songs by him, Johnston, bassist Kevin Manco, or drummer Erik Mildner.

"He's the only real musician in the band," said Johnston. "He's jazz trained and comes up with these nice lines. [But] we really restrict his playing. This is not a solo jam band, but he fits in nicely, as far as incorporating his playing style into this feedback, noisy mess we tend to create."

The Telefonics also create events. They dream up novel ways of getting out the word about their shows and fun ways of presenting them. Mildner makes fliers out of unusual things, like parking-ticket stubs or flash cards.

"He scours thrift stores and has a good idea of how things look graphically," said Johnston.
Rullo brings candles or snacks to shows. Telefonics have given away matchbooks and pencils. They may give away a few harmonicas on Friday. This show will also be catered with free hors d'oeuvres.

"We know it's easy to play yourself out, as an original band, so we only play every couple of months here," said Johnson. "When we do, we try to make it an event."