Why would a band call itself PUNCHFACE? Is it because the four young men punch you in the face with their consummate musicianship, genuine friendship, rocket vibe, mile deep lyrics, layered arrangements, sculpted vocalizations, and driving danceable beat? Yeah, that might explain it. Or it could be that the lead guitarist took a random hit to the face from a previous musical colleague while sitting in a car. The latter might be the answer, but the former is why the name sticks and their music stays with you long after the plug’s been pulled and the studio is dark.
Justin Alexander, Ryan Tapley, Nick Machado and Bob Dossa are PUNCHFACE. They played an acoustic set when they appeared on American Songwriter, produced at the Media Center studios in Palo Alto last Tuesday night. A small but enthusiastic studio audience and I the lucky host heard a few songs from their first album, plus a few from the CD they are recording now. Their new CD will be released during their tour of Japan next month. They have a few local appearances scheduled before Justin the vocalist zips over to Thailand mid-December. Then he’ll meet the rest of the guys, Nick the bassist, Ryan the lead guitarist and Bob the drummer in Tokyo. I would love to rush over there to witness the invasion of Japan by Punchface.
When you listen to their music and talk to these guys, you get the feeling that it’s going to happen for them. They are relaxed and easy with each other, which puts the audience at ease. They have studied and continue to study their craft, seeking ways to deepen the impact and tighten the blend of their four different instruments. The result is a “musical fist” that packs a wallop. I first heard PUNCHFACE in July at the Vibe in Foster City where I heard another favorite band Please Do Not Fight and a young teen band to watch, the Madders. I can hardly describe how much PUNCHFACE has developed in a few shorts months since seeing them at the Vibe.
They have pulled together a richer, deeper, more sonorous sound. Their songs and arrangements are developing into a unique, mature song palette that you can nod your head to and say, “Yeah that’s Punchface.” Take “FIREFLY” one of their more recent compositions. For me,”FIREFLY” has all the earmarks of a break-out song. It’s got a great build, lush textures, rich harmonies, very hooky. I’m singing the chorus in my head while writing this right now. The bridge is quiet, poetic, and intense, and just when you’re wondering how they’re going to pull you out of the quiet, you’re there, soaring with a great build-up to the reprise of the chorus. Front to finish it’s a great song, highly polished with momentum that propels it to a satisfying conclusion.
Because the musicality it so strong, you can glide along with the sound and just clip over the words if you want, or you can dive into the lyrics and spend time with them. Many listeners don’t bother with lyrics. Maybe that’s because more often than not there is nothing to hear. Justin’s lyrics, on the contrary, demonstrate great depth of understanding and are packed with allusion and metaphor. Like most hits, the themes of Justin’s lyrics are universal, recognizable — self discovery, leaving a lover, confusion, but the feeling he injects into the lyrics and their clever twists make the journey personal — giving each song a much more intimate vibe than if the vocalist just hung out at arm’s length. For sure, if you want to stay on the surface and dance your brains out, then the memorable melodies and strong supporting arrangements easily stand on their own merits and allow you to do just that. And Justin’s voice is certainly a fourth instrument. You don’t have to be a lyric aficionado to enjoy the unique and consistent sound he delivers. Like any musical instrumentalist, Justin works it hard as evidenced by his ability to sustain some bent notes that turn and rock the sound along.
Justin is the front man, but does the band have a leader? For now, the collaborative thread runs so strongly through the four, that they seem equals on the stage — which is hard to pull off unless it’s genuine. With regard to songwriting, these four collaborate and currently, all names go on all songs. Pretty astounding. And no one member appears to assume more importance than the others. It’s unusual and fresh, but it might be hard to maintain that freshness over the long haul. Not an unusual band paradox – the challenge – to keep delivering the caliber of performance they are delivering now while finding a way to keep it fresh. A tall order, which they are easily filling now.
Is it part of the job requirement for bass that you possess a laid back, self-effacing chic? Why does Nick make it look easy one moment and then the next you’re on a downward spiral trying to keep up with him? Nick can pump it down faster than you can hit the dance floor. I suspect that Nick’s classical musical background and piano training has deepened his relationship with the notes he is playing. His fret work on Analysis Paralysis gives new meaning to the word “fret” for me. The “guitarmanship” (is that a word) for both guitarists on Analysis Paralysis is quite an anxiety producing trip. Lyrics and music and mood mesh perfectly in this song about the frenetic search for the right choice. There is not a doubt that Ryan as lead guitarist establishes the mood, sets the tone for each song with precision and sensitivity. A gifted artist with an out-there imagination, Ryan gives me the impression that even though he’s played each song a hundred times and more, he is still searching for the right expression in each note every time. You have to admire that kind of dedication to craft. Bob the drummer describes himself as “the guy that likes to hang out with musicians.” Shy of the limelight, quiet, Bob screams volumes with his hands. For the acoustic set he played the cajòn, but I’ve seen him with the full kit. Either way, no one is missing a beat or getting lost. No surprises there. But more than managing the beat and tying it all together, he matches the mood organically, locking in with the bass. He keeps a song filled with subtleties like Firefly from feeling too big and makes sure the big feel songs like Liberate fill the space.
On a final note, with such a capacity of talent, it is little wonder PUNCHFACE has attracted the attention of a dynamic manager who apparently requires no sleep and has every detail of Punchface’s band persona before her at all times. Kathleen Carpenter of Shaman Entertainment has become a driving force in the band’s development. She handles much of the move and shake, which must explain to some extent why their music has come so far so fast. They have been relieved of dealing with the headaches of band management and have been able to focus on the content.
I am very excited about the band’s prospects for gaining the fame and credibility, I believe their hard work has earned for them. And to be honest, I just love their music, too.
