Cathedral Itch

 

HOMETOWN: Richmond, VA
GENRE: Alternative
SOUNDS LIKE: Television, Nirvana, Mark Ribot

 

What began as a side project by three Richmond, Virginia, musician friends turned into some great music. Bass-player and singer Melvyn Crawford sounds like what he is, a British ex-pat who works with computers and grew up listening to some of the more ironic bands of the 70s and 80s. Guitarist Steve Myran's guitar playing sounds like The Edge one minute ("Frank Stella," "Cleopatra") and Tom Verlaine ("Fatal Chain Letter") or Marc Ribot ("Cacophony") the next. And on every track drummer J.B. Hopkins (The Surf) plays with an energy reminiscent of Dave Grohl and otherwise keeps things light. The result is a unique and often humorous perspecrtive on the world that comes through in the music.

 

Speaking of which, the songs on Cathedral Itch often came together in serendipitous ways. Stuck for lyrics, Crawford took inspiration from a Chinese take-out menu, and the result was "Moo Goo Gai Pan," while "Mr. Green" was based on the old barber from whom they rented practice space in one of Richmond's more picturesque neighborhoods.

 

Cathedral Itch reached their musical apogee the night of their only live public performance, at which they debuted the songs on this CD to an appreciatie audience of fans and friends.

 

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