From Obscurity To Space Travel
Local Indie-Folk Band on a Wild Ride Fueled By Tacos
Members of the Pensacola freshman group Paper Scissors Rocketpack are going on record calling themselves obscure. The truth of the matter is their popularity is growing each day, especially those days in which they perform three shows.
Over the past five months, band members have been working hard on the group's mellow creations, playing at such venues as Sluggo's, The Handlebar and the Arts Council of Northwest Florida's Outside Art Fair.
What keeps them going? Let's just say it directly involves Mexican cuisine. Drummer Bob Alston recently shed some additional light on the group's direction.
IN: You said on your MySpace page you're obscure, but you've managed to gather a list of over 2,000 friends. How obscure are you?
ALSTON: We are as obscure as the sound of one hand clapping.
IN: There are some familiar names in Paper Scissors Rocketpack. What were you guys up to before this gathering of talent?
ALSTON: We were writing, sleeping, working, going to school and playing independently of each other. It's only been about five months that the pieces have all been put together.
IN: You've just started recording. How's that going?
ALSTON: It's going well. We will be finishing the album this summer and it will be out around the middle of this fall. We will most likely release an EP sometime this summer, though. For the kids, of course.
IN: You've said you're at home on stage, and you've played on a few different stages. What kind of crowd do you prefer?
ALSTON: We love to play for crowds with open minds and open wallets.
IN: You've been on the flyers with some very decent groups. How is it sharing the bill with some of those talented regional acts?
ALSTON: It's good. The bands in Pensacola are pretty competitive, but most of the new bands in town are bucking the trend. One can hope that this supportive mantra can help bring Pensacola music back to life. And in turn, help make the bands from Pensacola more successful.
IN: What secrets of the trade have you picked up from them?
ALSTON: That if we are nice to them they will sometimes let us borrow equipment.
IN: So your record is 1-1 with the weather in outside gigs. How was the atmosphere at the Outside Art Fair recently?
ALSTON: The funnel cakes smelled delicious. And it was gorgeous weather.
IN: You're on the radar now with your "Pensacola tour." Any future plans to go regional? National? Global?
ALSTON: We are already making plans for space travel.
IN: In fact, you guys are working pretty hard-three shows in one day on occasion. What's fueling that work ethic?
ALSTON: Coffee, frequent catnaps and tacos. Lots of tacos.
IN: So who's the biggest band member fan of blogging?
ALSTON: Ronnie, our electric guitarist. He likes the interwebs.
IN: There are a lot of talented indie/folk bands in Pensacola. What are you guys doing to set yourself apart from those acts?
ALSTON: Showing up on time and bathing.
IN: I would be remiss if I didn't ask about the band name.
ALSTON: I would be remiss if I said anything. I wasn't yet in the band when it was named. But I do think it's pretty catchy.
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