Joe Pernice
Encyclopedia
Joe Pernice is an American indie rock
musician and writer
, who has fronted several bands, including the Scud Mountain Boys
, Chappaquiddick Skyline and the Pernice Brothers.
He is currently based in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
, where he is married to Canadian musician Laura Stein, formerly of the band Jale
.
. The Scud Mountain Boys released three albums before disbanding in 1997.
After the break-up, Pernice formed the Pernice Brothers. The band released their first album Overcome by Happiness
in 1998 for Sub Pop
. The band released The World Won't End
in 2001, under Pernice's own label
, Ashmont Records and Yours, Mine and Ours
in 2003. After a 2004 tour, the band released their first live album in early 2005, Nobody's Watching/Nobody's Listening
, and, in June of the same year, released their fourth studio album
, Discover a Lovelier You
. The band released Live a Little, their fifth studio album, in October 2006. In 2007 he co-produced the Transnormal Skiperoo
album for Jim White. In 2009, Pernice released a solo album called It Feels So Good When I Stop, which was an album of cover songs, marketed as a soundtrack for his debut novel of the same name. In June 2010, the band released its first album in four years, Goodbye, Killer.
During the 1999-2000 hiatus of the Pernice Brothers, Pernice recorded under his own name, issuing the album Big Tobacco, and as Chappaquiddick Skyline, who issued their sole self-titled album on the Sub Pop label. Chappaquiddick Skyline was made up of Pernice Brothers band members playing songs written by Pernice, which he joked were not worthy of the Pernice Brothers banner. He has also released a single "Pega Luna Manny" along with Jose Ayerve
, a member of the Pernice Brothers, a song about Boston Red Sox
player Manny Ramirez
which enjoyed moderate success when the Boston Red Sox
won the world series that year, for the first time in 86 years.
's 33 1/3 series of short books about some of rock music's most important and influential albums, Pernice issued Meat Is Murder, a semi-autobiographical novelette about the Smiths
' 1985 album of the same name
, and its impact on his teenage years.
In 2009 Pernice published his first novel, It Feels So Good When I Stop, via the Penguin Books
imprint Riverhead Books
. The book features a narrator down on his luck, "hiding from the wreckage of a one-day marriage by holing up in Cape Cod with his soon to be ex-brother in law." The book is somewhat based on Pernice's own life experiences. He is also intermittently working on a screenplay for Meat is Murder with actor Neal Huff
.
Along with the release of his latest CD, Goodbye, Killer, Ashmont Records published a limited-edition collection of Twitter
tweet
s between Pernice and his label co-owner Joyce Linehan. These tweet
s currently are serving as the basis for an ongoing series of short, humorous videos featuring puppets of Pernice, Linehan and some other characters. The videos can be seen on pernicebrothers.com.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
musician and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, who has fronted several bands, including the Scud Mountain Boys
Scud Mountain Boys
Scud Mountain Boys was an American alt-country band. Formed in 1991 in Northampton, Massachusetts, it comprised Joe Pernice, Stephen Desaulniers, Bruce Tull and Tom Shea. Stephen Desaulniers left the band and was replaced by Frank Padellaro in Oct. 1996....
, Chappaquiddick Skyline and the Pernice Brothers.
He is currently based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he is married to Canadian musician Laura Stein, formerly of the band Jale
Jale
Jale was an indie rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the east coast of Canada. Contemporaries of Sloan and The Super Friendz, they were formed in 1992 and disbanded in 1996...
.
Music career
Pernice formed the Scud Mountain Boys in 1991, in Northampton, MassachusettsNorthampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
. The Scud Mountain Boys released three albums before disbanding in 1997.
After the break-up, Pernice formed the Pernice Brothers. The band released their first album Overcome by Happiness
Overcome by Happiness
Overcome by Happiness is a Pernice Brothers album, released in 1998.-Reception:*Allmusic [ link]*Robert Christgau -Track listing:# "Crestfallen" – 3:53# "Overcome by Happiness" – 3:40# "Sick of You" – 1:23...
in 1998 for Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
. The band released The World Won't End
The World Won't End
The World Won't End is a Pernice Brothers album, released in 2001.-Track listing:# "Working Girls " – 3:20# "7:30" – 3:03# "Our Time Has Passed" – 3:53# "She Heightened Everything" – 2:38...
in 2001, under Pernice's own label
Label
A label is a piece of paper, polymer, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or article, on which is printed a legend, information concerning the product, addresses, etc. A label may also be printed directly on the container or article....
, Ashmont Records and Yours, Mine and Ours
Yours, Mine and Ours (album)
Yours, Mine and Ours is a Pernice Brothers album, released in 2003.-Track listing:# "The Weakest Shade of Blue" – 3:08# "Water Ban" – 3:08# "One Foot in the Grave" – 3:15# "Baby in Two" – 3:36...
in 2003. After a 2004 tour, the band released their first live album in early 2005, Nobody's Watching/Nobody's Listening
Nobody's Watching/Nobody's Listening
Nobody's Watching/Nobody's Listening is a combination CD/DVD, released by the Pernice Brothers in 2005. It consists of material recorded on the Pernice Brothers' 2004 tour, including a cover of a song by frontman Joe Pernice's former band, the Scud Mountain Boys, as well as a Pretenders cover.The...
, and, in June of the same year, released their fourth studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
, Discover a Lovelier You
Discover a Lovelier You
-Track listing:# "There Goes the Sun" – 3:36# "Saddest Quo" – 3:32# "Snow" – 3:09# "Sell Your Hair" – 3:16# "My So-Called Celibate Life" – 3:36# "Dumb It Down" – 2:23...
. The band released Live a Little, their fifth studio album, in October 2006. In 2007 he co-produced the Transnormal Skiperoo
Transnormal Skiperoo
Transnormal Skiperoo is a 2007 album by Jim White. It was produced by Joe Pernice and Michael Deming, recorded with the band Olabelle and also features tracks with Tucker Martine and Laura Veirs, local Georgia legend Don Chambers and Goat, bluegrass duo Jeff & Vida and percussionist Mauro...
album for Jim White. In 2009, Pernice released a solo album called It Feels So Good When I Stop, which was an album of cover songs, marketed as a soundtrack for his debut novel of the same name. In June 2010, the band released its first album in four years, Goodbye, Killer.
During the 1999-2000 hiatus of the Pernice Brothers, Pernice recorded under his own name, issuing the album Big Tobacco, and as Chappaquiddick Skyline, who issued their sole self-titled album on the Sub Pop label. Chappaquiddick Skyline was made up of Pernice Brothers band members playing songs written by Pernice, which he joked were not worthy of the Pernice Brothers banner. He has also released a single "Pega Luna Manny" along with Jose Ayerve
José Ayerve
José Ayerve is a recording artist/singer and songwriter and the front man for northeast-based indie rock groups Spouse and Nuclear Waste Management Club...
, a member of the Pernice Brothers, a song about Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
player Manny Ramirez
Manny Ramírez
Manuel "Manny" Arístides Ramírez Onelcida is a retired Dominican-American professional baseball outfielder. He was recognized for great batting skill and power, a nine-time Silver Slugger and one of 25 players to hit 500 career home runs. Ramirez's 21 grand slams are third all-time, and his 28...
which enjoyed moderate success when the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
won the world series that year, for the first time in 86 years.
Writing career
In 2003, as a part of Continuum PublishingContinuum International Publishing Group
The Continuum International Publishing Group is a publisher of books, with its editorial offices in London and New York City. It had been owned by Nova Capital Management since 2005...
's 33 1/3 series of short books about some of rock music's most important and influential albums, Pernice issued Meat Is Murder, a semi-autobiographical novelette about the Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
' 1985 album of the same name
Meat Is Murder
Meat Is Murder is the second studio album by the English alternative rock band The Smiths. It was released in February 1985 and became the band's sole number one album in the UK charts during the band's lifetime, staying on the chart for 13 weeks. It reached number 110 in the US...
, and its impact on his teenage years.
In 2009 Pernice published his first novel, It Feels So Good When I Stop, via the Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
imprint Riverhead Books
Riverhead Books
Riverhead Books is a division of Penguin Group .Notable books and major bestsellers published by Riverhead include Journals by Kurt Cobain; The Art of Happiness by His Holiness the Dalai Lama; The Color of Water by James McBride; Native Speaker, A Gesture Life, and Aloft by Chang-rae Lee; Fever...
. The book features a narrator down on his luck, "hiding from the wreckage of a one-day marriage by holing up in Cape Cod with his soon to be ex-brother in law." The book is somewhat based on Pernice's own life experiences. He is also intermittently working on a screenplay for Meat is Murder with actor Neal Huff
Neal Huff
Neal Huff is an American actor. He received his MFA from the Graduate Acting Program at New York University. He has appeared on Broadway in revivals of The Tempest and The Lion in Winter and the Tony Award-winning Take Me Out...
.
Along with the release of his latest CD, Goodbye, Killer, Ashmont Records published a limited-edition collection of Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
tweet
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
s between Pernice and his label co-owner Joyce Linehan. These tweet
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
s currently are serving as the basis for an ongoing series of short, humorous videos featuring puppets of Pernice, Linehan and some other characters. The videos can be seen on pernicebrothers.com.