The A-Sides
Encyclopedia
The A-Sides were an American
indie rock
band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. They formed in 2002 and consisted of Jon Barthmus (guitar
s/vocals), Charlie Cottone (guitars/vocals), Christopher Doyle (keyboards
/guitar/percussion), Mike "Flem" Fleming (bass guitar
/vocals), and Patrick "Party Todd" Marsceill (drum
s/vocals). Jonathon Fitzgerald was once considered as a replacement for "Flem".
in Philadelphia circa 2000. At the time, Barthmus and Fleming were also members of a hardcore punk
rock band called Go Time. By 2001, Barthmus' interest in hardcore had waned. His burgeoning interest lay in composing decidedly more melodic, Beatlesque pop rock
. In late 2001, Barthmus enlisted Fleming and Cosentino for a new project intended to make music in this mold. The informal trio spent the better part of a year jamming with various drummers until settling on then-incoming Drexel sophomore Marsceill in August 2002. Marsceill's induction into the fold marked the official founding of The A-Sides.
The quartet recorded a demo in Marsceill's basement and began to play shows in the Philadelphia and Allentown
area. At a show in Allentown, Prison Jazz Records founder Chuck Keller offered the A-Sides the opportunity to record a 7-inch single for the fledgling label. Prison Jazz released "Seeing Suzy"/"Going Gone" in November 2003.
The A-Sides entered Miner Street Studios in Manayunk
, Philadelphia in August 2004 to record their debut album with producer/engineer Brian McTear. Prison Jazz released Hello, Hello in February 2005 to generally positive reviews.
Songs for their second album were recorded with McTear in May 2006 at the relocated Miner Street Studios. The band (and new manager Dryw Scully) spent the remainder of 2006 and early 2007 negotiating with labels in order to secure a release for the album.
On May 15, 2007, The A-Sides signed to Vagrant Records
. The A-Sides' second album, Silver Storms, was released by Vagrant on September 18, 2007. They toured in support of the album in the autumn of 2007.
On October 6, 2008, the band posted a blog on their MySpace telling their fans of their disbanding. In the blog, links were given to a new music project that Barthmus and Marsceill are working together on called Sun Airway.
In honor of the band, surrealist director Yanni Osmond licensed music from the band to use in his upcoming cartoon, Living Evil.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie rock
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...
band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. They formed in 2002 and consisted of Jon Barthmus (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s/vocals), Charlie Cottone (guitars/vocals), Christopher Doyle (keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
/guitar/percussion), Mike "Flem" Fleming (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
/vocals), and Patrick "Party Todd" Marsceill (drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s/vocals). Jonathon Fitzgerald was once considered as a replacement for "Flem".
Biography
Barthmus, Fleming, and Cosentino lived together while students at Drexel UniversityDrexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
in Philadelphia circa 2000. At the time, Barthmus and Fleming were also members of a hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
rock band called Go Time. By 2001, Barthmus' interest in hardcore had waned. His burgeoning interest lay in composing decidedly more melodic, Beatlesque pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
. In late 2001, Barthmus enlisted Fleming and Cosentino for a new project intended to make music in this mold. The informal trio spent the better part of a year jamming with various drummers until settling on then-incoming Drexel sophomore Marsceill in August 2002. Marsceill's induction into the fold marked the official founding of The A-Sides.
The quartet recorded a demo in Marsceill's basement and began to play shows in the Philadelphia and Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
area. At a show in Allentown, Prison Jazz Records founder Chuck Keller offered the A-Sides the opportunity to record a 7-inch single for the fledgling label. Prison Jazz released "Seeing Suzy"/"Going Gone" in November 2003.
The A-Sides entered Miner Street Studios in Manayunk
Manayunk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Manayunk is a neighborhood in the northwestern section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. Located on the banks of the Schuylkill River, it contains the first canal begun in the United States . The area's name comes from the language of the Lenape Indians...
, Philadelphia in August 2004 to record their debut album with producer/engineer Brian McTear. Prison Jazz released Hello, Hello in February 2005 to generally positive reviews.
Songs for their second album were recorded with McTear in May 2006 at the relocated Miner Street Studios. The band (and new manager Dryw Scully) spent the remainder of 2006 and early 2007 negotiating with labels in order to secure a release for the album.
On May 15, 2007, The A-Sides signed to Vagrant Records
Vagrant Records
Vagrant Records is an indie rock label based in Los Angeles, California and is home to such artists as The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Active Child, PJ Harvey, Reptar, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thrice, James Vincent McMorrow, Placebo, and many...
. The A-Sides' second album, Silver Storms, was released by Vagrant on September 18, 2007. They toured in support of the album in the autumn of 2007.
On October 6, 2008, the band posted a blog on their MySpace telling their fans of their disbanding. In the blog, links were given to a new music project that Barthmus and Marsceill are working together on called Sun Airway.
In honor of the band, surrealist director Yanni Osmond licensed music from the band to use in his upcoming cartoon, Living Evil.
Albums
- Hello, Hello (Prison Jazz, 2005)
- Silver Storms (VagrantVagrant RecordsVagrant Records is an indie rock label based in Los Angeles, California and is home to such artists as The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Active Child, PJ Harvey, Reptar, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thrice, James Vincent McMorrow, Placebo, and many...
, 2007)
External links
- The A-Sides - Official Website
- The A-Sides' MySpace
- The A-Sides | Vagrant Records
- http://www.xpn.org/programs/phillylocal.phpThe A-Sides mentioned on WXPNWXPNWXPN is a non-commercial, public radio station operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia that broadcasts a music radio format called adult album alternative , along with many other format shows supported all with an indie slant...
's website] - Spin.com: The A-Sides
- [ Allmusic - The A-Sides]