In a recent review I did of a Papers show, I wrote that they’re one of the few bands doing something truly original in Lincoln. One need only see them once to know that. This nine piece band made up of multi-instrumentalists: Johnny Blankenship on bass, Beth Fry on trumpet & vocals, Matt Holland on trombone, Derek Hyatte on trumpet, guitar, & vocals, Junebug on alto/tenor/bass saxophones, guitar, & vocals, Tricia Klitsch on vocals & percussion, Tracy Nelson on vocals & percussion, Anders Peterson on drums, and Brady Reckling on guitar & vocals. Although Trish & Tracy sing most of the lead vocals, Junebug, Derek, and Brady also take turns at lead vocals, so the sound of the band changes frequently throughout their set. Their music is highly structured, well written, and very melodic. The influences that come out in their music are incredibly varied; they're as much a jazz band as they are pop/rock/indie. There's a bit of Tom Waits, A bit of Magnetic Fields, a bit of Neutral Milk Hotel and early Beulah, lots of 60's AM pop, a touch of Dirty Dozen Brass Band, but seriously, I could include a hundred artists here and only scratch the surface of what Papers actually is, and still not actually capture what it is that's so great about them. It's probably best for you to just go and see them yourself, and experience their music first hand. In setting up the interview, the band decided that it would be easiest if their spokesman, Junebug, did the interview by himself.

SCS: How and when did Papers form as a band?

Junebug: In January 2003 I talked to about 20 people who said they were interested in working on my new project, "Roxy's Secret Diary." Of course, when it came time to actually come to the first practice less than half that number showed up. I handed out copies of the 2 page "Roxy" idea and introduced everyone to each other. Within the next few weeks a few people realized that they only thought they wanted to play, so the quit. Basically, the first 6 months I spent as a Human Resources director, until I had the basic band I have now.

SCS:As you’ve seen, if you’ve read the reviews I’ve written about your shows, I’ve had a hard time trying to describe what your band, and your music, sounds like. I hear so many influences in your music, but what I want to hear is how YOU would describe it?

Junebug: It really depends on the song, on who wrote the progressions, melodies, lyrics. You can tell my songs from Derek's or Brady's, but each time we start a new one someone has to sit down and decide what style and sound we want out of each part. As for an overall genre, I don't know, I was initially shooting for Experimental Easy-Listening, but I don't think that's what we're doing.

SCS: What about a Papers show? What can people expect if they come to a Papers show?

Junebug: We try to put on a good show, which is, of course, very different from recording a good album. We practice our asses off, because with 10 people on stage it can become chaos in a hurry. I try to get everyone to dress up and sport some stage presence. I hate going to shows and seeing some real grubby looking guys with guitars up there not moving. If I could afford a Lawrence Welk bubble machine, I would buy one.

SCS: It’s pretty obvious that the amount of influences going into your music are many, and diverse; Jazz, Indie rock, 60’s pop, a bit of soul, and a ton more. What types of music and which musicians/groups influenced the band members?

Junebug: With 10 people I can't really go into everyone's top 10 lists, but I can give some idea of what the songwriters are into. Brady's favorite band is Kraftwerk, and he's into stuff like Neko Case, Wilco, Nick Cave, Hendrix, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Bob Dylan. Derek likes old Blues like Lightnin' Hopkins, Tony Joe White, and infrequently quotes Mojo Nixon. He also likes disco and old country, Artie Shaw and comedy albums. My favorites are Astor Piazzola, Charles Mingus, Tom Waits, Bob Wills, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Jobim, Johnny Cash, Mr. Bungle, Hall & Oates, etc.

SCS: Here’s a ton of questions that you can kind of answer all in one big answer. Who writes the songs? Who arranges them? Do you chart all the stuff out, or at least your horn lines, prior to working on it, or is it more each member bringing their own part to the songs? How detailed are you in your arrangements? Are vocals scored?

Junebug: All the songs currently in our set were written by Derek Hyatte, Brady Reckling, and myself. Once a song is started everyone usually has something to contribute. I usually have almost everything charted before I bring a song, but not drums or vocals, though I will have stuff in mind for them. I'd like to think my horn arrangements are pretty well detailed considering I spend ridiculous amounts of time on them. But, again, everything's different song to song.

SCS: When and where was your first local show, and how did it go?

Junebug: The first show was December 20th, 2003, in Anders' basement. It went ok. I was hoping more people would stick around afterwards to party, but we still had a good time.

SCS: What do you like and dislike about the music scene in Lincoln?

Junebug: I'm not sure what I like about it. I think maybe I appreciate the good stuff less than I lament the bad. I like that, if you work your ass off and put on a good honest show people will come to see you. I don't like that almost all the live music in town is filthy. Hence the cover bands, the Royal Grove Heavy Metal Lifestyle, and the teenybopper "punk" 6 to 9 at knickerbockers. I don't like that there is an aura of competition between local bands. What they're competing for, I don't understand.

SCS: Who are some local bands or musicians that you admire or feel should be recognized?

Junebug: Shelter Belt is my favorite. They're great, and they get no props. Their album is magic, they've been touring for five months, and they still don't pull crowds when they play hometown shows. It's shameful. The quality of work they're doing, they should be filthy rich and widely respected. Instead they're in Des Moines, Kearney, Minneapolis, and Kansas City every weekend playing anywhere they can, paying their dues, earning every fan the hard way.

SCS: Who’s your favorite local band to play with?

Junebug: Again, Shelter Belt.

SCS:I heard at your last show the other night that you were going to start recording this week. Who’s recording you guys, where was it done, and is this going to be a CD, Demos, or what. Are there plans to release it?

Junebug: This is all high security info, but I can tell you that it will be a full-length album on cd. I wanted to do 20 songs, but Anders says more than 14 is suicide, and our manager, Mr. N. Neary, says more that 12 is suicide, so we'll see.

SCS: Yeah, My first album had 19, many of which are really short, like less than 2 minutes, but even that was too long. Are there any local producers/engineers you'd like to work with who you think could help to develop your sound even more?

Junebug: I don't think we have reached the point yet where that sort of fine-tuning would make a tremendously appreciable difference. Yet. I hope one day it is necessary to call up the hot-rod studs of the production world.

SCS: Who was the first person or band you saw that made you want to play music?

Junebug: Jesus, I have no idea how I got started down this miserable road.

SCS: What was the first album/CD you bought?

Junebug: The first album I bought was Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Swass" on cassette. And the first concert I went to was Hootie and the Blowfish. I'm not making any of this up. I was a fucked up little kid.

SCS: Whose music are you listening to right now? -- What other bands would you recommend people check out?

Junebug: Well in the ol' five disc changer right now is Shelter Belt "Rain Home," Astor Piazzola "Tango: Zero Hour," "Monster Ballads" from Time Life Music, Tom Waits "Alice," and disc 2 of Billy Joel's Greatest Hits.

SCS: What are your top five albums of all time.

Junebug: I don't think I can. There are 9 tied for first, 27 for second, and 36 for third. That's just me, they are 9 other people in the band too, I don't think there's room.

SCS: What’s the best gig you've ever seen, local or otherwise?

Junebug: Tom Waits in Denver, the last time he toured. I think it was late 1999. It snowed that day.

SCS: What can we look forward to in the next year from the band?

Junebug: We've got a couple people leaving in pursuit of excellence in higher education, so... new arrangements of the songs. And hopefully we'll do more stuff with Shelter Belt.

SCS: Really? Who's leaving?

Nick (Papers Mgr): Beth is leaving in mid-September for grad school in Ohio. Anders may be studying abroad in Cuba next spring for a few months. He will eventually return to the band if all goes as planned but Beth seems to be leaving for good except maybe for a guest appearance for shows that are being played when she's in town.

SCS: Anything else you want to share with our readers?

Junebug: I'd like to thank my manager, my mom, my masseuse, and all the ladies who hate my guts. Couldn't have done it with out you.



Special Thanks to go Papers manager, Nick Neary, for his help in setting up this interview and transcribing it.



- Tery Daly