POBPAH formed in 2007 expressly to play the opening slot for The Manhattan Love Suicidesa distortion-happy U.K. band that wears its love for The Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine on its sleeveat a warehouse party for Peggy Wang's birthday (she sings and plays keyboards in POBPAH).
"We were all psyched on it, so we thought if we formed a band, and since we're throwing the party, we can sneak on to this bill," says Kip Berman (guitar and vocals).
I talked with Berman,Wang and Alex Naidus (bass)drummer Kurt Feldman, couldn't make itat an East Williamsburg coffee shop to discuss all things POBPAH, the three of them with glowing smiles and as upbeat as their music sounds. They're a charismatic bunch, but Berman, being the lead vocalist, did most of the talking.
Even though they'd known each other for almost a year before they planned Wang's party, it was the first time a musical collaboration was mentioned.
"I feel like discussing that is like asking a girl if you can kiss her," Berman explains. "It's like, you should just do it firstdon't go 'Is it alright if we start a band?' It's more natural if you're like 'Hey, let's do it.'" Driven by sheer sincerity and freshfaced optimism, and knowing that they all shared a love of indie pop, the friends scheduled a few practices and ended up performing five songs in 10 minutes.
"It was the best first show possible ever to play,"Wang says. "It wasn't like showing up at some bar on new-band night and have angry onlookers who were there for the metal band before you," Berman adds. "And having that great of a positive first experience makes you want to keep doing it. So I guess that's the story of us." This enthusiasm and focus on immediate action have propelled POBPAH from the beginning.
After releasing an EP and a couple of seven-inch records in quick succession, the band drew the attention of Slumberland, the influential indie pop label that's released albums from early '90s bands POBPAH cite as inspirations, including Rocketship, Black Tambourine and Velocity Girl (and it's home to two of the band's New York contemporaries, Cause Co-Motion! and Crystal Stilts).
And anticipation has been building for POBPAH's self-titled debut album, which Slumberland released this week, with good reason. From the beginning track, "Contender," with its bouncy guitar melody and shimmering vocals, all underscored by a layer of fuzz, to the last, the brash feedback-laden "Gentle Sons," POBPAH's first record delivers a completely addictive collection of ecstatic pop. Talking to the band's members about their influences often amounts to a blast through the history of some relatively obscure British indie pop bands.Wang references '80s groups like Bubblegum Splash,The Shop Assistants, the Close Lobsters and Meat Whiplash, bands that "are largely forgotten." But the three also rattle off legendary groups like Sonic Youth, Nirvana,Teenage Fanclub and The Pastels.
But the overriding concern for every POBPAH song is its energy says Berman, the band's principal songwriter. And this typically translates into straightforward, tightly focused pop. Berman explains that being a band in New York, where it's expensive to maintain a practice space and everyone's stretched for time, makes it necessary to keep the creative process simple, which he appreciates.
"I think it's really good to be forced to not overdo it and just stick to something that's immediately resonant and exciting, and not spend too much time trying to beat all the life out of it," Berman says.
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The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Feb. 7, Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. (at Essex St.), 212-260-4700; 8:30, $10. $132.50-$157.50.
