Would You Like Paper or Plastic?

Three weeks ago, the last thing I would have ever thought of when hearing, Paper or Plastic, was music. Three weeks ago, I discovered a band by the name of Paper or Plastic, and surely enough, I began to hear the name with a different attitude. No longer did I think of grocery stores and bagging clerks. Instead, a Portland, Oregon-born indie pop rock band entered my mind. 

Paper or Plastic is the name David Pollock, Ian Christensen, Joey Harmon, Ian Millhollen, and Ari Chersky, have chosen to call themselves and man...it works. It just fits their personalities, and it fits their style of music. I interviewed them a couple weeks ago for an article I was writing about them for campusounds, but I'm not going to talk about that interview right now...instead, I'd like to talk about the show they put on at Cameo Gallery this weekend in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 

The band consists of a guitarist, (Chersky) a vocalist/pianist, (Pollock) a bassist, (Millhollen) drummer, (Harmon) and a saxophonist/tambourine player, (Christensen). Quite the assortment, I know. I'd like to just say that the saxophone player is absolutely as awesome as you'd think. He gives the band a whole new flavor of sound that is just so unexpected and downright groovy at the same time. With David's clean and clear vocals, and Ari's articulate guitar skills, the saxophone serves as a really sweet surprise.

I'd been to the venue a couple times before this past Saturday to see other friends play, so I knew what the space was like. It's a great place for new bands to play at, because there's such a nice atmosphere upon entering, and then an even nicer atmosphere when you actually reach the stage, which is situated through a hallway at the back of the bar/restaurant. 

The performance itself was fantastic. The crowd was on the lighter side, but the guys put all their heart into the performance. David's vocals shone through the bands' explosion of sound on stage, but I think what really made it for me was Joey's power and drive. At any given moment, I'd look up and find Joey mouth wide, smiling, tearing apart the drums. And man, he knew exactly how to tear them up. His drive and force really grounded the band well, and never did I ever feel that anyone was lost at any point of the show. There was also a really pure feeling to their sound, like you could totally feel their excitement on stage. At one point towards the end of the show, David, while still playing the piano, slammed a hand down on one of Joey's cymbals. 

I talked to Ari after the show, and he told me something interesting. He mentioned that he was the newest addition to the band, and that this was the first time he felt like he actually knew what he was doing. But he also said that the best part about playing with the guys, is how he could say something to Joey during the performance, (recommendation, or to change something up) and he'd just nod and go ahead and do it. They all just listen to each other so well, both through physical musical language along with spoken language. 

Overall, they put on a pretty great show. I brought a friend who'd never heard them before, and she told me after that she really liked their sound, and energy.

I want to say more, but I want you to judge them for yourselves. 

Cheers.

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