While good music of every kind is found almost everywhere, certain styles
have made such profound imprints on certain locales that the names of
places and genres tend to become joined. There's Memphis soul, Kansas
City swing, Seattle grunge, New York punk and, of course, Chicago pop....
If that last one looks like a misprint to you, it means you haven't been
exposed to the efforts of Matt Walters, who has been releasing the cream
of the Chicago pop scene on his Spade Kitty Records since 1995. That was
the year that Walters, then a college DJ, let it slip to a friend in a
band that he had a few bucks saved from his summer job. One thing led to
another, and those summer dollars were transformed into the debut single
by Wendyfix. SK 01 is still in print, but it's no longer alone. There
have been a total of 15 Spade Kitty releases in the last 7 years,
including singles, EPs, cassette only collections and full length
releases.
The reasonably modest pace of releases has allowed Walters to learn as he
goes, sorting out the various elements involved in recruiting acts,
arranging reproduction, getting the art and, perhaps most importantly and
most challenging for any indie label, arranging distribution.
Distribution is still the biggest hurdle, but Spade Kitty's network,
through indie distributors, band websites, and the label's own site (www.spadekitty.com) puts all the
in print product within reach of almost any diligent consumer. If that
sounds like you, your diligence will be richly rewarded, because the label
offers some terrific sounds.
That calls for a for instance or two, or, as it turns out, five. I sat
down for a marathon session with the last five Spade Kitty releases, and
here are my notes on each....
After ten singles, EPs and cassettes in short order, Walters was ready to
spring the label's first full length in 1998. The group was Post Office,
which featured the songs and singing of Stephen Becker and Larry O. Dean.
Public Displays Of Affection was a solid power pop effort, particularly
noteworthy for the lyrical quality of the songs. Becker and Dean are
accomplished wordsmiths, and with the assistance of a solid rhythm section
(Ben E. Miller on bass and John Jones on drums) and sweetened by Jason
McDermott's cello and Phyllis Colman's violin, the lyrics are set off by
strong, if not particularly groundbreaking, arrangements.
The Post Office release was followed up by one from Bestcellar, which is
an occasional performance persona for Walters himself. Show Me You
Still Want Me To... is listed as out of print, but if you can track down
a copy, you'll find Walters resurrecting some of the tunes from his
earlier cassette-only releases in spare arrangements, sometimes solo,
sometimes accompanied by a stray guitar or conga. It's a low key, low-fi,
affair, more like a collection of song demos than a full blown album, but
the songs themselves make it worth seeking out.
Two full-length releases in one year seemed to tax the Spade Kitty
resources, because the next release didn't come until after the turn of
the millennium. It was worth the wait, though. Becker and Dean were back
in 2001 with a new rhythm section and a new Post Office album, Fables In
Slang. Simply stated, this one's a power pop masterpiece. If you have
any interest in or affection for the genre whatsoever, this is one that
you need to hear. If Public Displays was solid, this one has a
density that transcends the laws of physics. The growth of Becker and
Dean as writers, arrangers and performers is palpable and impressive.
This is the one to have if you're only having one....
But why subject yourself to arbitrary limits? There's more than Post
Office, and more than power pop, in the Spade Kitty universe. The first
release of 2002 was Rockwell by Olde Style, a quintet that includes Matt
Walters himself (in addition to running a record company, Walters is an
accomplished guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, singer and composer. If
Chicago pop has a Leonardo, it must be Matt Walters.). Rockwell is a
whole lot of fun, with the band drawing on influences from far and wide to
achieve a blend of pop, rock and funk that conjures up all my favorite
memories of cheap beer and sweaty dance floors. Yep, this is consummate
bar band music, with musical nods to everyone from the James Gang to
Funkadelic. Way above average, and way more fun than words can describe.
Finally, Spade Kitty is the label for Larry O. Dean's latest project, The
Me Decade. A six piece outfit with a full time string section, Dean and
the Me Decade were featured in the October, 2002 issue of Cosmik, and for
good reason. Larry O. Dean is a terrific songwriter, and this band is a
terrific vehicle for his songs. His work on Gentrification is Theft is a little edgier than his
Post Office efforts, conjuring up favorable comparisons to the Velvet
Underground at times. It's a step forward for Spade Kitty, and Dean's
continuing relationship with the label is an encouraging sign for the
future. He's a solid talent with a strong work ethic, and it would be
great to see the symbiosis of artist and label generate increasing success
and visibility for each.
Meanwhile, run yourself a quick search for some Spade Kitty product (hint
- you'll save a couple bucks at the label site) and do your bit to support
Chicago pop. Matt Walters and his excellent stable of artists have made
it well worth your while.
