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Farewell Pagoda


Band: Farewell Pagoda

Members: Dustin Koller, guitar and vocals; Gerald Kemper, drums; Jordan Shaffer, bass

Who we talked to: Koller and Kemper

How did you guys get together? Koller: Me and Gerald started playing when we were in seventh grade, and then we've just been jamming ever since. (The band's been together) for two years. We did go to Susquehannock (High School), but we just graduated. We're about to expand to bigger things.

Where did the name come from? Koller: I like this movie called "The Royal Tenenbaums," and there's this character in it called Pagoda, and I thought that was a funny name. I don't really know why we put farewell in front of it, but we kind of thought it sounded good together.

Describe your sound and style. Koller: Probably like electrifying. We have it listed on our profile as rock/power pop and orgasmic and . . . it's just a beautiful thing.

Who are your influences? Koller: I listen to, of course, The Beatles. The Beatles is implied. Sublime does us good. I listen to all types of music and just draw from them. I've even drawn from classical music before.

How did you get into music? Koller: I started playing guitar when I was, like, 10 years old. I don't really know why. I just always liked music. Music has always seemed just wonderful and beautiful.

Do you guys play out a lot? Koller: We actually (had a show July 12), which is actually, like, the first show we've had in about six months because we kind of got a little lazy there for a little bit. (We played) Club 19 in York. We've played there I think twice before. We've played in Red Lion (and) Stewartstown. We've played at a few parties, but it's just kind of starting now. We're probably going to make the move up to Philly or something like that and just take it from there.

Like any other local groups? Koller: The only two bands that I played with that were any good (were) Tim Kaye and 27 Lights.

What are your thoughts on the York music scene? Koller: It doesn't really matter where you come from. It's just if you can play some good tunes, I think you'll be all right.

Do you guys throw in any covers when you play? Kemper: We play "Sex and Candy" (by Marcy Playground), which is a pretty good song. We play "Where is My Mind" (by the Pixies). We don't really do covers so much.

Where does your inspiration to write music come from? Kemper: Dustin I guess, and I also get my inspiration from the ladies. I don't know if we really make love tunes, but it makes the ladies all hot. (Laughs)

Any great memories so far? Kemper: Our first show (at Club 19) was pretty cool . . . it was pretty wild. I don't really remember a lot of our shows.

Been to any great shows recently? Kemper: Recently, I saw Angels & Airwaves and Citizen Cope. Last year, . . . I went and saw Michael Franti and Spearhead down at Rams Head (Live in Baltimore).

What is the hardest thing about being in a band? Kemper: Basically, just not being lazy. We jam a lot. We're starting to make a new CD now and stuff. We always jam, I guess (the problem) is booking (shows).

If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be? Kemper: It's pretty hard (to get noticed) because with the Internet . . . everyone is putting their stuff out. So, I guess there's a lot of competition going on. If I would change anything, I guess I would say everybody would be listening to us constantly. That what would happen in a perfect world.

- ERIN McCRACKEN, FLIPSIDE STAFF