If you’re aware of Palette Knife, then you’ll know the trio are all about pairing up pop-punk hooks with skilled math-rock flourishes. From the opening moments of their latest album, ‘Keyframe,’ ‘Phoenix Down’ sees them serve up an adrenaline rush of jangling emo. For Alec Licata (vocals/guitar), Chris McGrath (bass/vocals), and Aaron Queener (drums), their self-styled brand of “nerdcore” was born out of the DIY scene of their hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
With Ohio State University dominating the city’s cultural hub, it’s complemented by the Short North arts district. Musically, Columbus birthed post-punk/punk outfits New Bomb Turks and Scrawl among its long DIY history. While Twenty One Pilots are considerably the biggest band to emerge from the area.
Nevertheless, for Palette Knife‘s Alec Licata, the place he calls home thrives through its close-knit, do-it-yourself mentality. It is partly for this reason why ‘Keyframe’ resonates with its earworm melodies, lyrical vulnerability, and spirited instrumentation.
To learn more about the influence Columbus has had on Palette Knife, we quizzed Licata on its influence and its music scene. Along the way, he recommends a handful of independent bands.
What city are you from, and what makes you proudest to be from there?
Columbus, Ohio! I think the diversity of the arts scene makes me proud to be here – not only are there prominent sub-scenes for different music genres, but there’s also a really robust visual arts scene and something for everyone.
What is it famous for, and what are its people known for/what character traits are they seen as having?
The city is pretty commercial because of OSU (Ohio State University ). We have a couple of food things that started here like Jeni’s or Condados. In the 2010’s, Twenty One Pilots was an important act out of Columbus. As a Midwest city, I think the people are generally regarded as kind and easy-going; there are a lot of great neighbourhoods in Columbus with their own character.
What influence has that had on the city’s music scene and the types of bands it produces?
I’m not sure if I’m super equipped to answer this, but I imagine the more commercial/capital side of Columbus attracts cynicism from the hardcore and DIY scenes.
Are there particular genres your hometown is most associated with?
I’d say the two biggest music scenes are the indie rock and hardcore scenes – there’s a little DIY scene too around the campus area with venues like Dirty Dungarees and Donatos Basement. I think some of these spaces serve as a reaction to how commercial and large the acts are that come through the arena district and campus stadium shows.
To you, what are the best or most well-known bands the city has produced, and how do you feel about those bands?
The most successful acts to come out of Columbus are pop acts like Twenty One Pilots or Caamp. I find pop bands embarrassingly boring. The best bands in the city are relatively unknown.
Who do you consider the unsung heroes in your local music scene?
I’m biased towards indie and progressive band circles I run in; Of Two Minds, Left Out, Manor Gates, Villagerrr, and Year Twins.
What local up-and-coming bands should we be listening to?
I’ve been listening to Fish Eyes, which is a relatively new act, and any of the established projects mentioned above are among my favourites.
What venues in the city have your band played most often, and how have they helped to shape your band?
For our early years, many house shows trained us to be a respectful and professional support act. DIY spaces like Dirty Dungarees are also a cornerstone of our local scene and a safe space for queer and marginalised musicians.
By far our favourite venue right now is Ace of Cups – they’re doing live music, so right for their size. I don’t have much interest in going to shows at venues larger than this ~300 cap scene staple. They’re at the top of their game.
If you were to write/if you have written a song about where you’re from, what would the tone and message of the song be?
It would be a song about making fun of OSU football and Nationwide Arena while praising Dirty Dungarees and other DIY spaces. A little cynical, but ultimately a love letter to the city that shaped me as I learned to be a better musician.
‘Keyframe’ by Palette Knife is available now on Tale This To Heart Records.
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