Fillmore delivers different sound

By JOHN BENSON

entertainment@vindy.com

On the outside looking in is what the members of Fillmore Jive — Kevin Braun (vocals, guitar) and Gina Kantner (drums) — were tired of feeling last year when they decided to start a band that played the music they wanted to hear.

“We’ve been friends for like almost a decade,” said Braun, who graduated from New Castle High School in 2008 alongside Kantner. “And we’re the only two people that like the kind of music we do. We were just kind of like by ourselves for our entire lives. And then last year, I didn’t have any money, so I stole my sister’s beginner guitar and amp. Gina had played the drums for a long time, and I played a little bit of guitar. We always wanted to start a band, and we were spending a lot of time together. So I wrote some songs, and we got started.”

Described as a garage-sounding psychedelic band that falls somewhere between My Bloody Valentine and Oblivion, the duo has garnered comparisons to the likes of Radiohead and even Jimi Hendrix. And then there’s naturally the White Stripes similarity with not only a male guitarist and female drummer but also the fact the two are dating, just like Meg and Jack White.

Musically, the act has a few demos but nothing serious to date. That hopefully changes this summer with the plan being to release Fillmore Jive’s debut EP.

“We have a new song called ‘The Fuzz’ that’s really good,” Braun said. “We went through A Place to Bury Strangers phase where we kind of wanted to sound like that, but it’s not that noisy because we’re not that crazy. Still, the song is really fast; it’s really loud and it blows up. And we have another one that’s not named yet, but I’ve been calling it ‘The Other Side.’ That’s the more psychedelic one with reverb on the vocals.”

While the twosome has found freedom in creating its own music, the act is still regarded as being different, or even freaky, compared to most other groups playing around the area.

“Oh, yeah, like in Pittsburgh, we can’t play at all,” Braun said. “Venues won’t even look at us. There are no other bands we can really play with. You go to do a show, and they expect you to be able to find a band that has a similar sound, and there aren’t any. So mostly, we try to play with garage rock bands like Rocket Radio and The Hobbs from Akron. They’re both really similar for our garage end of it, but there’s really nobody for the psychedelic and experimental side. There’s nothing around here. So that’s kind of tough.”

Early on, the two-piece was taking any show it could and averaging three shows a week. That mind-set is changing this spring and summer with Braun hoping for less quantity and more substance out of Fillmore Jive’s schedule. The unique outfit’s next show takes place Saturday at the Lemon Grove. Braun is hoping to attract a like- minded crowd. That is, he feels a connection with the discriminatory music fan who feels as though their tastes aren’t always represented in the local music scene.

“Our concerts are mostly for people that don’t go to see shows because they think there aren’t any local bands that sound like us,” Braun said. “So people that like loud music, different unique music. I think pretty much people who go out and buy records and really love the music would like us.”