Paul Avion

Artist Information

Biography

Apparently R U With Me entered the CMJ Adds chart at #7 and is now in the Top lists of 26 stations, getting play at 110 stations & counting. Thanks everyone.

Lived in Africa's slums for SPIN (see Vid in EPK).

If ELO, Devendra Banhart and Bob Marley were placed into an orbiting centrifuge and blended into The White Album, it might sound a little like this: R U With Me, Paul Avion's first nationally released album.

New Orleans to L.A., to Paris, to the slums of Africa ....

In 2009, Spin.com named Paul Avion second in its "8 Undiscovered Bands Worth a Listen," but if Avion hasn't been better known until now, it's probably because his life reads like a restless diary.

Moving from his hometown of New Orleans to L.A.'s Silver Lake music scene in 2005, he recorded a number of songs in varying styles with fellow New Orleans native Ben Mumphrey (producer of Frank Black's Devil's Workshop and the Breeders' Mountain Battles).

The result was Menage a Trois, a collection of songs that received consistent airplay on L.A.'s KXLU, KCRW and other stations.

Chasing a fascination with European club culture, Avion made an escape to France, washing dishes and immersing himself in Paris' indie club scene. Emerging from clouds of billowing underground smoke, he saved the polaroid as backdrop for his 2007 EP, Pop Music United, named after a small European DJ collective. The EP featured Tanya Haden (sister of Petra Haden, now wed to Jack Black), as well as other local musicians.

The limited release EP received favorable press in America's College Music Magazine ("cute pop-rock that sounds like Hellogoodbye with a little bit of The Flaming Lips"), Unsigned Magazine ("pop-rock from a guy with an expansive mind, who uses his music to explore make-believe realities. ... what can you expect from a guy who at the time of this interview was reading Quantum Electrodynamics?"), West Coast Performer Magazine ("ridiculously catchy tales of lovers rummaging through European cities"), Popchild in Barcelona ("10"), and Decode Magazine in the UK ("will make this winter bright with summer pop").

Perhaps the most telling review came from Glasswerk in the UK, which said: "Harks back to the days when pop music was expansive and relaxing," adding, rather cryptically: "Avion gives off the impression that he is just about managing to stay a yard ahead of burdening worry."

Whatever the reasons, Avion hasn't stopped traveling, blending with the locals, and making music.

Returning to L.A., he recorded "Stand Up, Be a Man" (featured in PBS' Roadtrip Nation, Fuel TV's The Daily Habit and AMC's Hollywood Icon) and "Fibromyalgia," apparently dedicated to friend and local musician Annie Hardy, of the L.A. nu-grunge band, Giant Drag.

2010 was perhaps Avion's most unexpected year.

Reporting from Africa for SPIN Earth, Avion lived and worked at a school for disabled children in Kenya's largest slum. The result was the video series, "Avion in Africa," parts of which can be seen at www.paulavion.com.

The other result is R U With Me, Avion's first full-length album, showcasing his mercurial energy that spans musical topography as well as geography, with just a twist of revolution.

Whatever the reason for his wanderlust, Avion is clearly focused on something, and wants to bring his listeners along.

As he sings in "Stop Joseph Kony (Can't Turn Out the Light)" (written about the African warlord),

"Tell those missionaries, we're on a mission."

Instrumentation

Discography

Menage a Trois (2005)
Pop Music United (2007)
Fibromyalgia (2008)
R U With Me (Dec. 2010)

Official Website

http://www.paulavion.com

Links

• SPIN series in Africa slums
• Twitter
• MySpace
• Last.fm

Audio

• Stand Up, Be a Man
  Listen  
• Gentle Mary
  Listen  
• Henry Sage & Mrs. Wolverton
  Listen  
• Mombasa Island
  Listen  
• R U With Me
  Listen  
• Slow and Steady Road to My Heart
  Listen  
• Stop Joseph Kony (Can't Turn Out the Light)
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Stop Joseph Kony (Abducted 30,000 Children)

Video

Stand Up, Be a Man

Photo Gallery

Press

• SPIN.com [+ Show ]
  

  "Why we picked them: Featured song 'Fibromyalgia' is pure mid-'90s L.A. nerd rock, but this band als..."Why we picked them: Featured song 'Fibromyalgia' is pure mid-'90s L.A. nerd rock, but this band also shows a deft touch with winsome Britpop and lite-electronica."

• This next group just gets us at Skope all excited. [+ Show ]
  

  "This next group just gets us at Skope all excited. One listen and you can just tell that this four ..."This next group just gets us at Skope all excited. One listen and you can just tell that this four piece called Par Avion is on to something. SPIN.com recently raved about these guys, and a favorite track that we just cannot get out of our head is 'Art School Dropout.' Two words that best describe Par Avion is 'mass appeal.' We'll be keeping an eye on Par Avion." - Skope Magazine

• You can't deny the irreverent, lyrical prowess [+ Show ]
  

  "You can’t deny the irreverent, lyrical prowess of lines like 'Like all rastas are looking for Jah /..."You can’t deny the irreverent, lyrical prowess of lines like 'Like all rastas are looking for Jah / Or our fibromyalgia'. Before you brush off this act as pop tarts, just pay some attention to their nuances. Bouncy choruses, wit, charming melodies, bold guitar bits and even a few Nirvana-isms (check out the intro and phrasing on 'Art School Dropout') make this band standout for more than their quirky appeal and clever rhyme schemes." - Sentimentalist Mag (NY

• Fun yet complex indie pop for adventurous music fans. [+ Show ]
  

  Unlike other groups who stick to a certain melodic formula for their songs, Par Avion doesn’t settl... Unlike other groups who stick to a certain melodic formula for their songs, Par Avion doesn’t settle in one method for very long. At times, they have the indie traits of Death Cab for Cutie, while other tracks recall The Beatles ... or Stone Temple Pilots. Avion proves he is on par with other indie singers of our day with better connection to his lyrics. You can pick up the Par Avion EP, as well as the recently released 'Art School Dropout' single on iTunes now. Keep an ear on Par Avion.

• Life-trodden messages [+ Show ]
  

  Merging the instrumental and ambient slant of The Orb with a bubbly yet subtle push associated with ...Merging the instrumental and ambient slant of The Orb with a bubbly yet subtle push associated with the likes of The Feeling does seem a strange broth. In this case of Los Angeles’ Paul Avion and his low-key but effective backing band, it certainly has its charms. For ‘Ménage a Trois’, the inclusion of a coaxing femme element emboldens the calming impact.
  
  A vocal hold of the Neil Finn ilk reaches out through ‘Stand Up, Be A Man’ and it harks back to the days when pop music was expansive and relaxing.
  
  ‘New Years Eve 3005’, whilst giving the impression of a futurist NU Rave stomp, is indeed a calming, hushed percussion crunching folk/ambient/pop mould that allows Avion to give his vocals a mood instilling drag.
  
  Tender, but life trodden messages are delivered at a relaxed gait. Avion gives off the impression that he is just about managing to stay a yard ahead of burdening worry.

• Hellogoodbye, and a little bit of The Flaming Lips
  

  Like Hellogoodbye, and a little bit of The Flaming Lips. Stand out single: "Stand-In".

• Fuses elements of dance electro-rock, moog synth ... psychedelia, Brit pop [+ Show ]
  

  Par Avion fuses elements of dance electro-rock, moog synth, space-age bossa nova and even psychedeli...Par Avion fuses elements of dance electro-rock, moog synth, space-age bossa nova and even psychedelica and Brit pop to create a fun smorgasbord of styles, playfully called 'Pop of the Future'. Hot off their Los Angeles debut, Par Avion is coming to Sacramento State’s Redwood Room.

• "Have You Seen the Walking Dogs on Sunset?" [+ Show ]
  

  "Native New Orleans artist Avion has already shown a mercurial bent that spans geography as well as ..."Native New Orleans artist Avion has already shown a mercurial bent that spans geography as well as musical topography. Moving to L.A.'s Silver Lake area, he quickly made a European escape to France, immersing himself in Paris' indie club scene. Emerging from clouds of billowing underground smoke, he saved the polaroid as backdrop for his most recent EP, Pop Music United, named after a small European DJ collective. ... The best way I can figure to describe the sound of Paul Avion & Par Avion Band is pop rock from a guy with an expansive mind, who uses his music to explore make-believe realities. ... “Ménage a Trios” is a French pop styled offering and "New Year’s Eve 3005" is a party set in the future, a fantasy tale of people who do nothing but travel around the world, going to different clubs and parties. It’s a great song for those of us that want to escape from our cubicles. And their song "Stand Up, Be a Man" scored them a licensing agreement with PBS. ... "Have You Seen the Walking Dogs on Sunset?" is the song that originally drew me to this group. The subject is so freaking unusual, but it's some great soundage. ... Our interview was all over the place, just like Paul's musical interests. But one thing that stuck is the fact that this guy is a perfectionist. ... What can you expect from a guy who at the time of this interview was reading Quantum Electrodynamics? ... He was even so kind as to suggest to me that I pick up Einstein for Dummies. (Don't worry, I didn't take offense.)"

• Ridiculously Catchy [+ Show ]
  

  "L.A.-based Paul Avion will have you hooked on ridiculously catchy tales of lovers rummaging through..."L.A.-based Paul Avion will have you hooked on ridiculously catchy tales of lovers rummaging through European cities"

• 10
  

  "10" out of 10

Setlist

8-9 songs, around 40 minutes

Basic Requirements

Calendar