Demitasse

Demitasse is a two piece acoustic group. This is the side project for Erik Sanden and Joe Reyes of the Texas art rock band Buttercup. Singing at the very limits of their range, the band gets sherpa high, mixing melody, spoken word, and noise. The sound is somewhere between Simon and Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, and the Beach Boys on a dark day. Or Elliott Smith on an extremely bright, sunny day. Or John Cage throwing his car keys at Yoko Ono.

The band records under a strict series of self-imposed rules: their "Vow of Chastity." These guidelines forbid the use of metronomes, click tracks, auto tuning, and unwarranted studio trickery. Being a two piece, they always record together as a duo: so any overdubs are done two at a time, simultaneously -- drums and piano, for instance. They always begin each session singing the lead vocals and harmony together, while playing guitar, and then proceed to build the rest of the song.

The live show is almost like beat era music: like two wide eyed, smiley poets, freaking out, but refusing to smash their guitars. Their set up is hyper minimal: two guitars, a drum, and an tiny plastic box. They've been able to travel to a gig on a tandem bicycle, or a scooter with a side car. They plan on touring the country one day in a Smart Car.

Hoping to cure sadness with sadness, Demitasse offers catharsis with their upbeat/downbeat melancholy songs: where audience members leave changed, and smiling. Life affirming.