Dolfish
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Dolfish

Columbus, Ohio, United States | MAJOR

Columbus, Ohio, United States | MAJOR
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"Dolfish Debuts "Grownups" for Bombshelter Session"

Yesterday we posted Lydia Loveless' Sleepover Show from Boston. Now comes a similar venture from Dolfish, the indie folk project from brothers Max Sollisch and Jason Kluk-Barany. They performed for the inaugural installment of something called Bomb Shelter Sessions at an East Atlanta recording studio called The Cottage. Enjoy "Grownups," a highly nostalgic new number that takes a dark turn midway through without ever losing its childlike wonder. Hopefully this one -- which lasts almost as long as Dolfish's entire recorded output to date -- will end up on Dolfish' next release for Afternoon Records. - Columbus Alive


"Under the Radar: Dolfish plays Conundrum Music Hall"

The brainchild of Ohio songwriter Max Sollisch, Dolfish — who knows where the hell that name came from — treads in sad, somber and bitter anti-folk tinged with classic county western accoutrements. Sollich says he's trying to sound like Neil Young; he gets close, if by close we mean approximating Young's high lonesome wail and gift for country-folk singalongs. But Sollisch's lyrics are his strength, at once bitter and poignant, sad and beautiful, lonesome and humorous — wholly remeniscent of anti-folk hero Daniel Johnston. Point being: Sollisch is a smart, sharp songwriter, the kind we like.

With Daddy Lion, a one-man lo-fi rock band hailed as "denser, woolier take on Bob Mould-inspired early-'90's college rock" by the Washington Post; and Concrete Animals, a Florence trio that deftly straddles cro-magnon punk and artsy noise-rock.

Conundrum Music Hall: 8 p.m., $5; 250-1295, conundrum.us. - Free Times Columbia, SC


"Dolfish Drops into Bug Jar 12.22.11!"

That’s right country music fans the creative genius that is Dolfish will be performing this Thursday December 22nd at the local proverbial performance Mecca The Bug Jar. Doors open at 7:30 and the show starts at 8:30, this is a pretty early show for TBJ so if you are going make sure you arrive in a timely fashion instead of fashionably late. This is an 18 and older show and the entry fee is just $6 for overs and $8 for unders.

Defining Dolfish

Dolfish aka Max Sollisch is a guy from Columbus Ohio who takes joy in writing music that teeters between depression, anger, and humor; all of which hover around the 2 minute mark in terms of length and have the grungy feel comparable to a performance at your filthiest local honky tonk watering hole. Since he emerged onto the music scene in 2010, he has worked with the likes of: Joe Pug, Franz Nicolay, and David Dondero just to name a few, quite an impressive resume for someone who has only been around for a year!

Video Performance of the “Must Be Something Wrong with These Shoes” Blues

A sadly hilarious ode to blind love the “Must Be Something Wrong with These Shoes” Blues focuses on a man’s inability to leave a bad relationship and blames his shoes, eyes, and heart as if they are each literally physically defective and keep causing him to stay somewhere that he wishes not to be. The performance itself feels like a message straight from his heart and into our ears. So, check out the video and decide if there something wrong with his shoes, or if it’s his ears that really have the problem. - Examiner.com


"One-man-band Dolfishplays Big Bamboo on Thursday Night"

The lyrics of a Dolfish song read like a country ditty. But the sound is grunge-y, short blasts of fuzzy guitar rock. It's all filtered through the high-pitched, Neil Young-esque vocals of Max Sollisch. So what kind of music is this?

"I would say garage country," said Sollisch, the man behind the one-man group. "I'm writing with a country sensibility. But it's more gritty, akin to a garage band. It's a barbaric sound. I think it is an interesting contrast to a country song, which would generally have a polished sound."

The native Ohioan plays the Big Bamboo on Jan. 12. It's the second time he's played the island this year, initially connected to the Lowcountry through a friend who knows Swampfire Records' John Cranford.

As Dolfish (a name that came about due to a slip of the tongue that combined the words "dolphin" and "fish"), Sollisch's songs are typically two-minutes or less, the shortest clocking in at 47 seconds.

"I used to write longer," he said. "I just tend to go with the idea of cutting the fat. It's like a challenge to tell a story in as few words as possible."

That makes for a different sort of live show, as crowd banter and storytelling become as ingrained as the music. All music is original, except for a cover of a current favorite, Bruce Springsteen's "Used Cars."

"I play 14, 15 songs in a set," he said. "Mostly they're brief, mostly humorous. They're tales of life -- my life, my friends life, characters I dream up. It leads to a funny show, lots of exchanges with the crowd."

Born in Cleveland, Sollisch, 23, started playing piano around age 3, schooling himself in ragtime and jazz. As a teenager he started writing songs. When he got older he picked up the banjo and guitar. He went to school at Ohio State University and stayed in Columbus afterward. By day, he works as an aide to autistic children. By night, he's played in bands. Dolfish is a solo project for the most part; his brother will accompany him on his current tour through the Midwest and South.

He recently released an EP, "Your Love is Bummin' Me Out," which stands as a testament to his short song writing. The five songs clock in at just over seven minutes.

"I find (the short structure) works well with crowds," he said. "You leave the listener wanting more but still feeling like he understands the character. Besides, no one has any attention span anyways." - Island Packet


"Dolfish "Your Love is Bummin' Me Out"

Max Sollisch, who records under the moniker Dolfish, is set to release a 7” entitled “Your Love is Bummin’ Me Out” on December 13th via Afternoon Records.

“Hey you two in the same side of the both / pickin’ out spinach from your lover’s tooth / Your love is bummin’ me out” sings Sollisch in an opening line that could not be any more perfect. There’s certainly a lo-fi sound, but it only adds to the bizarre, sometimes humorous aesthetic. Download the title track above.

In a few days, Sollisch begins a tour in his hometown of Columbus, OH. It just so happens his last stop is here in Chicago, at Pancho’s, on January 18th.

12/09 - Columbus, OH @ Kobo w/ The Black Swans and SaintSeneca
12/10 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom w/ Frontier Ruckus
12/11 - Akron, OH @ Annabelle’s
12/12 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Hambone’s
12/13 - Washington DC @ Black Cat Backstage
12/14 - Philadelphia, PA @ Spirit House
12/15 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes
12/16 - Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall w/ Roadside Graves and Dinosaur Feathers
12/17 - New York, NY @ The Living Room
12/18 - Pawtucket, RI @ The News Cafe
12/19 - Cambridge, MA @ Zuzu Room @ Middle East
12/20 - New Haven, CT @ Cafe Nine
12/21 - Danbury, CT @ Heirloom Arts Theatre
12/22 - Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar
01/09 - Cincinnati, OH @ The Comet
01/10 - Knoxville, TN @ Preservation Pub
01/11 - Columbia, SC @ Conundrum
01/12 - Hilton Head, SC @ Big Bamboo
01/13 - Gainesville, FL @ Double Down Live w/ Morningbell
01/14 - Atlanta, GA @ Georgia Tech (under the couch)
01/15 - Birmingham, AL @ The Nick
01/16 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement
01/17 - Bloomington, IL @ The Bishop
01/18 - Daytrotter Session
01/18 - Chicago, IL @ Pancho’s

- Tandem Magazine


"Dolfish to Play the Bishop"

Ohio singer-songwriter Max Sollisch goes by Dolfish on stage, and he’ll be bringing his twangy, hollow-bodied take on the punk aesthetic to the Bishop stage Tuesday night. He specializes in the kind of commiserating, personal songs that make these winter months go a little smoother; “Your Love Is Bummin’ Me Out” has been your anthem at one time or another, even if you haven’t heard it yet. Dolfish will be supported by Bloomington up-and-comers Adultery Brothers and Indy indie crew Great Future. Cover’s cheap, bar’s warm, come by and get wistfully rocked.

Listen to “Your Love Is Bummin’ Me Out” below: - IDS news


"Best New Releases 2011"

It’s hard to believe that 2011 is almost over. It seemed like not really that long ago that we were putting together our Best Songs of 2010 mixtapes (now working on Vol. IV for 2011) – which by the way, are still up and running (a few missing mp3 links, but 90% operational), and well worth listening to if you missed them originally. Plus, with Christmas in the air, don’t miss out on the largest online collection of indie and alternative rock Christmas songs.

Anyways, this week marks the third to last Best New Releases mix for 2011. Problem is, there is not that much to talk about this week, and we suspect it will be like this for the rest of the year. Nevertheless, you can access mixes featuring hundreds and hundreds of great songs from 2011. Browse, stream and download the archives of mixes like Best New Releases, Recent Releases We Almost Missed, In Dee Mail, Bands to Watch, Summer Songs and more. That should be plenty to keep you busy for a while, and don’t miss the on-going new series, Best Songs of 2011 (Vol. IV will be published Sunday; all 12 volumes will be published by the end of January 2012).

First up, the prolific musician, instrumentalist and composer Jonsi (Sigur Ros) has a lot going on recently. In October, Sigur Ros‘ released a new double live album and film, Inni. Last month, the band confirmed they were also working on a new “ambient” album slated for release in the spring of 2012 (another reason to look forward to spring).

Hopefully, we won’t have to wait that long to hear the first couple of tracks from the yet-to-be-named LP. And this week, Jonsi is garnering tons of mainstream media and blog coverage due to the release of the new movie, and accompanying soundtrack, We Bought A Zoo. Last year, Jonsi was asked to compose a number of tracks for the film by director Cameron Crowe.

Following Jonsi, listen to new music from indie folk pop band The Lower 48; a live cut from Josh Ritter‘s first live album; the newest from another singer-songwriter, Kurt Von Stetten; a double-shot of lo-fi indie psych pop from Graham Repulski; a cover song of The Smiths from Telekinesis; punk rock from the band The 65's; and a new track by Dolfish that sounds like the band Apples in Stereo. - Indie Rock Cafe


"[Giveaway!] test pressing of Dolfish's 7""

I love doing giveaways. I love ‘em even more when it’s something rare or special. Today’s giveaway is just that. Here’s a test pressing of the new Dolfish EP on Afternoon Records. It’s great pop that reminds me of Fishboy, another YANP favorite.

To enter to win a test pressing of Dolfish’s 7-inch, leave a comment with your name and email address. I’ll pick a winner at random next Friday. - You Ain't No Picasso Blog


"YOUR CASSETTE IS BUMMIN' ME OUT"

YOUR CASSETTE IS BUMMING ME OUT
myspace.com/ourcatphilip

Once again, Indiecater Records is doing something special for the holidays: Dolfish's EP, Your Love is Bummin' Me Out is being released on cassette this Monday. Yes, cassette. You can hear the whole EP at indiecater.com, which I have not on account that the iPad does not have Flash.

Max Sollisch, aka Dolfish, explains it all:


Max here! I’ve written these 5 tunes as a humorous solution to heart break. It’s very easy to get down on your life and stay inside listening to Roman Candle by Elliott Smith (and believe me I have) but this album aims at driving you out of that mindset as well as your house for a good laugh. Some of the lyrics are also a bit hurtful and vindictive however… “one, you never knew your worth, two I never knew your name, and three, if I tell you you’re enough, then call me on my bluff and make a change.” Maybe think of this album as that one friend of yours who’s a bit of an a*****e but always seems to make you laugh when you’re feeling down. In fact that’s probably the only reason you keep him around, but he fills that much needed place in your life. So I guess I’m saying that this album, like your d*** friend, is a bit of a one trick pony. I can live with that. Even a one trick pony deserves a ride. Hope some of this made sense.

Huh, Max, do you kiss your mother with those lips? - We Heart Music


"Guilt Free Pleasure: Dolfish"

Ohio-based Dolfish (aka Max Sollisch) is releasing his debut physical EP Your Love Is Bummin' Me Out on February 14th, which is all you really need to know before checking out this wonderful and timely cynical song.

- Guilt Free Pleasures


"LONELY HEARTS: A JOYZINE VALENTINE’S COMPILATION: 11 songs to get you in the mood for love"

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, Joyzine is here to provide you with the perfect soundtrack, whether you’re spending it with a loved one, keeping your fingers crossed for a secret admirer or pretending not to care that you didn’t get any cards.

Whatever your situation, fix yourself up a hot date with an amazing new band.

LOVERS’ SUITE

1) Piney Gir - To Know You
I like dogs a lot, I enjoy baking cupcakes. I watch a lot of Audrey Hepburn movies and read the Tales of the City books by Armisted Maupin quite a bit. In my spare time when I'm not writing songs, recording an album or gigging out and about I like to applique unusual imagery on unlikely items.

Piney plays The Space on 19th Feb, The Museum of Childhood on 3rd March and the Country Girl All-Dayer at The Lexington on 20th March.
www.pineygir.com

2) Bark Bark Disco - Song for the Lovers
Fun loving Male/Female combo seek partners for laughter, adventure and maybe more...

Bark Bark Disco play Der Gute Club, Vienna on 3rd March.
www.barkbarkdisco.com

3) The New Royal Family - That Girl Has Got It
Future monarchs seek suitable heiress for regal rompy-pompy.

The New Royal Family bowed out on a high almost exactly a year ago, selling out the Buffalo Bar, but a forthcoming retrospective Greatest Hits and accompanying DVD are in the pipeline. The perfect gift for that special someone.
www.myspace.com/thenewroyalfamily

4) Hold Kiss Kill - I’m In Love With a Girl
Strong, quiet type seeks passionate creative soul to share dark nights and starry skies. Love of reverb pedals an advantage.

Hold Kiss Kill release their debut single ‘Our Last Waltz’ in February and play at The Workshop, London on February 26th.
‘I’m In Love With a Girl’ originally performed by Big Star.
www.myspace.com/holdkisskill

5) Yunioshi - She Wolf
A young, male female mix, 25. WLTM a partner or threesome to spray hot electro juices into their earholes during nights of hot shame and sweaty dancefloors. There will be cakes in it for you too.

Yunioshi play The Last Days of Decadence, Shoreditch on 25th February.
‘She Wolf’ originally performed by Shakira.
www.myspace.com/yunioshi

6) Rock Stone - To Bring You Blue Roses
Doomed romantic seeks horticultural enthusiast for shared love of flowers, poetry and big guitar crescendos.

Get your hands on more tracks from Rock Stone by downloading now from Corporate Records.
http://corporaterecords.co.uk/artists/rock+stone

7) MJ Hibbett - It Only Works Because You’re Here
Singer songwriter, 40, WLTM audience 18+ (although any audience would be nice). Must have GSOH.

MJ Hibbett plays a series of dates around the UK this month - see website for details.
http://mjhibbett.co.uk

HEARTBREAK SUITE

8) Beangrowers - Captain Darling
Lovesick Maltese dreamer seeks lost soulmate for romantic Valentine’s reunion.

‘Captain Darling’ is taken from Beangrowers’ album ‘Not In a Million Lovers’.
www.beangrowers.net

9) Extradition Order - Laura In The Water
Intense, passionate type seeks object of affection for night-time surveillance, long walks and obsessive poetry. Reciprocation optional.

Extradition Order are currently putting the finishing touches to their second album.
www.extraditionorder.co.uk

10) Dolfish - Your Love Is Bummin’ Me Out
World weary formerly hopeless romantic seeks kindred spirit to share moonlight strolls and re-ignite my spark.

Dolfish’s debut album ‘Your Love Is Bummin’ Me Out is available to pre-order now.
www.indiecater.com/dolfish-your-love-is-bummin-me-out

11) Beau & The Arrows - Calming Effects
Broken heart seeks that special someone to help them back on their feet after messy break-up.

Beau & The Arrows play several dates around London in February and March.
www.myspace.com/beauandthearrowsofficial

- Joyzine


"MP3: Your Love is Bummin' Me Out"

Sometimes short and sweet loves songs are all it takes to get through a break-up, and Dolfish’s new five-song EP, Your Love Is Bumming Me Out, is all about that.

Stream the whole EP at Indiecater Records.

- Minneapolis Fucking Rocks


"Dolfish does Your Love is Bummin' Me Out"

Talk of calling bluffs, passing side daydreams, and other revelatory flashes ensue on Ohio-native Dolfish’s debut EP, Your Love is Bummin’ Me Out. The 7? vinyl comes out in August, but in the meantime you can scroll on for a free download of the EP, here.

- Parasites and Sychophants


"Free EP from Dolfish"

Ohio based musician Max Sollisch, recording under the name Dolfish, has just made his new EP Your Love is Bumming Me Out available for free download on the Afternoon Records website. Below you can find a taste of Mr. Sollisch’s music with the lead track from the new EP. The guy has a great way of recording heartfelt singer/songwriter tunes that cut through the bullshit and get right to the point.

- Austin Town Hall


"Daily Downloads"

Dolfish- Your Love is Bummin' Me Out - Large Hearted Boy


"MP3: Dolfish "I'm Proud of You, Joanna""

I used some ink on Dolfish in this week’s Other Paper, so I won’t rehash everything here, but suffice it to say Max Sollisch of Our Cat Philip and Arlo & the Otter has a new solo project that’s worth your time if you’ve liked any of his previous bands. It’s short, poppy and endearing (in a squeaky way). This MP3 from his new EP, Your Love is Bummin’ Me Out, tops out at 49 seconds.

Dolfish’s EP release show is tonight at the Treehouse with We are the Willows (from Minneapolis) and Ghost Shirt. More tour dates below.
1/21 Treehouse Columbus, OH

1/27 Bug Jar Rochester, NY

1/28 St. Rose College Albany, NY

1/29 PA’s Lounge Boston, MA

1/30 Ddg presents @ Philadelphia, PA
Dock Street

1/31 Doo Wop Mansion Pittsburgh, PA

- Donewaiting


"Dolfish"

Jeg formoder, at hver anden læser er heartbroken. Forskellige situationer, forskellige niveauer, forskellige mennesker, unikke historier. Så hvorfor ikke stå inde for det og alligevel kunne fejre weekenden.

22-årige Max Sollisch fra Columbus er ligeledes hjerteknust, og efter at have forsøgt sig med Arlo & the Otter fandt han ud af, at der måtte noget andet til. Derfor har han startet Dolfish, der forbinder hjertesorgerne med ultrakorte popperler, der tager os tilbage til et sted mellem midten af 80'erne og midten af 90'erne. Det er ret ligetil, og det forbinder fint melankolske overtoner med humoristiske undertoner. Det er bittersødt, og på den måde passer det vel også fint til weekenden med dens udskejelser og efterfølgende tømmermænd af forskellig karakter.

Det første udspil, Your Love Is Bummin' Me Out, er fem sange, der tilsammen udgør lige over otte minutters musik. Om vi kan kalde det en EP, ved jeg ikke, men dejligt og simpelt lyder det. Den officielle udgivelsesdato er Valentinsdag, og hvor de fleste udgivelser på irske Indiecater plejer at være digitale, udgiver de også denne på kassettebånd. Plademand Kevin udtaler:

"And because everyone knows CDs are dead we decided to release it on cassette as well as our usual default digital delivery. Everyone who buys the cassette will also get a digital copy for when they ditch their walkman."

Max Sollisch selv kan vist åbne weekenden med denne kommentar: "I’ve written these 5 tunes as a humorous solution to heart break. It’s very easy to get down on your life and stay inside listening to Roman Candle by Elliott Smith (and believe me I have) but this album aims at driving you out of that mindset as well as your house for a good laugh. (...) Maybe think of this album as that one friend of yours who’s a bit of an asshole but always seems to make you laugh when you’re feeling down. In fact that’s probably the only reason you keep him around, but he fills that much needed place in your life. So I guess I’m saying that this album, like your dick friend, is a bit of a one trick pony. I can live with that. Even a one trick pony deserves a ride. Hope some of this made sense."

Albummet, lad os bare kalde det en EP, kan streames hos Indiecater, og en titelsangen har de givet os til download. Med 2:26 den suverænt længste på EP'en.

- Borne Blogger


"Cassette Release (yes really)"

Other songs you can buy:
4th Street Traffic - 'Together We Stand!'
Aerials Up - 'Superglue'
Bag Raiders - 'Sunlight '
Blackout - 'Higher And Higher'
Brooke Lawrence - 'White Knight'
Caro Emerald – A Night Like This'
Christian TV - 'When She Turns 18'
Chromeo ft. Elly Jackson – Hot Mess'
Corinne Bailey Rae - 'The Love EP'
Encore - 'Wind Up'
Far East Movement feat. Ryan Tedder - 'Rocketeer'
Ghostlight - ‘Morning Lights’ / ‘Fingerprints’
Holy Coves – ‘The Droner EP’
Hazell Dean - 'They Say It's Gonna Rain 2011'
I Am Ryan - 'Stay'
Jedward - 'Lipstick'
Jessie & The ToyBoys - 'Push It'
John Legend & The Roots - 'Shine'
Lauren Pritchard - 'Stuck'
Love Parry III - 'Race For The Poison Chalice'
Lower Than Atlantis - ‘Beech Like The Tree’
Lulu & The Lampshades - 'Cold Water'
Mandisa - 'Stronger'
Maps & Atlases – ‘Living Decorations’
MEN – ‘Who Am I’
Munk – ‘Keep My Secret’
Norman Palm – ‘Sleeper’
Ola - 'All Over The World'
Elle Osbourne - 'Good Grief'
Nu:Gen - 'Sweet Harmony'
Pitbull feat. T-Pain - 'Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor)'
Raph Solo - 'Rich In My Heart'
Rudedog - 'Feel The Power Of Bass'
Sara Bareilles - 'King Of Anything'
Sarvi - 'DJ's Bringing Me Back To Life'
The Secret Sisters – ‘Tennessee Me’
Steve Cradock - 'Last Days Of The Old World'
Talay Riley - 'Sergeant Smash'
Thirteen Senses – ‘The Loneliest Star’
Tina Dico - 'Love All Around'
Tony Christie - 'Now's The Time'
Yetunde - 'Mr GQ'
You Me At Six & Chiddy - 'Rescue Me'

7"s
Christmas - 'Namiot'
Craft Spells - 'After The Moment'
Dane / Bron & Koosh - 'Is That A Drunk? / Jackin' The Mann'
Eagulls - 'Council Flat Blues'
Maps & Atlases - 'Living Decorations'
The Megaphonic Thrift- 'Talks Like A Weed King'
Aidan Moffat & Bill Wells - '(If You) Keep Me In Your Heart'
Hesta Prynn - 'Turn It Gold'
Sea of Bees - 'Wizbot'
Sparkadia – ‘Mary’
Stealing Sheep - 'The Mountain Dogs'
Furlan Williams - 'When Autumn Leaves Fall'
Wolf People - 'Silbury Sands'

10"s
Model 500 - 'OFI'
VVolves - 'VVolves EP'

Cassette (yes really)
Dolfish – ‘Your Love Is Bummin’ Me Out’

12"s
Artist Unknown - 'Waveshape'
Black Rose - 'Anthem'
Chateau Flight - 'Chici Devils'
Contakt - 'Not Forgotten'
Cosmin Trg - 'Separat'
Creep - 'Days'
Martin Dawson & Glimpse inc Ewan Pearson - 'No-one Belongs Here More Than You'
Dr Dunks - 'Romanticos'
Drugg - 'Shackled EP'
Echo Lake - 'Young Silence'
Faltydl - 'Hip Love'
Harvey Presents: Locussolusi - 'Want It'
Hot Toddy ft. Danielle Moore - 'Freekend'
Josif - 'Brick Jane'
KGB - 'Ghetto Blasta 2010'
LHAS - 'Learning To Live'
Little Leaf - 'Little Leaf 2'
Littlefoot - 'Interplantary EP'
MKDiner - 'City Sound 1'
Mr Fingers - 'Washing Machine'
Naum Gabo - 'Songs From A Great City'
Newcleus - 'Jam On It'
N-Type & Cyrus - 'Dark Frequency'
Dwayne Omarr - 'Multi Funk'
Peddars - 'Hankuri'
QNS - 'QNS6'
Simoncino - 'Tales of Mistery EP'
Solomun - 'Daddy's Jam'
JD Twitch - 'Cumbia'
Wild Geese - 'The Runner'
- NME


"New Music: Dolfish"

Columbus based Max Sollisch is Dolfish and he is releasing his debut EP 'Your Love Is Bummin' Me Out' on Indiecater this Valentine's day. As well as being available digitally the EP will also be released on cassette tape.

'Your Love Is Bummin' Me Out' contains 5 tracks and is all over around the eight minute mark. We think you'll be completely smitten by Dolfish at that stage though because pithy bittersweet tales rarely sound this good. Your Love Is Bummin’ Me Out is Indiecater’s third physical release and because everyone knows CD’s are dead we decided to release it on cassette as well as our default digital delivery. Everyone who buys the cassette (€8 which includes worldwide postage) will also get a digital copy for when they ditch their walkman. For those of you who prefer to shop from us over the iTunes of this world you will be rewarded with the full artwork and lyrics in your digital bundle!

2011Candy Says: Oh just go and buy this! We are in a state of being blown away and don't want to spoil the moment by writing anything else whilst listening.
- Beehive Candy


"Your Love is Bummin' Me Out...Buy It!"

This little gem is gonna grow on you. Just let it sink in nice and deep. It’s not exactly a joke song. The more you listen to it, the more you hear the tone in his voice – that tone that says, “man, I’m just not kidding around with this shit anymore.” Well, listen to it some more and maybe you’ll also see the glint in his eye when he says it. Happy Valentine’s Day, lovers!

- Love Shack Baby


"Local Roundup: Dolfish"

His latest project values conciseness
At 22, Max Sollisch hasn’t yet nailed down a sole musical direction for his quirky songwriting.
Dolfish, his new solo project, is his third animal-monikered band in two years. Twee-folk outfit Our Cat Philip was the first, and then last year Sollisch teamed up with Jim Stehli for the more experimental Arlo and the Otter.
Dolfish’s debut EP, Your Love Is Bummin’ Me Out, finds Sollisch embracing Ohio forebears like Guided by Voices and Times New Viking. These are bands that like to get in, bang out a melody and get out—no sense messing around with bridges and multiple choruses. True to form, the EP blows through five songs in eight minutes.
Now, no one is going to mistake Sollisch, with his warbly, mouse-squeak tenor, for Voices’ Bob Pollard, and songs like the title track and “Oil in This Heart” still have a definite folk-rock foundation. The latter is a reworking of an Arlo song that used to have a fiddle-infused country vibe, but it’s much improved in this setting, with a droning Casio organ and thickly distorted but lightly strummed guitar.
“I’m Proud of You, Joanna” storms in with country-punk drums (courtesy of Russenorsk’s Zach Inscho), name-drops Dashboard Confessional (“I’m not proud of it,” Sollisch sings) and ends after just 49 seconds. Completely satisfying.
As for the title song, I’ve caught myself humming it multiple times. In someone else’s hands, it would be overly sulky, but Sollisch sounds perky even when he’s bummed out.
Ghost Shirt’s Branden Barnett, who recorded the EP and added some bass, captured the songs much like he did for his band’s “52 Singles in 52 Weeks” project—DIY-style, with just enough grit while still letting the melodies shine.
Looking at Sollisch’s three projects, I’ll always have a soft spot for the now-defunct Our Cat Philip. Arlo is an interesting tangent, but Dolfish is interesting and memorable. It’s a buzzworthy snapshot of Sollisch short and sweet and at his best.
Ireland’s Indiecater Records will release Your Love Is Bummin’ Me Out on Valentine’s Day (irony!), but Dolfish will host a local release show Friday (Jan. 21) at the Treehouse, 887 Chambers Road, along with We Are the Willows (Minneapolis) and Ghost Shirt. The EP will be available on CD and cassette.
- The Other Paper


"CD Review: Your Love is Bummin' Me Out by Dolfish"

If you are one of those people that hates Valentine’s Day, Cleveland-raised Dolfish has given you one reason to look forward to the love struck holiday: the release of his debut album. Yes, Dolfish (aka Max Sollisch) is releasing the appropriately titled Your Love is Bummin’ Me Out on Mon 2/14 under the Irish label Indiecater. (Catch him performing @ the Beachland on Fri 1/14.) His style is difficult to label, but I’m going with lo-fi garage pop. This could be the album that Wheatus (Teenage Dirtbag) considered releasing.

Within each of the five songs, altogether totaling 8.1 minutes, Dolfish puts vocals as the focal point. The drums and guitar follow simple sequences, almost in a manner to prevent getting further attention, as if they’re there solely to support Sollisch’s singing. Which brings me to the question… what is he singing about? The lyrics are clever yet haphazard. “There must be oil in this heart of mine, cause you’ve been digging since the day that we met. If anything I do is worth a dime… then I’d spend it.” Whether the songs are serious or not, I can’t tell you. “Oil In This Heart” is the most serious of the songs, but still drops lines that make you question whether the song’s 2 minutes and 26 seconds is mocking someone or is about a heartbreak. The songs are anecdotal, making it very difficult to avoid listening to every word.

Despite the nebulous purpose of the songs, they are entirely enjoyable. Sollisch’s voice has a very distinct sound with a whiny twang. Neil Young made it work, and I’m not complaining about it. What stands out the most is the originality of the songs. “Hey you two in the same side of the booth, pickin’ out spinach from your lover’s tooth; your love is bumming me out,” sings Sollisch, who later references love as a “big, fluorescent mushroom cloud.” His songs give away his age (22 years old), and with a pop culture reference to Dashboard Confessional, you wouldn’t doubt this. With songs ranging from :46 seconds to nearly two and a half minutes long, the album is not much of a time investment. As this is his first release, it remains unclear as to whether or not future releases will include bolder instrumental pieces or longer play time. With the addition of either or both, Dolfish is something to watch.

With songs of love, lack of love, brushing teeth, thumb wars, and digitizing love letters, you’re bound to relate to something on Your Love is Bummin’ Me Out.

Although the CD comes out Mon 2/14, you get the exclusive chance to stop by the Beachland Ballroom on Fri 1/14 to gauge his live performance and invest in his debut album. Dolfish will be accompanied by fellow Ohioans the Floorwalkers, All Comers, and Tinamou.




- Cool Cleveland


"Interview with Dolfish: Playing tonight at the Beachland Ballroom"

Got an e-mail from a kid named Max who performs under the name Dolfish. He’s from Cleveland, moved to Columbus for college, so naturally his EP is coming out on a record label from across the Atlantic. None of this would matter if the music wasn’t such a trip. The fantastically titled ‘Your Love is Bummin’ Me Out’ comes off like country music from 2030, assuming the past 100 years were skipped. It’s all soaked in cavernous, DIY-Spector pop production, and it sounds like the laughing gas is just starting to wear off. Check out the interview below, and by all means go see the show tonight:


60: Why ‘Dolfish’ as a stage name? How is a guy from Ohio coming out on an Irish record label?
Dolfish: “Long boring story, but the short of it is this: During a conversation about fish I attempted to say the word “dolphin” and it came out dolfish…it also looks a bit like Sollisch, my last name, when written in the right way. I don’t take these sorts of things too seriously so it just sort of stuck. I like it.”


I see pretty much no biographical info about you, so.. what should we know?
“I am 22. Born and raised in Cleveland Heights. Moved to Columbus to study English at OSU. I love sardines and rice…I’m getting a dog on Valentine’s Day. By day I work as an aid to children with Austism…at night, a rock and roll cyborg, programmed to melt your face. I also have a phobia or turtle necks. This is all true.”


How would you describe your music? I hear country songs through echoey pop production, and a bit of Ween in there, too. (of course, I hear Ween in everything..)
“I think you’ve just about nailed it. Lyrics come first…the backing instrumentation (aside from the guitar) is meant solely to support the tune…I want to tour on this album with just an electric guitar, a kick drum, hi hat and maybe a harmonica. This kind of explains your question. Mostly I’d describe it as 60's pop informed country, with a sense of humor.”


If your EP is 5 songs and 8 minutes long, is that how long the show’s gonna be? Or do you “Jam”
phish-style to fill the time? Will you have a drummer with you? Have you written more songs?
“My live set will most likely be between 20 and 30 minutes. I will play electric guitar and sing while occasionally performing minimal drumming with my feet. I do have more songs up my sleeve. I also have one cover…it should be alot of fun.”


Suppose 8 minutes is too much music for someone to listen to. What sixty second span of your record would you think best captures their attention?
“Awesome question! You’ll only need 47 seconds however. Pop it in, listen to track one, “I’m Proud of You, Joanna” and you’ll get the picture.”


Do you do any covers? What are your favorite bands? If you had to play a marauding invader your favorite song, in hopes that it would convince them to spare your life, what would it be?
I’ve been known to cover 13 by Big Star…I love fellow Columbus natives, The Black Swans, Andrew Graham and Swarming Branch, Ghost Shirt, Saint Seneca among others. Outside of Columbus I am pretty obsessed with Death Vessel, Go Slowpoke, Neil Young (of course), Eef Barzelay, Akron/Family. I love Merle Haggard, Emmylou, and recently after being compared to him by My Old Kentucky Blog, I’ve been listening to some Robbie Fulks…WOW! I grew up on Cat Stevens, CSN(Y), Jackson Brown and the Boss.
As for the Marauding Invader, I’d sing him to sleep to the tune of “Simple Man” by Graham Nash as performed on a dusty wurlitzer.
Dolfish, Tonight! January 14th at Beachland Ballroom – highly recommended- here him for yourself at myspace.com/ourcatphilip


- Sixty Seconds of Heaven


"Local Music: Dolfish"

Clutching his '57 Silvertone and dressed up in Flower Child vintage boutique's finest cowboy attire, Max Sollisch explained what recently attracted him to country music.

"I like the vibe of it," Sollisch said. "I like how a lot of country songs can be a bit humorous and a bit hokey then kind of have this underlying level of seriousness or sorrow. They don't seem to take themselves too seriously."

Sollisch, 22, seems to adopt a new guise with each release. When his collegiate folk-pop outfit Our Cat Philip dissolved, he brought elements of prog and improv into the mix and founded Arlo & the Otter. Now he's created Dolfish as an outlet for twangy, jangling solo songs.

The first Dolfish EP, "Your Love Is Bummin' Me Out," burns through five tracks in eight minutes. It's country the way Conor Oberst does country, imbued with doe-eyed emotion instead of gruff machismo. "I'm Proud of You, Johanna" is probably the first country song to namedrop Dashboard Confessional.

It's also doused in noise and reverb, courtesy of no-frills recording by Ghost Shirt's Brandon Barnett. Sollisch cut the fat, building arrangements strictly as a backdrop for his lyrics.

"I'm not into writing for people to have to hardcore decipher what I'm saying," he said. "For the most part I want to tell stories and I want you to understand."

The difference this time is that these lyrics are pure fiction, a chance for Sollisch to flex his literary muscle in Twitter-sized bursts.

"Everything else I've done has been, like, embarrassingly autobiographical," he said.

In between rapidly accumulating Dolfish tour dates, Sollisch plays The Treehouse on Friday alongside Ghost Shirt and We are the Willows for the local release of "Your Love Is Bummin' Me Out."


- Columbus Alive


"Download: Your Love is Bummin' Me Out"

Columbus based Max Sollisch is Dolfish and he is releasing his debut EP ‘Your Love Is Bummin’ Me Out’ on Indiecater this Valentine’s day. As well as being available digitally the EP will also be released on cassette tape. (!!!)

Download the song Your Love Is Bummin’ Me Out here!
- Indie Music Loves You


"Your Love is Bummin' Me Out"

You know I can get pretty late with my reviews, but to be reviewing a Valentine’s Day EP this late in March is just plain silly. Maybe I should have held out for the ultimate statement of cynicism and just reviewed it on April Fools’ Day.

In fact, that wouldn’t have been too far wide of the mark, actually. This is a tongue-in-cheek, smart-arsed EP, written as a defiantly black-humoured antidote to heartbreak. And, wouldn’t you know, it’s absolutely fucking brilliant.

Max, who pretty much is Dolfish, describes it on the Indiecater Records page (where you can buy it in digital and or tape formats) as being a little like your obnoxious friend who, for all they may be utterly insensitive, at least make you laugh when you most need to be shaken out of your misery.

The lyrics are sarcastic and absolutely razor-sharp, as well as being genuinely* laugh out loud funny on occasion. Between that and the extreme brevity of the songs the whole EP pretty much just slaps you around the face with a wet kipper and then fucks off cackling before you’ve even had much time to figure out what hit you. Pretty much all of this is going on our Valentine’s podcast next year!

- Song By Toad


"New Band Smell"

Dolfish is the handle of Max Sollisch, a 22 year-old Cleveland-born singer/songwriter who seems hell-bent on turning back the clock on indie music to about 1985. His debut, the wonderfully-titled Your Love is Bummin’ Me Out, will be released on Valentine’s Day (how apropro) on Indiecater Records. With 5 songs and an 8 minute total running time, a little punk ethos should be expected, but this collection of terse and humorous, albeit sincere, kissoffs has a bitter country heart and recalls a less erudite John Darnielle or Robbie Fulks on a worse than usual day.

Based solely on Your Love is Bummin’ Me Out, I’d say young Max is someone worth keeping an eye on, and probably checking out live (see dates below). The record (EP? Maxi-single?) will be available on limited-edition cassette, limited-edition CD and digitally through iTunes and Amazon music. And though he gave us carte blanch as far as sharing, we’re only posting one song. That’s still 20% of Your Love is Bummin’ Me Out and, hell, a guy’s gotta make a living, right?

Dolfish on Tour
1/14 @ Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
1/15 @ Brillobox – Pittsburgh, PA
1/21 @ Treehouse – Columbus, OH
1/27 @ Bug Jar – Rochester, NY
1/28 @ St. Rose College -Albany, NY
1/29 @ Pa’s LOUNGE – Boston, MA
1/30 @ Dock Street – Philadelphia, PA
1/31 @ Doo Wop Mansion – Pittsburgh, PA
- My Old Kentucky Blog


"Reviews: Dolfish "Your Love is Bummin' Me Out" EP"

I’m not entirely sure that punk and country music are blended together all that often. Certainly not notably or terribly successfully, at least. There will be those amongst the readers that can understand why, but for me Dolfish’s fusion of the punk ethos with the twang of country guitar and vocals is an interesting and entirely successful one. Known as Max Sollisch in the terrifyingly bright light of ‘real life’, his lo-fi approach to recording and dark humour lend this murkily distorted collection of country folk songs a very real human aspect.

It’s difficult to pick out exactly what makes this EP special. It’s five songs long, but only takes up eight minutes of your time, simultaneously not outstaying its welcome and making you want to hear more, so it’s not exactly packed with outstanding moments. The craft of the songwriting is evident, but more often than not the songs retain their slender length because you can see that that is where the song runs out, structure seeming immaterial and unimportant. At times the fuzziness of distorted guitar detracts from the twang of country, and the crisp acoustic guitar makes the listener yearn for more of a rocking affair. The result is... confusing. It isn’t helped by its brevity, but does encourage repeat listens, and it is during one of those many repeat listens that the record opens up to you.

- Atlsounds.com


Discography

EP --- Your Love is Bummin' Me Out (5 songs, 8 minutes)

First released by Indiecater Records (IRELAND) on Cassette as well as digitally on February 14th, 2011. Later released by Afternoon Records/Warner Music Group (NORTH AMERICA/JAPAN) on 7" vinyl as well as digitally December 13th, 2012.

Photos

Bio

I began writing and recording GBV-length country songs in January of 2011. On Valentine's Day 2011 my 5 song/8 minute debut titled "Your Love is Bummin' Me Out" was released on Cassette/Digitally by Indiecater Records of Dublin Ireland and met with warm praise by blogs such as Large Hearted Boy, Altsounds.com, Donewaiting and My Old Kentucky Blog among others. Around this time I began touring regionally supporting larger acts around the midwest and East Coast, sharing the stage with Southeast Engine, The Black Swans, David Dondero, Joe Pug, Strand of Oaks, Frontier Ruckus and Will Johnson's Centro-matic. In April of 2011 I was approached by Afternoon Records/Warner Music Group to release the EP as a limited to 500 7" and later agreed to an option for 1 LP. I embarked on a 29 date solo tour throughout the midwest and east coast in support of the release including 8 dates with label mates The Poison Control Center the following July. In the fall I began writing for my upcoming full-length and playing regional dates. In winter I played 26 dates throughout the midwest, east coast and south will be touring the east coast again this April. I recently recorded a session for DAYTROTTER.com which will post in early March.