Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Who could have predicted this? Earlier this year, Percival was nothing more than an obscure project . . . known to only a few. This changed rapidly when the cult-producer and recognized Guru, JP Bowersock - Ryan Adams, The Strokes - took this trio in hand and flew them over from Lawrence, Kansas to New York City this February. The result of this collaboration is 'Indian Summer' (Territory Records), an EP to establish Percival - and, as far as I'm concerned, that's a sure thing.
That Bowersock gave his approval is quite a coup, but aside from that it has to be said that we can hail Percival as a very talented Country-Rock band of the alt.country métier. . . . Percival delivers outstanding songs. [Next year] we also expect the awaited debut CD, (who knows on Lost Highway?). I know I am looking forward to it.
**** 4 stars (out of 5)
- Altcountry.nl (The Netherlands)
Percival hasn’t wasted a moment since their inception in 2005. In the short time since, they have accomplished things that many local bands spend years working toward (and many never accomplish at all). . . . [Percival is] a band with tremendous promise. - The Lawrencian (Lawrence, KS)
Given that this is "America's heartland," it's surprising that the Kansas City area doesn't boast more of a folk/alt-country scene. It's not to say that there aren't some strong Americana acts around these parts -- the Gaslights and the Wilders are two that immediately spring to mind -- but this particular genre remains largely underrepresented. Judging from their new 5-track EP Indian Summer, it appears that the Lawrence-based quintet Percival is ready to do their best to help change that perception.
Produced by former Ryan Adams guitar sideman JP Bowersock (also known for his work with the Strokes), Indian Summer reveals a band with a clear sense of direction and a ton of untapped potential. Starting with the road-dusted opener "Half Life," lead singer Justin Klinksick comfortably sets the tone for what's to follow. While many of the tracks readily show the band's influences, where "Medicated Lie" owes more than a passing nod to Neil Young and "Pretty Baby" could easily be a lost Chris Isaak cut, this fivesome keeps their wits and identity intact.
While a five-track EP hardly resembles the marathon of a full release, Percival is already showing that it has the legs to make a strong run. The disc's clean production make Indian Summer much more than a demo, one that remarkably defies the fact that the group has only been together for about a year. With a full album due out next spring, it wouldn't be too surprising to see these upstarts hit their stride relatively quickly. - Patchchord.com
Percival exhibits a well-oiled take on melodic alt-country tunesmithing, perhaps the reason the band enlisted Ryan Adams sidekick JP Bowersock as the producer for its new "Indian Summer" EP. The Lawrence band has been performing a busy schedule of gigs to spread its Telecaster-informed Americana. Fans of the Lost Highway label and AAA radio formats would do well to give the band a listen.
- The Lawrence Journal-World
Discography
New CD due Spring 2007!
"Indian Summer" EP (2006)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
New York producer JP Bowersock “discovered” Percival on an internet forum late last year after hearing the band’s rough homemade demo. Bowersock, who has worked with Ryan Adams & The Cardinals and The Strokes among others, immediately summoned Percival to New York where he produced their five-song debut CD, Indian Summer, now available on the band’s own label, Territory Records. The music site, Altcountry.nl, gives Indian Summer four stars out of five, calling it “outstanding,” and The Lawrencian (Lawrence, KS) says Percival is "a band with tremendous promise."
Although only a year has passed since singer-songwriters Justin Klinksick and Oliver Buck first conceived of merging their talents into a singular project in 2005, Percival has already established themselves as one of the most compelling—and hardest-touring—live bands in their region. Now complete as a five-piece, with the addition of Tom Reid on drums, Mark Harvey on bass, and Brett Resnick on pedal steel, organ, and guitar, Percival explores the rich territory where old-school rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, electric blues, and roadhouse country overlap. Influenced by artists such as Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Neil Young, The Band, Johnny Cash, The Old 97’s, Chris Isaak, Uncle Tupelo, Hank Williams, and The Grateful Dead, Percival plays music that exudes a timeless quality.
While most notable for the strength of their original songs, Percival also stands out for their commitment to the lost art of ensemble playing. Each member of Percival is a multi-instrumentalist, and their live shows highlight in-the-moment playing that reveals a traditional approach to old-fashioned, unironic musicianship, and a genuine love for sharing their music with a live audience.
When it comes to recording and performing, Percival strives for a sense of directness, honesty, and immediacy that they feel is sorely lacking in most popular music today. “It’s all about the song,” Buck says. “It’s about creating music that is authentic and genuine and that refuses to adopt the trendy affectations and gimmicks of the moment. Our job really is two-fold: to write good songs, but also to let them breathe and exist on their own terms.”
Currently, Percival is touring hard, playing local stints and booking regional and national mini-tours in order to build their regional following into a national one. With upwards of forty original songs already written only a year after forming, the band plans to get back into the studio this fall to record a full-length CD that will be released in early 2007.
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