Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
This band has no press
Discography
Open Fire has had some local radio and college radio play (KXLU, KUCI). Event Horizon was also played on college radio station KUCI.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
The pick-Up Sticks were born from the web pages of the Los Angeles Recycler Magazine, in the month of September, 2003. The sound was brewed alongside the abandoned train tracks of industrial Vernon, CA, where their first practice space resided. This particular building is located in between a meat packing plant and a pastry factory. As the duo rehearsed into the early morning hours, the horrifying odors of slaughtered flesh and high fructose corn syrup penetrated the massive concrete walls of their studio and found its way to their taste buds. Most bands were smart enough to stay away at these hours, but for the pick-Up Sticks, it was a calling. These kinds of opposing forces are the blood that runs through the veins of the pick-Up Sticks sound. The merging between too much sweetness and too much carnage permeates the essence of songs.
Ed likes to call his song writing:
"Love songs disguised as political songs disguised as love songs."
or is it:
"Political songs disguised as love songs disguised as political songs"?
The pick-Up Sticks is a duo that plays with other musicians. At the core we will always be:
The pick-Up..... Ed Hudecek on guitar, vocals and drums
Sticks..... Sarah Clothier on drums, vocals and keyboard
Ed played in various LA bands over the past 10 years and has written well over 100 songs that go in and out of circulation. Sarah (Sticks) has played drums for Azalia Snail for several years and joined her on a tour in Europe last Spring. The two bands went on a Pacific Northwest Tour together in 2005 and shared a year-long residency at Cole's Bar in downtown L.A. The pick-Up Sticks have played in and around the L.A. area at clubs such as The Vault and The Tiki Bar in Pomona (on several occasions), The Cog, The Eagle Rock Bowl, The M Bar, among others. Sounds of influence include those of Joy Division, Sonic Youth, Unwound and My Bloody Valentine. We also look to art, classic movies and politics for inspiration.
There has been one demo to date that was co-produced by Dean Chamberlain, founding member of The Motels, in 2005. There are brand new songs waiting to be released.
There is usually a scathing knife of political discontent twisted in the belly of a pick-Up Sticks song, even if it's a pretty ballad. Or if it sounds pissed off, it may about something quite sweet and gentle. It's the slaughter house and the industrial bakery, put together. The smell, it doesn't leave you.
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