Wallpaper

Know what really gets a party bouncing off the walls?! Bumpin’ some Wallpaper! Signed with Seattle’s legendary K Records in spring of 2008, Wallpaper will release their new album with a show you’ll want to mark on your calendars, November 8th at The Comet. Wallpaper offers danceable diversity wrapped in a high energy garage pop rock sound born of influences like Pavement, The Pixies, and Weezer. Brothers Derek and Spencer Kelley along with Steve Potter, deliver fast paced jump up and down songs with puckish charm, enthusiasm, and a whole lot of energy.

The trio began playing in 2004 with Spencer and Steve, joined later by Derek on lead vocals. After listening to their first recording made as Appliqué, they heard a lot they wanted to change and stripped it down. Their sound became more raw ala The Breeders and Violent Femmes. They must have done something very right because renowned musician, DJ, producer, founding figure of the DIY independent music movement, and record label owner Calvin Johnson happened to be one of the seven attendees at The Sunset in late April of this year and really dug their sound. “Kurt Cobain’s only tattoo was of the K Records shield, you know.” Derek fills me in. I did NOT know that! Calvin and the boys exchanged 45’s and EP’s and three months later Wallpaper was signed to K Records alongside the likes of Modest Mouse, IQU, Dub Narcotic Sound System, and Yacht. Wallpaper’s short, fast, shooting star-like rise to musical success in Seattle is supported by a great fan base of youngsters who like to dance and rock out.

So why, you may wonder, is Wallpaper secretly blacklisted from playing all ages venues? Why would these three very adorable and talented musicians be blacklisted from playing at all-ages venues? The answer? Myspace drama. Myspace drama which led to false accusations directed at one of the members of Wallpaper which led to further slander and subsequent cancellations of shows as well as refusals to book Wallpaper at all ages venues. Because of one vindictive Vera Project volunteer, the tyrannical blacklisting of Wallpaper runs amuck within a small circle of misled friends who volunteer at all-ages venues in the Seattle area. As a result, Wallpaper’s 18 and under fans have to settle for waiting outside 21 and over shows to say hello and listen from the street. Can anyone say scandal?

“Is it really fair to allow the volunteers of Vera Project or any organization act out their own personal vendettas at the expense of the organization itself and the public that it is meant to serve? We can’t play at any all ages venues because of one volunteer who has slandered us on false pretenses. We don’t even know what to do about it.” says Spencer.

“Yeah…. we are OVER hipsters.” says Steve. They all nod in unison agreement.

Unwitting targets of Capitol Hill hipster politics, heroes of the teen dance scene, newcomers and favorites at Calvin Johnson’s K Records and darlings of Seattle underground pop,
I present- Wallpaper. Find them October 11th at Mars Bar and November 8th for their CD release party at The Comet and get the dish on their latest online drama at www.myspace.com/publicstudents. Steve, Derek, and Spencer are very charming and full of playful, positive energy which, comes through in their music. Wallpaper is a breath of fresh air and if you’ve been looking for some new tunes to dance in your socks to, look no further.

Written and photographed by January Fieldz

Photo editing by Adele Clark

D-List Magazine, Seattle, WA.
October 2008