by jon bosworth jaxvillain@yahoo.com
"Things always get interactive when we play there, and it isn't always by our instigation. We always have fun at TSI, it's one of our favorite places to play."
Jason NeSmith and Kay Stanton have been writing music together as Casper and the Cookies for several years, almost since NeSmith left fellow Athens indie pop sensations Of Montreal. But newcomers Jim Hicks and Joe Rowe have since joined the Cookies. The group has two full length albums out, 2004's Oh! and 2006's The Optimist's Club.
"It feels like we've been together a long time, because we've been in the van together so much this year," said NeSmith when EU caught up to him at home in Athens to discuss their upcoming show at TSI Discotheque on Friday, December 21st.
But Hicks joined the band in March of 2006 and Joe Rowe joined a month and a half later.
"There's been a lot of other lineups, and some have been really good, but none of them have had this level of commitment. This may be a somewhat new lineup, but it will be here for a long time," said NeSmith.
Casper and the Cookies play a funky brand of psych-synth guitar pop with an unusually, perhaps even sarcastically, positive twist. From ass-shaking popsters such as 'Hey Mr. Superstar' and 'Barking in the Garden' to their more experimental 'Power Stupid' from their upcoming EP 3 ½ Stars, they are the party music that plays in that darker back room that is always the coolest room in the party.
They are often referred to as 'twee."
"I take the history [of 'twee'] back to Jonathan Richmond, others call them the forefathers of punk too, which is funny to me. The flaming lips have done twee. It means rock that is wistful and childlike, I think."
Don't refer to Casper and the Cookies as twee.
"Some of what we do has twee stuff, but it kind of makes us wanna puke."
And it should. They have more to offer than just a happy message with a funky guitar riff that makes you wanna dance. They also experiment. Indie kids love bands that experiment.
"I'm a lot less successful at following through with experimental tendencies than with the pop ones. I tend to look at the experimental notions as a way to get to the pop."
Joining Casper and the Cookies at TSI, fresh from their tour in the UK, is Jacksonville's own buzz child, The Black Kids. This show will be a thanksgiving of sorts, as Casper's Joe Rowe is somewhat responsible for leaking the buzz at the Athens PopFest that ultimately led to Black Kids' big break.
"We feel indirectly responsible because we played with them at TSI a year ago and someone in the band hyped Black Kids to the guys at AthFest, and it turned out to be one of the most important shows of their lives. So far."
Casper and the Cookies are excited to be returning to TSI, one of their favorite Florida clubs to play. In fact they've discovered more receptive crowds in Florida over the last three years than ever before, that is what keeps bringing them back. Although Athens is an outstanding home base for the popsmiths.
"There is never a week where there isn't a show you wanna see in Athens. It's a town full of Peter Pans, really."
Hit up myspace.com/casperthecookies to hear the Christmas song, 'Kiss Me Beneath the Christmas Tree,' or catch it live in the River City this weekend and get ready for an outrageous show. Although they aren't saying what they have in store for the TSI show, it's sure to be a good time full of party bands and party people.
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