INDISTR 10! Interview with The Paper Champions!

Where to begin. The Neubert brothers have been progressing their music throughout various bands in Atlanta for over the last decade. It seems they've found their sweet spot, The Paper Champions. These guys have been playing music as a 4 piece for over 5 years. I really enjoy listening to TPC grow as a band from the first (and only) time I've gotten to see them in November of 2003. Peep the new video that they just finished filming.....you won't be let down. Shout outs to Moe of Reason Y Records for helping great artists. (The Midwest is getting really cold, makes me wish I was still living in Atlanta at times).







1. Let’s start from the beginning, when and where did it all start? And with who?
It began in Atlanta GA in 2001, in the summer, when myself (Jason Neubert) and my brother decided to record a few songs I had written on acoustic guitar. During this process, a friend of mind, Chris Cudzilo, mentioned that another friend of mine from the Atlanta music scene – Jason Morrow – may be interested in playing bass on the recordings. He came to a few sessions and then laid some bass lines that worked perfectly. From those recordings, we decided to form an active live band and enlisted Chris to play 2nd guitar. A few of those first sessions at Blue Cloud Studios are in the process of being digitally released on Reason Y Records on an LP entitled “Sounds from the Cutting Room Floor” which should be available this winter.

2. If you had to describe The Paper Champion’s sound in one sentence, what would you say?
Thinking indie rock with poetic lyrics, dynamic music ranging from Jimmy Eat World-y clean guitars to raucous Foo Fighterish growl. Dual vocals a la Hot Water meets Armor for Sleep. Jason Morrow is the Hot Water and I am the Armor for Sleep.

3. Name 3 artists that have inspired you as a band.
Minus the Bear, Hey Mercedes, Lovedrug, Sparta – oops that’s three

4. What do you see in the future for music, with all of the outlets available for exposure, along with the current Internet craze?
I see a lot of bands releasing digital-only releases in order to clear the overhead costs of releasing hard copies. I also see smaller, more independent and Internet-driven record labels taken up the slack of the depressing major labels who are losing millions of dollars a year on albums that are being downloaded for free online. It’s a difficult scenario for bands who want to make a living making music. It’s the listener/downloader’s choice as to whether a band lives or dies. Make the right one!

5. What can we expect to see from TPC in the next year? Any big plans?
We have just finished the shooting of our video for “A Long July” from our End.Transmission EP, which was shot in HD and produced through West 41st Productions in Savannah, GA. It looks amazing, and we will be sending it to all major sources for release. We had an amazing premiere show in Savannah, GA at Hang Fire. You can check it out on YouTube. Like I previously mentioned, we will be digitally releasing Sounds from the Cutting Room Floor, our retrospective LP in the coming month or so, and also a new LP in the next 6 to 9 months. Check the video for A Long July:


6. What has TPC been listening to lately?
Lately, I’ve been listening to the new Minus the Bear, Lovedrug’s new record, a local band in Atlanta called The Focus that Chris is recording in his home studio, and other somewhat obscure stuff like The Thermals and Tokyo Police Club.

7. Your thoughts on independent music and if it’s possible to be successful through these means of distribution?
Not sure. It depends on if people decide to keep their favorite bands alive.

8. If we can’t find you playing a gig or practicing music, where might we expect to find you?
www.thepaperchampions.com, www.reasonyrecords.com, www.myspace.com/thepaperchampions
If we aren’t online, Morrow is at The Local downtown, Brad is studying or hanging with his girlfriend, Chris is hanging at home tinkering with some kind of guitar project or recording in his home studio, and I am working or hanging with my two little boys and wifey.

9. How many shows do you play a year? What’s the atmosphere typically like?
We play about 2-3 shows a month, on average, so about 25-50 shows a year in Atlanta, Savannah, or Columbia, SC and the surrounding areas. The atmosphere is magical. ☺

10. Lastly, your thoughts on INDISTR.COM?
I think indistr.com is a solid means to expose new bands in a channel that isn’t oversaturated with non-genre-specific bands. The cross-referencing technology is a great new way to expose listeners to other potential bands of favor. I think it has a solid future, and hope that it thrives! Thank you!