The Alternative Tone

Hi Nick! Hey Kelly! Thanks for taking the time to do this interview! What are you up to at the moment? Well, I woke up really early for some reason and have been lurking the internet all morning. Park Jefferson just released a record at midnight and the response has been kind of overwhelming. How did the new record come about? Well, for like two years there had been talk of us doing it. We broke up but there was always the possibility of it happening. I went to school for recording and when I came back I figured we should just do it and put it out just to say that it happened. What's changed about PJ's members since the break up? I guess the biggest "change" is that we're still not a band. There's not any permanent members and we're not planning on doing anything else in the future except perhaps some shows here and there. Everyone's gone off to college or doing other things and so there's not a set lineup or any plans to do anything...

Acoustic tracks on uke! Download Here RIYL: Emo Side Project, Crywank

Nick Stutsman has posted an update on the upcoming Canadian Wedding record  here . He said: I’ve been working on this album for a bit. I started it wanting it to be a full band project, writing the songs myself and recording them as more than just me and an acoustic guitar. That didn’t really happen so things are changing again. Maybe, probably, for the better. #1 - I still have a broken ankle so I haven’t really been playing shows. I probably won’t be walking ‘til February. Shit sucks. But once I’m walking, we’ll be playing some more midwest shows. #2 - Since these songs didn’t end up being full band, I didn’t want to continue writing the album the way it was going, but also don’t want to just not use these songs. So I’ll be releasing an EP titled “Keep Count” with these songs (dates not totally figured out yet) and then write the album over, which brings us to #3 - Writing the album with a bunch of people because I feel like it’ll make it a lot better/more what I want....

Nick Stutsman has uploaded a bunch of old Merchant Ships and Midwest Pen Pals demos, b-sides and bits and bobs to the interweb for free. You can download them  here . I recommend them highly, cuz they're awesome.

Nick Stutsman's  Canadian Wedding have released their official first track 'The Midwest Is So Far East' on Bandcamp. You can avail of it for name your price. Download it  here .

Nick Stutsman's new band, Canadian Wedding have started a Facebook page and posted a video of themselves playing a song. Like them on Facebook  here . This sounds exciting.

I recently spoke to Nick Stutsman about his new band Canadian Wedding, the current music scene and awesome guitar tunings.  Hello Nick Stutsman!  Hi Kelly Doherty! How would you describe your music for the unacquainted?  I guess I would first ask them if they've ever heard any twinkly band ever and tell them it  probably just sounds exactly like that. Or, you know, a whiney teenager that lacks originality crying all over his guitar. I'd say I'll try and promote the first description a little more, haha. What are you up to at the moment? A few months ago, my band (Park Jefferson) kind of fell apart. I moved to Philadelphia, our other guitarist moved to Tennessee, and our drummer was already in a few other bands (most notably William Bonney), so we sort of decided to just call it quits. While in Philadelphia, I started a band (pennypack!) that went nowhere, mainly because I moved home to Michigan. Philadelphia just wasn't a good fit for me, I guess...

More acoustic emo from the ex-Merchant Ships man.      Download Here Yes, I am posting quite a lot from this particular fellow, however it is all excellent. More acoustic minus the pretense from Nick Stutsman, Home Now is yet more tenderness, with laid back but effective lyrics. A Letter is a highlight.  RIYL: Bright Eyes, pennypack!                           Highly Recommended.

Acoustic split between Old Gray frontman Cameron Boucher and ex Merchant Ships man, Nick Stutsman.  Download Here. If you ever read a post on The Alternative Tone you know that Old Gray = AWESOME and Merchant Ships = AWESOME and acoustic = AWESOME, therefore Nick Stutsman/ Cameron Boucher Acoustic Split = MIND BLOWN. This is just brilliant. Download it now. RIYL:  The Alternative Tone Highly Recommended. 

Ex- Merchant Ships/ Midwest Pen   Pals emo man gone acoustic.  Download Here. Basically what would happen if you put Merchant Ships into a Bright Eyes blender. Sweet, likable acoustic, showing that even (post) hardcore men can show their feelings. Lyrics are surprisingly excellent and both tracks are quite tender and heartbreakingly sad.  RIYL: Merchant Ships, Bright Eyes Highly Recommended.