Local band showcases light-hearted songs, toe-tapping tunes

By: CAMERON HUBBARD

Posted: 1/14/09

A traditional pop-rock song often involves lyrics about love or heartbreak, not cheese or sunglasses.

"I've always enjoyed the parts [of shows] where you sort of throw something out there that's, in your mind, pretty ridiculous. And to see somebody catch that like, 'Wait. What? Was he singing a song about cheese?' That moment is what I enjoy," said Jason Harwell, 29, guitarist and vocalist for The Warm Fuzzies.

Indeed, with light-hearted songs about cultural conundrums ("Why Do Girls Wear Big Sunglasses?"), local group The Warm Fuzzies doesn't play traditional pop-rock, even if it sounds like it at first.

The band's six-song EP, "Bubblegum," is aptly named. Each song has that "stuck in your head for days" quality. Plus, the scratch 'n' sniff CD actually smells like a fresh piece of Bazooka.

With no shortage of synthesizers, sing-a-long choruses or infectious beats, the group has crafted the kind of record that inspires some serious toe-tapping.

THE WARM FUZZIES

What: The Warm Fuzzies, Marriage, Freakaboo, Polar Opposite Bear
When: 10 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Caledonia Lounge
Price: $5-$7

Song titles such as "Space Invaders" and "Queso Love" may look a little silly, and they are. The result of a disjointed song-writing process, the lyrics were written around titles that already existed.

"Basically I named them just so I could know which one was which. I didn't really have any thought behind it," said drummer Davey Staton, 40.

"The challenge is now to write a song to fit the title," Harwell said.

Though the band recognizes the sometimes "ridiculous" quality of its songs, it maintains that the silliness is secondary to the music.

"We definitely take it seriously," Harwell said. "But it's something that we hope is fun for people. And, you know, if it's slightly ridiculous and you have a good time while you're there, that's mission accomplished for us."

Before creating The Warm Fuzzies, Harwell and Staton both played music in other capacities.

"Like about a billion other people, I was a singer-songwriter doing folk-pop. That sounds horrible to say now because when you say that, people think Edwin McCain, John Mayer or Jack Johnson. That was not the model," Harwell said.

Staton, for his part, was on quite the opposite end of the spectrum, lending his talents to post-punk band Heros Severum.

Despite their disparate backgrounds, Harwell and Staton came together in 2007 to create some fun, catchy, slightly silly pop rock.

Though the band has played just five shows and only released "Bubblegum" in Dec. 2008, Staton and Harwell say public reception has been positive so far.

"To be honest, I've been a little surprised that it's been so positive. I thought surely we'd be pegged as just Weezer rip-offs," Staton said.

"You kind of expect the worst," Harwell said.

Tonight's show with local groups Marriage, Polar Opposite Bear and Freakaboo, however, will be a collection of very different bands, colliding sugary pop and heavier rock. Still, Harwell and Staton said they think the variety is something the audience will appreciate.

"I think it's a good thing to have variety. You don't want to go hear four bands that sound alike," Staton said.

"Even if they all leave, it's kind of epic in some sort of way," Harwell said.