The Van Pelt‘s Stealing From Our Favorite Thieves (1996) and Sultans Of Sentiment (1997), in hindsight, provided a number of significant indie-rock mile markers. The band was led by Ted’s brother, Chris Leo; Stealing recorded by Alap Momin (ex-Dälek); bassist Toko Yasuda went back and forth between TVP and Blonde Redhead after that record; and both albums saw the light of day via cult label Gern Blandsten. After being out of print since the turn of the century, the original tapes have been mined for reissue treatment by Spain’s La Castanya, allowing listeners to trace the band from its gorgeously melodic and incendiary, post-hardcore beginnings a la the Jazz June and Texas Is The Reason to a more subdued, Slint-like bent with Leo’s increasingly spoken-word vocal style by the time the last notes ring out on Sultans. Leo will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week.
Leo: Can’t we agree that no East Coaster can make it through the Pearly Gates without a sojourn in Southern California to purge their miserable souls? I spent 15 years touring, loved a few exotic locales enough to stop and spend anywhere from a season to a year there before always getting tugged back to NYC, and then I met L.A. and all the Los Angelinos that live there and I just can’t shake it. That was the final laceration that snapped my NYC umbilical cord, and I feel so (pardon the West Coastness) free. No they are not naive; that’s called being nice, you dickhead. No they are not lazy, they just understand that the Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is still gonna be there whether they walk or run to the line, you over ambitious lamo. Alas, I am an old dog who’s DNA needed a real city where one can walk and wander with serendipity so I came back East, but I’d like to believe there is better me in an alternate reality bronzed and breezy sipping on wheat grass and turmeric on my way to a show at the Cinema Bar.
