Par Avion (band)
Encyclopedia
Par Avion is a SPIN.com pick band currently consisting of singer/guitarist/composer Paul Avion
, bassist/composer Zachary Ginder, keyboardist/composer Zandro Urbiztondo and drummer Andrew Rivera.
(cellist, sister of Petra Haden
, now wed to comedian Jack Black
), Nick Lucero (a former drummer for Queens of the Stone Age
), session musician Korel Tunador
and Paul Avion.
Par Avion's first official EP release, in 2006, was produced by Scott Benzel
, although earlier demos were recorded by Ben Mumphrey
, producer of Frank Black & the Catholics
Devil's Workshop EP.
The current lineup has been in existence since 2006, as the band has seen an evolution in a more '90s direction, with some alt-country elements, as well.
Since then, the band has released a number of singles, such as "Stand Up, Be a Man" and "Fibromyalgia," which have appeared on PBS' Roadtrip Nation
, Fuel TV
's extreme sports show, The Daily Habit, and AMC's Hollywood Icon.
"Fibromyalgia," which was featured as a download on SPIN.com
, appears to have been written about local musician Annie Hardy
of Giant Drag
, who suffers from the disease. In February 2009, Par Avion received further press in SPIN
.
The band has also received press in College Music Magazine, Glasswerk UK, Sentimentalist Magazine and other outlets.
In June 2009, Under the Radar Magazine
's Digital Sampler, Volume IX included the single "Art School Dropout" along with a number of bands from Sub Pop
, Merge Records
and Saddle Creek Records
.
In late 2009 they received further write-ups in College News and in New York's Sentimentalist Magazine
further likening their sound to that of the '90.
In January 2010, SPIN
Earth announced the publication of a series of articles covering Paul Avion's trip to the slums of Kenya.
Paul Avion
Paul Avion is a musician from Los Angeles, CA. In 2009, he was chosen by SPIN.com as an Artist to Watch, and he is also known for living and working in the slums of Africa for SPIN Earth....
, bassist/composer Zachary Ginder, keyboardist/composer Zandro Urbiztondo and drummer Andrew Rivera.
History
Par Avion was formed in 2004 in Los Angeles, and originally consisted of Tanya HadenTanya Haden
-Biography:Born in New York City, she was a member of several bands, including Let's Go Sailing, and is the creator of the Imaginary Bear puppet show. She has contributed to recordings of a number of Los Angeles musicians, including vocals and cello on Par Avion's EP, Pop Music United...
(cellist, sister of Petra Haden
Petra Haden
Petra Haden is an American violinist and singer. She is or has been a member of several bands, including That Dog, Tito & Tarantula, and The Decemberists; has contributed to recordings by The Twilight Singers, Beck, Mike Watt, Luscious Jackson, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age,...
, now wed to comedian Jack Black
Jack Black
Jack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys...
), Nick Lucero (a former drummer for Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
), session musician Korel Tunador
Korel Tunador
Korel Tunador is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter living in Los Angeles, California. He plays a number of instruments including: guitar, keyboards, saxophone, and accordion. Tunador is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated with a degree from Berklee College of Music...
and Paul Avion.
Par Avion's first official EP release, in 2006, was produced by Scott Benzel
Scott Benzel
Scott Benzel is an American visual artist, composer, and producer.Interested in the contradictions inherent in mythologized cultural histories, Benzel's work shows an ongoing fascination with the disjuncture between embodiments of popular culture- from the classical music score to photographic...
, although earlier demos were recorded by Ben Mumphrey
Ben Mumphrey
Ben Mumphrey is an audio engineer, record producer and musician.Some of his work credited as producer or co-producer includes the Frank Black albums Show Me Your Tears, 93-03 and Devil's Workshop, all released on Cooking Vinyl Records, , the 1998 album by released by Bong...
, producer of Frank Black & the Catholics
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
Devil's Workshop EP.
The current lineup has been in existence since 2006, as the band has seen an evolution in a more '90s direction, with some alt-country elements, as well.
Since then, the band has released a number of singles, such as "Stand Up, Be a Man" and "Fibromyalgia," which have appeared on PBS' Roadtrip Nation
Roadtrip Nation
Roadtrip Nation began in 2001 as an idea Mike , Nathan, Brian and Amanda, four friends fresh out of college, formed when they were not sure what to do with their lives...
, Fuel TV
Fuel TV
Fuel TV is a U.S. cable and satellite specialty channel that launched on July 1, 2003. It focuses on the cultures of such extreme sports as skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding, motocross, surfing, BMX and FMX. It is a unit of Fox Cable Networks and is currently available to 26-million...
's extreme sports show, The Daily Habit, and AMC's Hollywood Icon.
"Fibromyalgia," which was featured as a download on SPIN.com
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
, appears to have been written about local musician Annie Hardy
Annie Hardy
Annie-Summer Hardy is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for the American rock act Giant Drag.Previously signed to Interscope Records, she was voted one of NMEs "50 Coolest People," and has received major news coverage in NME, Spin, MTV News and Rolling Stone, among others.She is known...
of Giant Drag
Giant Drag
Giant Drag is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formerly a duo, the band was founded in 2003 by Annie Hardy who continues to be the band's sole singer and songwriter....
, who suffers from the disease. In February 2009, Par Avion received further press in SPIN
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
.
The band has also received press in College Music Magazine, Glasswerk UK, Sentimentalist Magazine and other outlets.
In June 2009, Under the Radar Magazine
Under the Radar (magazine)
Under the Radar is an American magazine that bills itself as "The solution to music pollution" and features interviews with accompanying photo-shoots. Each issue includes opinion and commentary of the Indie music scene as well as reviews on books, DVDs and albums.Items are reviewed based on a...
's Digital Sampler, Volume IX included the single "Art School Dropout" along with a number of bands from Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
, Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
and Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...
.
In late 2009 they received further write-ups in College News and in New York's Sentimentalist Magazine
Sentimentalist Magazine
Sentimentalist Magazine is an American magazine of indie rock music and culture, published quarterly.Launched in New York City in 2001 as The Sentimentalist, it changed its title to The Sentimentalist Magazine with Issue 14, and then dropped the definite article from Issue 16. As of January 2008,...
further likening their sound to that of the '90.
In January 2010, SPIN
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
Earth announced the publication of a series of articles covering Paul Avion's trip to the slums of Kenya.
Other appearances
- In April 2008, the song "Stand Up, Be a Man" was featured on PBS' Roadtrip NationRoadtrip NationRoadtrip Nation began in 2001 as an idea Mike , Nathan, Brian and Amanda, four friends fresh out of college, formed when they were not sure what to do with their lives...
. - The song "Pop Music United II" (credited to Paul Avion" appeared on Sonic Vogue's Sound of Style, Vol. II in 2008.
- The song "Stand Up, Be a Man" was featured on the compilation Groovetonics, Volume 2 in 2008.
- In September 2008, the song "Stand Up, Be a Man" was featured on Fuel TVFuel TVFuel TV is a U.S. cable and satellite specialty channel that launched on July 1, 2003. It focuses on the cultures of such extreme sports as skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding, motocross, surfing, BMX and FMX. It is a unit of Fox Cable Networks and is currently available to 26-million...
s "The Daily Habit". - In July 2009, "Pop Music United II" was featured on AMC's Hollywood Icon.