hings are seldom easy when you’re a self-financing, self-producing, self-distributing indie rock band. This holds especially true when you’re struggling to make it in New York City, playing local gigs, and seeking to stand out among the multitudes while keeping your day jobs at the same time. But if you’re passionate about your craft, the necessity to perform outweighs the need for sleep or food or the rent (well, maybe not the rent), and all those obstacles quickly diminish in relation to putting out solidly rocking, consistently good music.

The Orange Beauties are such a band, and they’ve been a simmering force in the New York City indie music scene since the early/mid-90’s. Essentially, the quartet has been together in one form or another for over eight years, developing, growing and evolving artistically. The Orange Beauties came into being when singer/song-writer/guitarist/frontman Arthur Schupbach first met and joined forces with bassist Mike Kelly while the two were in the eighth grade. Drummer Craig Savage came onboard in high school and the tableau was completed during college with the inclusion of guitarist Todd Gardella.

Despite the intrusion of ‘real life’ (wives, jobs, individual pursuits) which have put the band’s activities on hold from time to time --the last period lasting approximately 2 years-- The Orange Beauties continue to persevere.In 2000, their eponymous psych/alt rock debut, Relax With The Orange Beauties, was released on the artist-run/indie label, Washroom Recordings. The band officially regrouped in September 2001 and has been steadily winning over new fans with their exciting and aurally stimulating live shows.

The creative impetus behind this band primarily centers around Arthur Schupbach. A dedicated guitarist from age 11, Schupbach has progressed to phenomenal heights of expertise on the axe. Trust me: the man ‘must be seen’ to be believed. These days, Schupbach often works closely with Todd Gardella, throwing around ideas and arrangements until they land upon the right sound. Yet, despite producing a masterful body of work, Schupbach laments he is not as prolific as he’d like to be; not as copious as, say, Ryan Adams (“ I hate that idiot. You can quote me on that!”). A consummate perfectionist and his own worst critic, Schupbach is prone to second guessing so much that he is often left with dozens of tapes filled with unfinished melodic ideas, usually having to then go back and pick out the best stuff and then fit the tunes with lyrics he’s written down somewhere. The ideal would be to get a song done in one sitting, but that doesn’t seem to be the way it works for him. Because lines, titles and melodies can hit him at any time, Schupbach relies on a notebook he keeps handy to chronicle any creative flashes. If he’s at home, playing guitar in his bedroom, and a brilliant riff comes out, it goes on cassette right away. If he’s out somewhere without a tape recorder, Schupbach might just call up his own answering machine and hum the tune on there.

Schupbach also reasons the band need not be tied down to official recording studios. All sorts of things can go wrong: the timing may be off, the engineer may suck, and money may end up being wasted. Plus, many of his favorite recordings have been done in non-studio environments--Exile on Main Street, Jack Logan's "Bulk", Dylan's "Basement Tapes", Sebadoh, early Beck. And, true to type, these indie artists stand by the credo “Do It Yourself and Have Full Control”. Therefore, using their own equipment, a recording session for the Orange Beauties may likely happen in whatever basement is available at the time.

Relax With The Orange Beauties is the result of this independently driven compulsion and contains succinct and sharply written songs front-loaded with fuzzing/grinding guitars, dense rhythms, insinuating keys, determined percussion and emotionally naked vocals. From frenzied, riff propelled, punkish arrangements, to down-tempo, naval gazing tunes of self-reflection and inner mystification, the music of the Orange Beauties conveys an expansive and unique vision. Each chord evokes intricate meaning, each lyric reveals a significant truth.

Schupbach explains: “The record is sort of an intimate collection of songs about problems with anxiety and perspectives on that. Todd and I produced it ourselves and worked really hard on it. It feels good to finally have something out there that we can be proud of, instead of all those lame cassette tapes we used to give out at shows”. A follow-up release, scheduled for spring 2003, remains a work in progress. Not yet settled on any one, specific musical style, the band is tinkering with techno, country, punk, noise, and psychedelic schemes. The options are endless. “We’re thinking about just throwing everything we have on there and seeing what happens”.

Quick Facts:

Current members: Arthur “Artie” Schupbach (lead vocals, guitar, keys, harmonica); Mike Kelly: (bass); Todd Gardella: (guitar, keys); Craig Savage: (drums)

Location: New York City

Style: Indie rock, alternative, psychedelic noise pop

Labels Appeared On: Washroom Recordings (http://www.washroomrecordings.com/)

Essential: Relax With The Orange Beauties (2000)