In contrast to other musical cultures, rock ‘n’ roll is largely
lacking a tradition of mentorship in which older, celebrated musicians
are expected to help cultivate and instruct the next generation.
Whether this is because pop music careers generally don’t last long
enough to yield elder statesmen or due to rock’s romantic attachment to
its anti-authoritarian origin myth, the result is that direct
inter-generational tutorship is a rarity, making local band Starparty
an intriguing case study.
A power trio comprised of students at SW Portland’s Wilson High
School, Starparty formed at the local branch of the Paul Green School
of Rock, where they were taught by Ben Barnett, known locally for his
band Kind of Like Spitting. Starparty’s taut, occasionally dissonant,
highly melodic music proudly wears its admiration for Barnett on its
sleeve, next to patches for other Northwest staples like Death Cab for
Cutie and Built to Spill.
I spoke with Starparty singer and guitarist Caleb Misclevitz on the
occasion of his band opening for Lifesavas and Starfucker at a Music in
the Schools benefit concert to fundraise for music programs in Portland
Public Schools, a dream slot they earned by winning the first annual
MITS Battle of the Bands.
MERCURY: Was Ben Barnett influential for you and
Starparty?
CALEB MISCLEVITZ: YES in all caps. When I started taking lessons
from Ben, I was learning more about life than I was about guitar. The
first day I met him, we didn’t even play anything. He just gave me a
list of records to listen to, and told me not to show my parents
because he might have spelled the names of their records wrong, and
didn’t want anyone to think he couldn’t spell. I think the biggest
thing he gave us is our knowledge of bands that he listened to before
we were four years old. These weren’t even popular bands. The only way
we could have known about them is from someone who toured with half of
them. He’s definitely the reason I listen to bands like the Halo
Benders, Built to Spill, Superchunk, Sloan, Braid, Jawbreaker….
He also brought me out of this phase of writing where I’d stick to
all sorts of formulas and rules and stuff. I had always heard about
knowing rules, and then breaking them. He definitely taught me how to
break rules—that sometimes the wrong note is the right note. Oh!
And it was great how he subtly bragged about his friends in high
places. One time we were rehearsing a cover of “Soul Meets Body,” and
he walked in with Ben Gibbard on the phone to show him what his kids
could do.
How do you feel that “adult” Portland bands and the Portland music
community at large could better support younger musicians and
bands?
By taking younger bands on tour. Not just for the sake of promoting
younger bands, but if they’re genuinely good, there should be no reason
not to kidnap some groovy new musicians just because they’re not their
own size. Also more all-ages venues would be nice. I know Seattle has
the Vera Project. Something like that would be great in Portland…
Also, the adult music community at large should go to more all-ages
shows. You never know… there could be something great that’s being
missed.
Are you doing anything special to prepare for your MITS
performance?
We have a band high five. We cross our arms and high five each other
in some outlandish fashion that somehow forms a star in the middle.
Wasn’t my idea.
Starparty play the third annual Music in the Schools benefit concert
on Thursday, June 11, at Cleveland High School.