The Stranded Local Q&A: The Appreciation Post

I'm not quite sure if The Appreciation Post is Boston's only band with a Moog, but they are certainly the only band in Boston that has me digging the sweet, sweet sounds of a well-executed synthesizer.

The band has shared the stage with artists such as Dashboard Confessional, Method Man, Wheatus, Piebald, The Forecast and Moneen, and the Weekly Dig has called The Appreciation Post “sarcastic and dark lyrics paired up with punchy, upbeat melodies, gang vocals and a Moog stand out against the Boston music scene like a flower blooming in a lake of shit.”

The band teamed up with producer/engineer Mike Poorman (Hot Rod Circuit/ Piebald) at Strangeways Recordings for The Appreciation Post’s latest EP. Titled Brighter Sides, it was released in February and is available at Smartpunk, Interpunk, iTunes, Download Punk and Newbury Comics or via their Web site. You can check out The Appreciation Post live on Friday, May 25 at TT's.

Jim Keaney (vocals/guitars) and Rogger Lussier (moogs) took the time to answer the same five questions Stranded In Stereo always asks.

Hailing from Boston, makes us better than all those non-Boston bands because
Roger: Hailing from Boston makes us better because we understand and grasp our impending doom.

Name at least three bands that are still around and touring that you’d love to be on a bill with, and think it fits well
JIM: I wouldn't have been able to say this particular band a year or 2 ago, but they reformed... The Rentals! They were a giant influence on us growing up. Other bands that might not have an influence on us, but would make a lot of sense to play with right now would have to be Motion City Soundtrack & Ozma. They rock the synthesizer too!

ROGER: I'd like to share a bill with Sherwood, Motion City Soundtrack or Saves the Day

Your favorite Boston venue to perform in is
JIM: Greatwoods.

ROGER: TD BankNorth Garden.

Are there any genres that influence your music conceptually, rather than sonically? (In that you can’t hear from simply listening to the music, but from getting into the structure or mathematics of the song-writing, etc.)
JIM: Caveman-rock for sure. They really had something going with the whole 1, 2, 3, 4 pattern. We use it in almost every song. Pure genius if you ask me. And you did.

ROGER: TV Theme Songs and Elementary School Orchestra, mainly. The Theme Songs because they're catchy and fun and the Orchestra because after our shows our parents take us out for ice cream and tell us how good it was.

Your favorite local bar to hit up when not doing the whole band deal is
JIM: Personally I like to drink at TT The Bears in Cambridge, MA. There are many nooks and crannies for you to privately pass out in. That's a huge benefit, because no one likes to pass out in the open.

ROGER: I'm a big fan of the Silhouette in Allston because it's really close to my apartment and has free popcorn. I'm all about free stuff. Also they just recently started serving Chinese food there and if there's one thing I love more than free stuff, it's late night Crab Rangoons with a pitcher of cheap beer.

**NOTE: All photos courtesy of Chris Morris**

[Myspace] http://www.myspace.com/theappreciationpost