Presently based in Nashville, Free Pizza is a lightheartedly shambling trio deft at chiseling fresh chips off the old punk block. Their debut brandished quirk that bordered on the arty, but for their new EP they’ve honed the approach to offer increased melodicism combined with a sunshiny and at times almost laid back sensibility; if not quite as winning as what came before the results remain refreshingly unhindered by the generic. “Berlin, DE” is out now on vinyl through BUFU Records.
Free Pizza possess a fairly eventful background for such a young band. Founders Jesus Vio and Santiago Cardenas were born in South America but raised in Miami. Collaborators in art and music since high school days, their current outfit was formed after the pair moved up north to Boston for the purpose of attending art school.
Grabbing Rick Rasmussen on drums, Boston, MA was their first album, its ten songs in nineteen minutes co-issued by Beantown labels BUFU and Feeding Tube in an edition of 300 copies; unsurprisingly, it sold out rather promptly. Cited as DIY cohorts of MA units the Happy Jawbone Family Band, Quilt, and Guerilla Toss, Free Pizza lit out for a tour of Europe and upon returning settled down in Nashville. The name of this EP references its contents being written during a stay in the storied German city.
Admittedly from many listener’s perspectives punk rock has long run its course. However, for those of us who feel the genre is just getting warmed up Boston, MA landed rather sweetly; at some moments it brought early Meat Puppets to mind (“Freedom Pizza,” “Forward”), and at another kind came off like a strapping young Ian MacKaye following Henry out west and joining a combo on the Happy Squid roster (“Porty”).
They also gave pre-crap pop-punk the Wire treatment (“Net Babes”) as a big part of Boston, MA’s appeal derives from the mingling of art-punk and a near Bomp Records aesthetic (“Baby Gurl,” “Why”). But with the bass turned way up on songs so brief and angular, Free Pizza flaunted hints of the early Minutemen; one track actually blended a touch of the Pedro trio’s sound with that of Pavement circa ’91 or so.
In short, a lot of Berlin, DE can be found in Boston, MA, but not necessarily vice versa. Initially this registered as a wee disappointment as Free Pizza’s verve at the outset related to the number of ingredients in the recipe, but after time spent the set’s worthiness grows. And while Boston, MA connects like a short and sharp punk LP (a la Minutemen’s The Punch Line or Circle Jerks’ Group Sex) “Berlin, DE” is definitely an Extended Play platter.
Like a truly worthy EP, it can be spun numerous times in succession to positive effect; opener “Dancing” finds the group sporting new member Rory MacMurdo and wielding a surprisingly scrappy guitar-based new wave mode. Punk is still present; they run through a preset pattern twice and complete the song in less than two minutes.
One of the more unconventional facets continues to be Vio’s vocals, which in “Dancing” range from nerdy introversion (think Richman) to emphatic eruptions of rocking confidence (think thousands of people). Perhaps due to geographical movements he sports a very distinctive accent, and even sings in what sounds like French on “Juliet,” its English lyrics detailing meeting a fortune teller while in Berlin.
The cut is crisp and energetic guitar pop that could easily bring a smile to the lips of a C86 fan as “Patience” ramps up the awkwardness substantially and nods to the quirk-punk of their recent past. Having seen Free Pizza described as “hilarious” in print, I’d beg to quibble; an unserious moniker and a few humorous instances do arise, but “Berlin, DE” (and its predecessor) are far from the funny-punk of the Dead Milkmen. Let’s hope it stays that way.
Neither does “The Fall” sound like Mark E. Smith; instead, it spills out copious amounts of the speedy-clean guitar strum that helps make Free Pizza an easy listen while simultaneously continuing to recall such arty specimens as Urinals, though the major thrust of the tune is pop-punk almost bordering on power pop; overall, it seems right up the alley of Killed by Death fans looking for fresh kicks.
A strength lies in these cat’s adeptness at infusing a template of simplicity with crafty bits; Cardenas’ guitar lines never falter and MacMurdo delivers some fine drum outbursts during “Fortune and Faith.” The adroitness grows in “Sighing,” which takes another dip into the wavy but with an edge that would’ve insured nothing more than regional success had Free Pizza existed as part of the era.
Closer “Slipping” manages to be a pretty little tune but without losing a handle on the punkish quality that persists in sparking their engine. Although these ears still prefer their debut, “Berlin, DE” is surely a grower; it could significantly and deservedly enlarge Free Pizza’s fanbase.
GRADED ON A CURVE:
B+
