Artist description One of the Hub City’s proudest purveyors of skewed pop, the lads with torn pupils and hair styles cut a decade too late, play their music both fast and slow, loud and quiet, clean and fuzzy. But at the centre is always a melodic gem polished with angular guitars, off-kilter harmonies, and sprawling anthems for heart-broken trophy holders. And with three cross Canada tours and two CD’s under their bulging belts, not to mention live performances on CBC radio’s Realtime and Nightlines, musical inclusion on two snowboarding videos, regular air play on college radio, video play on Much Music for their single “Wisconsin Camera for Hire”, a new video for their second single “Hail the Standard Eardrum Plan” just released, an upcoming track on a compilation from Quebec’s Grenadine Records, plus opening slots for Supergrass, Archers of Loaf, Modest Mouse, Pluto, the Smugglers, Cub, Zumpano, Elevator to Hell, and Tristan Psionic, critics and fans agree, the Papillomas are on the cusp of becoming the new Puff Daddy of the twenty-first century.

Music Style Skewed Pop

Musical Influences Superchunk, Archers of Loaf, XTC, Early REM

Similar Artists Pavement, Superchunk, Blur,

Artist History began in 1991

Group Members David Blackman - Drums Michael Kissinger - Guitar, Vocals Shane Yakelashek - Guitar, Bass, Vocals and extras

Instruments Guitars, Bass, Drums, Organs, Keyboards, Percussion, Etc.

Albums Corolla (1995), Twice as Early as You'd Ever Want to be There (1997)

Press Reviews The Papillomas play what Beavis and Butt-head would disparagingly refer to as college rock: the guitars on Twice As Early As You’d Ever Want To Be There are discordant and ragged, the attitude decidedly lo-fi. In other words, the four-piece seems to have spent a lot of time studying the first couple of Pavement albums and the last three Superchunk releases. The guys in the Papillomas must be excellent students, because Twice As Early As You’d Ever Want To Be There is loaded with the kind of songs Pavement hasn’t delivered since the glory days of Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. If the Papillomas were based in an indie hot spot like Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the quartet would already have secured itself next-big-thing status with the opening track, “Wisconsin Camera for Hire.” A lop-sided, slacker-friendly piece of flawless antipop, the song sets a standard that, not surprisingly, the Papillomas don’t quite manage to live up to. Amazingly, however, the bulk of the album’s 12 songs come close, which is an achievement in itself; near perfection is certainly nothing to be ashamed of. Mike Usinger, The Georgia Straight (Vancouver BC: May/98) A very normal looking (i.e., non-posturing) quartet, the four lads took the stage looking comfortable and relaxed, then subsequently pumped out endless amounts of huggable alterna-pop. Front man Michael Kissinger is unequivocally Canada’s answer to Doug Martsh (Built to Spill), noodling gorgeous, emotional solos in between moments of melodic near-genius. Denise Sheppard, Exclaim (Toronto ON: July/98) On their first release for local label Daisy Records, the Papillomas show their affinity for all things pop. As they did on their independent debut, Corolla, the Papillomas prove they have the ability to combine off-kilter harmonies with divinely fuzzed-out guitars. The difference is that on Twice as Early, they do it far better. A hard working band that isn’t scared to push the pop envelope, the Papillomas are always an interesting listen. Take “Everythingis Tired,” for example. A spectacular four-chord foray with nifty guitar chords, the song has a horn section that fits in perfectly, if not surprisingly. It’s the record’s best song. Recommended if you like: Matador bands like Yo La Tengo, Guided by Voices. Mike Devlin, Times Colonist (Victoria, BC: Dec./97) Two parts Superchunk, one part Dinosaur Jr., three parts Zoloft, Victoria’s Papillomas are a beautiful band. A follow up to the underrated ‘95 release Corolla, Twice as Early As You’d Ever Want To Be There features a whack of sweet, longing melodies guaranteed to stick in your skull for days. These former CITR Shindig finalists have yet to break in their home province (never mind home country) but if justice prevails, and if emo-alterna-post grunge rock still has an audience, then this album should take them places: Nanaimo, Kelowna . . . theworld! Denise Sheppard, Exclaim (Toronto ON: Jan/98)

Location Victoria, BC - Canada

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