Jan 16 : "Davenport" - Aspect Ratio (Philly)

Philly Music!

MOVIE MAGIC

I think this is the first time I've ever seen a band who dedicates itself to the work of film! On December 30th, I saw Philly band "Aspect Ratio" do a show at Kung Fu Necktie.

Aspect Ratio is Joshua Alvarez and Carly Marcoux, and they both love the movies, most specifically cult classics. Last year they came out with a two-track ep "Davenport b/w Daisies".

"Davenport" is actually based on "Dawn Davenport", a character in the John Waters' film "Female Trouble". Dawn Davenport was played by Divine, which is the reference in the song's chorus. The song also references "Edith Massey", who was one of the regular actresses in John Waters' films. ... And "Gator" is Dawn's husband.

The band describes its love for film on its Facebook page ::: Aspect Ratio's music is about writing a love letter to the movies, performing a send-up of personal favorites in all of their often brutal and heartfelt complexities. Guitarist and singer Joshua Alvarez (Cinepunx/Crossed Keys) and drummer and singer Carly Marcoux have created a space and duality that mixes their love of film with a kind of agelessness and 'zero-f**ks-given' zeitgeist of 'non-control.' "We'll see where the songs take us; and if we don't like it, what we're playing, or feel good about it--then we won't do it."

The Philadelphia-based band's debut single, "Davenport" b/w "Daisies," was inspired by two unforgettable favorites: John Waters' classic, "Female Trouble," featuring trash-goddess Divine, and the 1966 new wave Czech girl-gang cut-and-run romance, "Daisies," directed by Věra Chytilová. For a bookend, both are quite powerful, but come at you in completely different ways (and are meant to be experienced as such).

I nominate Aspect Ratio to provide the soundtrack for a future John Waters' film.

Here are the lyrics to "Davenport" and Aspect Ratio's Bandcamp page: "Davenport" (CLICK HERE). And here's where you can check out "coming attractions" for Aspect Ratio. Aspect Ratio on Facebook (CLICK HERE).

pic from Aspect Ratio's Facebook page