Milwaukee-based Capital 8, born in 1999, recently released its sophomore disc, "Payola," on hometown co-op, Sparkler Records. The nine-track disc mixes power-pop, alternative rock and alt.country on original tunes that shine brightest when spotlighting with emotive voice of bassist and keyboardist Michelle Anthony.
Though some members hail from Kansas City, New York and Cincinnati, the group -- which comprises Anthony, Mike Christiansen on vocals, guitar, guitarist Scott Anthony and drummer John Lucas -- calls Brew City home and performs here regularly.
They perform Sat., Jan. 18 at the inaugural MPop Festival at Reed Street Station. The WMSE benefit also features performances by Spill, Pipitone, On A Sun and Silent G and will be recorded for an upcoming CD. You can also see them with labelmates Strangest Places, Fri., Jan. 31 at Shank Hall.
Citing poppy and punky bands like Teenage Fanclub, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders and The Replacements as influences, alongside Wilco and other new roots rockers, what Capital 8 learned most from these bands is good taste.
"Payola" is direct and straight-forward, never resorting to gimmicks. Check out the opener, "May," with its Gin Blossoms-like kick and chord run. "Closer," with some tasteful Nashvillean Telecaster licks also features one of Anthony's best vocal performances (her piano/vocal solo number "Today," offers some serious competition).
"Decide" is built around a British Invasion 12-string guitar figure and "I Before E" conjures images of Blondie.
Sparkler Records boss Gregory Borden designed the artwork, which ranks among the best to adorn a locally-produced CD in a long time.
"Payola" was recorded with Spill's Jack Rodee at Pallet Jack studio in Walker's Point and with Billy Cicerelli at WMSE's studio. The band also recorded a few tracks in its basement studio and these lack the sonic vigor of the tunes recorded with Rodee and Cicerelli.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
