Paleface is a presence woven so deeply into the fabric of the indie-folk/anti-folk/pop-folk/whatever-you-want-to-call-it-folk scene that it’s difficult to find a related artist whom he’s not associated with in some way. Taught to write songs by Daniel Johnston, managed by the godfather of American punk Danny Fields, and one-time roommates with Beck, he has been diligently building up an arsenal of songs since 1989. If he’s not contributing to the next Avett Brothers’ album or making friends with Regina Spektor, then he’s probably hard at work on his next project. Since 1989, he’s released over fifteen albums and has been an associated act on several others. As he states in the intro video of his website, “I’m never satisfied. There’s always a better song to write.”
Originally a songwriter from New York City, Paleface is now a duo based in the mid-southern comfort of North Carolina, consisting of songwriter Paleface on guitar and lead vocals and his girlfriend Monica Samalot, or Mo, on drums and backing vocals. The sprightly duo is not be confused with the Finish hip-hop artist, Paleface, though there seems to be little chance of that happening. Minus the whole “pale” thing, of course, but that’s really neither here nor there.
While Paleface seems to be absorbed into the indie folk scene, he seems to have absorbed just as much of it into his songwriting. “If Only I” and “Traveling from North Carolina” come from their 2009 release The Show is on the Road and do well to show the depth of their sound. The former track hits hard almost to the point of rock, while the later is a tender ballad with intelligently placed harmonies. Originally found on their 2004 release, Just About to Burn, the upbeat “Dancin Daze” was also recorded for the Avett Brothers’ 2006 album Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions. Rounding out the set is “Stuck Here in New York with Joey DBG,” a partly comical, partly sentimental track with twenty two years of musical experience balancing the two.
Recorded and Mixed by Jeff DuPont
Filmed and Edited by Doug Fellegy
Written by Gerard Pannekoek
MP3 Downloads
Paleface - Dancin Daze
Paleface - Traveling From North Carolina
Paleface - Stuck Here In New York With Joey DBG
Paleface - If Only I
