Columbus-band Clubhouse is playing a show at Jackie O's Pub and Brewery on Thursday.
Evolving from a group of “three high school kids who just wanted to jam,” Columbus-based band Clubhouse has grown up and is back in full form.
Clubhouse will perform at 10 p.m. at Jackie O’s Pub and Brewery, 24 W. Union St., Thursday. There will be a $5 cover charge for those under 21 and $3 for those 21 and older.
The band, heavily influenced by ‘80s music, is ready to show Athens a fresh sound.
“Athens has a huge music scene,” drummer Zak Blumer said. “There’s a lot going on all over the place, — at house shows and DIY shows — but it’s not all that diverse, so there’s this sort of untapped genre. If we can bring a wider genre to the scene, then maybe we can bring more people too.”
Blumer described the Athens music scene as homogenous, consisting mainly of punk and experimental, psychedelic music. To contrast, the group described its music with adjectives ranging from “mellow” and “laidback” to “upbeat.”
“A lot of our songs have a tropical sound,” lead guitarist Ari Blumer said. “We try and take this sort of feel good atmosphere and put it into our music.”
Grabbing ideas eclectically from ‘80s artists such as Lionel Richie and Genesis, the band implements certain devices that are common from the era.
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“A lot of times, we’ll take a place where a drum fill would normally be and use a synthesizer instead,” Ben Saulier, bass player, said.
Saulier described most of his basslines as being simple and funk-based, designed to fit easily with the drums and to produce a sound that isn’t overly busy.
Newer bands such as The 1975 and Walk the Moon also have a strong influence in elements of Clubhouse’s sound, especially in Zak Blumer’s drumming. His hi-hat riffing and choices to make transitional breaks within songs strongly coincide with the style of those bands.
Though the band has a lot of new material, “To the Ocean” is its only released recording. Clubhouse is planning to release an extended play of about six songs in December.
Zak Blumer said the show at Jackie O’s is the band’s main chance at showing people the variety of songs the band has outside of its single.
“I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised at what the five of us have come up with together,” he said.
