GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@ STARBULLETIN.COM
From left, Paul Bajcar, Jeff Sanner and Ara Laylo, of the indie-rock band Teradactyl, rehearse for their mini-tour.
"Another pop band, another pop song, another special someone gone. A pleasing pop style
Concert funds Teradactyl's tour
By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.comAnother keyboard, another chord, another special someone we've been looking for."
That's just a couple of telling lyrics from the song "Bob and Sway" from Honolulu's self-described "ordinary pop band" Teradactyl.
While other local bands slog through the usual blustery ska/punk/metal thang, Teradactyl has distinguished itself by taking a cue from the mainland, namely doing the do-it-yourself, lo-fi, electro-indie-pop route. They take to the road next month for a mini-tour to San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. And while their melodic sound is pretty common on the mainland, it is different for Hawaii, and makes the trio sound refreshing and friendly.
Together for nearly three years, 27-year-old graphic designer Jeff Sanner, 22-year-old student Ara Laylo and 26-year-old "cashier/salesman" Paul Bajcar possess a nice chemistry. Rehearsing Sunday night at the Sanner family home in Waipio Gentry, Sanner and Bajcar play electric guitars, either strumming or picking out chiming, single notes. Bajcar presses foot pedals for his guitar and to trigger a simple rig of drum machines and synthesizers -- nothing complicated, just simple rhythms that plink along mechanically. There's an "ancient" Swinger home organ in the corner that Sanner bought at a Goodwill store for 50 bucks. He plays it on the charming "110%."
Running through self-penned songs like "Christmas Tree Park," "How's the Weather" and "Sleepy Eyes," Teradactyl's dreamy pop is further enhanced by Laylo's church-trained voice and the warm tones emanating from the Wurlitzer electric piano she's playing.
A benefit for Teradactyl with The Beta Release, Life in the Iron Lung, The bunkbeds, Linus and DJ Mike Yoba Show!
Where: Club Pauahi, 68 S. Pauahi St.
When: 8 p.m. tomorrow
Admission: $5, 18 and over
Info: www.ordinarypopband.com
Teradactyl's previous incarnation was as a four-piece band called The Missing Piece. Two members left for Philadelphia, leaving Sanner and Laylo to fend for themselves until Bajcar called and made it a trio.
"The band I was drumming for, Persephone Myth, had broken up, and once I heard that Missing Piece were no more, I called Jeff to tell him I wanted to play with them," he said. Since then, Bajcar has been a busy musician, not only playing with Teradactyl, but also drumming for Choda and the reformed Persephone Myth, and performing as half an acoustic duo called Paul and Gwen.
Teradactyl has released three CDs, each a limited pressing, (four of their songs are available on the mp3.com Web site) and has put on benefit shows around town, like the Popcorn mini-festival at the University of Hawaii's Manoa Gardens.
The group will be the recipients of its own benefit show tomorrow at Club Pauahi, to help finance a one-week West Coast tour.
"We've been selling some of our equipment on eBay," Sanner said, "and we'll be taking the majority of the door receipts at Club Pauahi."
"When we do the mini tour, so's we don't have to lug around all of our usual gear, we'll put our drum programs on a mini-disc, borrow amps along the way, and just bring our guitars and, of course, our baritone ukulele that we use on 'Sleepy Eyes.' "
The band will link up with friends and acquaintances they've made here and on the mainland, including a bunch of Honolulu musician/expatriates now residing in San Francisco, who call themselves Semimaru.
"It's all worth it when a punk rock kid with a purple mohawk came up to me after a gig to tell us he liked our music!," Sanner said.
"Just an ordinary pop band, trying to win hearts as best we can, if you feel us just bob and sway, please don't go, well that's OK."
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