It is not easy to find a fresh take of the coming-of-age story, which is perhaps what makes Chicago-based Paddlefish’s debut studio album Flyer so appealing. Principal songwriter Owen Misterovich doesn’t so much rewrite the coming-of-age narrative as crack it open and expose the process itself. Written over the course of his first year away from his hometown of Springfield, Missouri, Misterovich presents eight tales told from the threshold between youth and adulthood, a chronological account of his own journey of disillusionment, acceptance, and eventual growth.
“[It’s about] being a kid and feeling like you’re in between two things—you’re maybe not a kid anymore, you’re getting older, but you’re not an adult yet.” Misterovich says of the record, which was largely inspired by the disappointment he experienced after moving to Chicago at the age of seventeen, where he found himself braving the first harsh winter in a windowless dorm room in the heart of the city. Through evocative lyricism and an impeccable sense of melody and arrangement, Flyer parallels his experience with infectious stories of failed space travel, dorm-room spiders, and never-ending highways.
The songs are largely arranged by Misterovich, whose finesse for balancing hooks and unpredictability feels far beyond his years. Flyer combines rich guitar textures with a lush palette of piano, organ, and mellotron, an expansive experience that leaves ample space for both reflection and release.
Influenced by artists like Neil Young and The Band, with loving nods towards The Flaming Lips and Wilco, Flyer crackles with energy that defies the alienation from which it was born.
Flyer was recorded at Pieholden Suite Sound in Chicago, IL, which was founded by the late Jay Bennett (Wilco). It was engineered by Matt Dewine (Ryley Walker, Willis Earl Beal) with additional engineering by Joe Misterovich, and produced by Dewine and Paddlefish. It was mastered by Carl Saff (Molly Burch). The record features Owen Misterovich, Bayden Fraley, and Missy Farrell. Since forming in 2015 in Springfield, Missouri, Paddlefish has put out two records, Lidsville and Spill Me!, the latter of which was released via High Dive Records. They have toured across the midwest and the east coast, and opened for indie staples such as Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Diarrhea Planet, and LA Witch.
This is definitely the sort of indie rock that should be all the rage, at least to me; there’s this earnestness in the craft that sort of drives the energy of this track, though it still holds onto this sort of bedroom pop ethos."
-- Austin Town Hall
Paddlefish are a hidden gem of an act. The young band are quintessential indie rock with shades of grunge. We were reminded of acts like Bully and even (dare we say) Hole. But make no mistake, this act has a certain brightness in the sound that makes them truly unique."
-- Ear To The Ground
It feels very 90's college rock radio, DIY, bedroom pop stuff even if it is not. The bass thumps with upfront drums while jumpy guitar riffs are plentiful. For some reason, in some small way, early Strokes popped in my head and then the bottom drops out into dreamy floaty synths. The change is dramatic (and not Strokes like), beautifully dreamy and elevates the song. The breath makes the resulting musical break all the more post punk potent and, smartly, the dreamy melodies play behind the super dirty lead guitar. Cool. "
-- American Pancake
for fucks sake, paddlefish is the best chicago band at the moment and it isn't even close."
-- Chris Adams (Ivy Dye)
We think that Bandcamp is currently the most artist-friendly platform and we encourage you to check us out there. But... we can also be found other places.
Feel free to reach out to us via email paddlefishband@gmail.com or on social media.