We are:
Mike: Guitar, Vocals, Bass
Jeni: Keys, Bass, Vocals, Guitar
Adam: Drums. Just drums.
Duncan: Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Mike: Guitar, Vocals, Bass
Jeni: Keys, Bass, Vocals, Guitar
Adam: Drums. Just drums.
Duncan: Bass, Guitar, Vocals
ABOUT THE BAND
Paper Brain
Paper Brain uses its arms, legs, and mouths to create sound and rhythm... We are a indie-pop trio based in Portland, Oregon. We draw on several influences, old and new, to create our music, with an emphasis on song-writing as melody, as well as sonic and kinetic energy. We aim to create a sound that is larger than our stature.
Press / More Info
Some people have had some nice things to say about us. Here's what we've been able to collect.
Local Cut review of "Yorkshire"
MishMash review of our self-titled album
KPSU Magazine
Ten Second Buzz (07/08)
Ten Second Buzz (08/08)
Interview at Ten Second Buzz
History
Paper Brain began as Mike began writing and recording songs on his 4-track cassette recorder in Eugene, Oregon as the New Illusions while playing guitar in the Virginal Sound. Upon relocating north to Portland, Oregon, he started playing bass in in a band with some friends from high school, one of whom was Adam, the drummer. This band was Ricci Swift.
At this point, Mike decided to change the name of the New Illusions to Paper Brain, the name of one of his songs. He went in to the studio to record a couple of tracks, "The Curse" and "Oh, Mary," with Donny Perish playing drums. (The recording of "The Curse" would later be released on Paper Brain's debut album).
Mike's sister, Jeni, moved back to Oregon after a two-year stint in New York City, and began playing keys on some of Mike's songs.
Donny Perish packed up and moved to Detroit, but this didn't slow Mike's efforts to build a band around the sound and begin playing shows as Paper Brain. Jeni began playing bass and Mike looked to Ricci Swift drummer, and his friend, Adam to join Paper Brain. Despite currently being in two performing musical acts, Adam jumped on board and began playing with Mike and Jeni. Thus, Paper Brain as it is known today was born.
Ricci Swift, after a brief name change, disbanded in December of 2006, right as Paper Brain was preparing to start playing live. It was a somber loss for Mike, Adam, and their bandmates, but allowed for greater focus on Paper Brain. Mike, Jeni, and Adam began practicing more frequently and on January 19, 2007, played their first show at Ground Kontrol in Portland, OR.
After four solid months of performing a few shows a month, Paper Brain stepped in to Gas House Recording Studio and recorded their first full-length album in three days. Their self-titled debut album was released on July 13, 2007, and they continued their habit of playing several shows in promotion of the album.
In the Fall of 2007, Paper Brain signed with a local record label for a short time, but the two parted ways before the completion of their second album.
In the Summer of 2008, Paper Brain again returned to the studio, this time to the musician's heaven known as Klickitat Band Camp, to record their sophomore album, "Ain't Nobody Cares". The next few months were spent in the the basement of KBC, pushing the previously known boundaries of the Paper Brain sound. The songcraft of Paper Brain paired with the trained ear of engineer/producer/defacto-band-guru Shay Scott proved to be love at first sight, as all parties pushed eachother to create a record that truly reflected the sound Paper Brain had always intended to create. In August of 2008, the album was finished and sent off for mastering.
Around this same time, in an effort to expand the band's live sound, Duncan Galvin joined the fray on bass and guitar. The combination of the new blood and productive studio sessions recharged Paper Brain and they set off once again on a blitzkrieg of shows in and around Portland.
In September 2009, Paper Brain filmed their first music video for the song "OMT" which was directed by Mike and Adam's long-time dear friend, Richard Beardsley. The video can be seen in our media page.
In Early 2009, "Ain't Nobody Cares" will be released, and will forever change the course of human history. This last bit of information may or may not be true.
At this point, Mike decided to change the name of the New Illusions to Paper Brain, the name of one of his songs. He went in to the studio to record a couple of tracks, "The Curse" and "Oh, Mary," with Donny Perish playing drums. (The recording of "The Curse" would later be released on Paper Brain's debut album).
Mike's sister, Jeni, moved back to Oregon after a two-year stint in New York City, and began playing keys on some of Mike's songs.
Donny Perish packed up and moved to Detroit, but this didn't slow Mike's efforts to build a band around the sound and begin playing shows as Paper Brain. Jeni began playing bass and Mike looked to Ricci Swift drummer, and his friend, Adam to join Paper Brain. Despite currently being in two performing musical acts, Adam jumped on board and began playing with Mike and Jeni. Thus, Paper Brain as it is known today was born.
Ricci Swift, after a brief name change, disbanded in December of 2006, right as Paper Brain was preparing to start playing live. It was a somber loss for Mike, Adam, and their bandmates, but allowed for greater focus on Paper Brain. Mike, Jeni, and Adam began practicing more frequently and on January 19, 2007, played their first show at Ground Kontrol in Portland, OR.
After four solid months of performing a few shows a month, Paper Brain stepped in to Gas House Recording Studio and recorded their first full-length album in three days. Their self-titled debut album was released on July 13, 2007, and they continued their habit of playing several shows in promotion of the album.
In the Fall of 2007, Paper Brain signed with a local record label for a short time, but the two parted ways before the completion of their second album.
In the Summer of 2008, Paper Brain again returned to the studio, this time to the musician's heaven known as Klickitat Band Camp, to record their sophomore album, "Ain't Nobody Cares". The next few months were spent in the the basement of KBC, pushing the previously known boundaries of the Paper Brain sound. The songcraft of Paper Brain paired with the trained ear of engineer/producer/defacto-band-guru Shay Scott proved to be love at first sight, as all parties pushed eachother to create a record that truly reflected the sound Paper Brain had always intended to create. In August of 2008, the album was finished and sent off for mastering.
Around this same time, in an effort to expand the band's live sound, Duncan Galvin joined the fray on bass and guitar. The combination of the new blood and productive studio sessions recharged Paper Brain and they set off once again on a blitzkrieg of shows in and around Portland.
In September 2009, Paper Brain filmed their first music video for the song "OMT" which was directed by Mike and Adam's long-time dear friend, Richard Beardsley. The video can be seen in our media page.
In Early 2009, "Ain't Nobody Cares" will be released, and will forever change the course of human history. This last bit of information may or may not be true.