The members of Lucky Pineapple spent their first Sunday evening of March engaged in a three hour practice. They were attempting to work out a modified set due to the anticipated absence of one of their horn players.
The seven-piece, progressive rock band, whose drummer J.C. Denison and keyboard player Brian Sweeney attended IU Southeast, has had a busy schedule as of late.
Several days before its practice, Lucky Pineapple, opened for national act, The Features, and three days later opened for Louisville’s anticipated next big thing, Wax Fang, in Lexington.
Sweeney and Denison first became familiar with one another while taking music history and recording classes at IU Southeast.
“We started talking and hanging out after we ran into each other at a The Sea and Cake concert at Headliner’s,” Denison said. “Our mutual love, respect of that band and other common musical interests established the foundations for a solid musical and personal relationship between the two of us.”
Sweeney eventually graduated from IU Southeast in 2005 with a degree in music, while Denison was forced to take another route.
“I was denied admittance into the music school and ended up graduating with a degree in secondary education,” Denison said. “I still have my rejection letter.”
Lucky Pineapple, which is composed of musicians whose backgrounds range from classical training to the old Louisville punk scene, is something of a musical mutt with DNA strands that pull from just about every genre.
Guitarist Matt Dodds said the reason for forming the band is unclear.
“I think I was just tired of playing with the same types of instruments and figured there were bound to be some people I knew who played other kinds of instruments,” Dodds said. “We all just had pretty open minds about what could be involved once we started playing together, and still do as far as I can tell.”
Denison said most of the members already had broader world music interests.
“Horns and percussion go a long way in rounding out a more worldly sound, I suppose,” Denison said.
If it makes noise, it can probably be heard somewhere deep in the mix of rock rhythms, psychotic guitars, screaming horns or any one of the percussion instruments the band drags to and from each show.
“I think taking the boundaries off genres and seeking every possible way to combine sounds will ultimately pay off with rewarding music over time,” Sweeney said.
The group said they have impressed promoters since they made their beginnings in 2004, playing The Forecastle Festival, Lebowski Fest and The Last Call Film Festival several times, while catching the ear of local record label, “Noise Pollution Records,” to which the band is currently signed.
The members of Lucky Pineapple said they also make it a habit to grace momentary stages set-up in parking lots, libraries, lounges and rooftops.
In May 2005, under the recording direction of Sweeney, Lucky Pineapple recorded the basic tracks for their debut album, “The New Rainbow,” at the Stem Concert Hall on campus.
“Recording at IUS was fun,” Sweeney said. “I recall it being finals week and being able to make ridiculously voluminous sounds.”
In the fall of 2008, Lucky Pineapple released their second album, “The Bubble has burst in Sky City,” which featured the track “Sexxx,” an eclectic groove oriented jam.
“Sexxx” was also featured on the MTV show “Man and Wife.”
Lucky Pineapple has already begun tossing around ideas for their next album.
Denison said most of the songs are already written.
“Titles involve some different animals, like chameleons, sharks and bears,” Denison said. “Perhaps it may sound like the result of putting all those animals in a room together, or at least what would happen if they challenged each other to a chess tournament.”
By HUNTER EMBRY
Staff Writer
ahembry@ius.edu
