“We are a band from San Antonio, Texas, looking for the world,” says Pop Pistol on their Twitter page. The electro-rock band, made up of vocalist/guitarist Alex Scheel, bassist George Garza and drummer Jorge Gonzalez, dropped their first LP, Angelus, in 2008, followed by their Shadow EP in 2009. They signed with indie label Texas Is Funny Records in 2010 and released their most recent EP, Disappearing Edges, in April of this year.
As a Texas-based band, the guys of Pop Pistol have established a large fan base in the San Antonio community and performed in various venues. However, they’ve also toured the Midwest twice and made their New York debut at Brooklyn’s Trash Bar. One of their two upcoming June shows is at Rocklobster Fest in Helotes, Texas, where they will share the stage with indie-rock band Minus the Bear and all-female rock trio Girl in a Coma.
Pop Pistol’s Angelus and Shadow encompass an entirely different twist on punk rock. With the use of a synthesizer, songs like “Evolving Doors” and “Purple Eyes” add a spacey sound to the already stunning reverbs found within each track; lyrics like “Embraced by chemicals/I want to run with you” in their track “Triggers” also add to this electrifying effect.
Pop Pistol's 'Disappearing Edges' EP
Although it has four songs, Disappearing Edges does not disappoint in keeping up the trance-like sound that Pop Pistol created three years ago with Angelus. “Skyscrape the World,” a seven-and-a-half-minute track, starts off with ethereal vocals that are contrasted seconds later with Scheel’s mesmerizing voice. The guitar and bass reverbs are slightly inconsistent — sounding serene at one point and then like punk rock — allowing the listener to wonder what’s next. “Center of Asleep” sounds just like its name would imply, since the soothing rhythm could easily give one a picture of what a dream would sound like if it were a noise; sudden drum outbursts also give the track an edgy appeal.
“Mitote” starts off with an interesting mix of synth and guitar, which then leads to the lyrics “I see through you/Hallelujah.” But after the first two and a half minutes, the song transforms into a completely different sound as Scheel and Gonzalez blast off on the guitar and drums with thunderous beats, swirls back into its previous reverie and then ends in a rock-like tempo. The remastered version of “Who Needs Forever” (first released on Shadow) incorporates traces of Latino rhythm scattered throughout the song, creating a vastly unique sound in combination with ominous guitar and bass drones.
Pop Pistol is clearly made up of different colors and genres, making it hard to neatly put them in one category. But this works in the band’s advantage, letting fans become excited and hungry for every new move they make. If you’re looking for a group with a creative and experimental take on music, Pop Pistol comes highly suggested.
