Parlor Hawk

Whether you have seen them on stage or had only privilege to hear their music over the internet, it’s obvious that the fellas from Parlor Hawk love what they do, and love each other. Frontman Drew Capener has been playing the Provo-circuit for a few years, at times with band members and sometimes on his own, but it wasn’t until 2009 that Parlor Hawk as a band truly began to develop from a deep connection of friends.

Starting with the original drummer Andrew Gessel, stemmed a relationship with TJ Nokleby (a long-standing friend and guitarist from Seattle) who then introduced Drew to Seattle-bassist Andrew Dyer. Following a summer full of recording and writing under the production of Joshua James and McKay Stevens at Northplatte Records, Mark Garbett (keys, vox) joined Parlor Hawk last fall, as well as drummer Jay Tibbitts.

Drew started songwriting when he was 16, mostly writing about, “girls...love, and my family." While none of those early bits have survived into Drew’s modern recordings, the themes are very much still the same, albeit more maturely. Parlor Hawk’s songs are beautifully woven into sincere proclamations of the truest loves and human compassion, richly enhanced by melodic dynamics and haunting instrumental and vocal harmonies. It’s no wonder that their long-awaited debut album, “Hoarse & Roaring” has been mutually released under the Northplatte Records and Intelligent Noise labels this month.

Don’t let the seriousness of their music distract you from the brotherly bond that has brought them together. Parlor Hawk has a chemistry that will keep us all on our toes for a long time to come.
THE SAME SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH PARLOR HAWK

Who or what inspires you?
DREW: The people around me inspire me, I write a lot of songs about the people I love.

ANDREW D.: I have a whole list: Dave LaRue inspires me to play the bass. Tony Horton inspires me to work out...and my wife inspires me to love.

TJ: As far as music goes, for sure my basic music collection. But recently, the people I have been working with. ...To be really creative isn't necessarily just doing something that you want to do, but doing something that is cohesive to the group. So right now, it's the guys I play with that influence me the most, helping me to shape my sound and find what I want to play.

JAY: Mostly my good friends, especially down at The School of Music. Everyone is always trying to show each other new things that they are learning. And definitely people that support me...when I'm performing and my friends are there, it inspires me to have an emotional connection with them so that they will feel good about the music, too.

MARK: Caitlin. Neil Young. And I'm just inspired when the perfect storm happens... when you are feeling something and playing music, then it comes out and all rings together.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
TJ: Taller. The whole band is like, 6'2" plus...

ANDREW: I wish I had a better singing voice. I would give it all up just to be an amazing singer...then I could be a frontman in a band someday...(looks at Drew slyly)

TJ: oh, that too...

DREW: I wish I could talk better. I hate talking in front of people. Maybe I'm not bad at it. I don't know...but I HATE it.

JAY: No joke, dude. You sing the songs, and Andrew can be the spokesman. About myself? I wish I could grow facial hair. It's sparse and blonde so you can't see it. In Uruguay they call it the volleyball court, "there's six on each side". ...In Spanish it's a lot funnier.

MARK: I wish I had more control about not feeling awkward around people, sometimes.

JAY: Dude, never feel awkward around me.

ANDREW: We should make Mark the spokesman of the band.

DREW: You know what, one other thing I would change about myself? I don't open up to people unless I know them, sometimes I come off as cold. It sucks.

What makes you happy?
DREW: Love...

ANDREW: that's so cliche. Let's get specific here. Everybody loves Love.

TJ: Accomplishing goals, that's what makes me happy. I'm a task oriented person.

DREW: He's a task master.

TJ: I am a task master. Actually I changed my name to that. And getting Nertz in 15 seconds, like last night. And sweet potato fries. Andrew you can use that one if you want.

JAY: I realize what makes me happy is that when I have something, and I share it with someone, and it makes them happy...it makes me even happier.

MARK: Family and Friends. The two F's.

ANDREW: Raspberries, dachshunds, and my wife...not in that order. I wish I could say them all at one time so there wouldn't be an order but I can't.

What is your greatest fear?
TJ: Like a real answer?

DREW: I'm afraid of dogs, BIG dogs. I was bit by a dog once, when I was sixteen.

TJ: I'm afraid of making decisions...I dread having to make decisions, and the consequences of making them. But decisions must be made.

MARK: Regrets.

DREW: I hate regrets.

TJ: That what my answer was! Making decisions that you have to live with and then regret. Don't steal my answers!

ANDREW: Mark says it better.

DREW: I second the regrets, fear, and big ol' horse dogs.

ANDREW: I have to go with everybody's, I think it sums up a lot of sub fears into one.

JAY: The only thing I have to fear...is fear itself.

What makes you laugh?
JAY: Andrew Dyer!

DREW: We laugh a ton. I could say one word that would make everyone laugh...Logjam.

*Laughter ensues*

TJ: Band inside jokes make me laugh. We have all these ongoing revolving things...Jay's chatrooms... that and Bucky Marsh.

ANDREW: I make myself laugh. I am going to go with Jay's answer. Jay Tibbits make me laugh though, too.

TJ: Jay is the joker of the band.

JAY: You always treat me like I am the joke of the band, dude.

MARK: Logjam.


Who are you listening to right now?
DREW: Bootlegs, Dr. Dog. A. A. Bondy. Midlake.

TJ: The new Greasy Bear. Monsters of Folk.

JAY: The Most Serene Republic, Scott Shepard introduced them to me.

MARK: The Local Natives.

What fictional character do you identify with most?
DREW: Sometimes I feel like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...

MARK: ...I thought you were going to say "Darcy".

DREW: Mr. Darcy? Trying to take away my thunder, dude? Really, sometimes I feel like I can't be as free as I want to be, like there is a piece that needs to be unleashed.

ANDREW: I think I identify with Luke Wilson's character from the movie "Bottlerockets," Anthony.

TJ: Not Zac Efron. The Jonas Brothers.

JAY: Well I get a lot of people telling me I look like Andy Sandberg.

MARK: I identify with Achilles.

Purchase Parlor Hawk's new album, Hoarse & Roaring, and bandfare at parlorhawk.bigcartel.com

Posted by Kaneischa Johnson
Photographs by Matt Clayton