Palehound

Palehound is an American band fronted by El Kempner[1] who have released four albums, Dry Food (2015),[2] A Place I'll Always Go (2017),[3] Black Friday (2019), and Eye on the Bat (2023);[1] as well as the Bent Nail EP (2013) and a number of 7" singles.[4] Initially a solo project, the band currently features Kempner on vocals/guitar, Zoë Brecher on drums and Larz Brogan on bass.[5][6] In 2015 the band received the Boston Music Award for new artist of the year.[7]

Palehound
A young woman playing guitar
Kempner performing on January 16, 2016
Background information
Born (1994-06-10) June 10, 1994
Genres
Years active2013–present
Labels
Polyvinyl Records
Members
  • El Kempner - guitar and vocals
  • Zoë Brecher - drums
  • Larz Brogan - bass
Past members
  • Jesse Weiss - drums
  • David Khoshtinat - bass
Websitepalehound.bandcamp.com

History

El Kempner (born June 10, 1994 as Ellen Kempner)[8] is the child of Janet and Jim Kempner.[9] Together with a younger sister, El grew up in Westport, Connecticut,[6] where they attended the Staples High School.[10] El developed an interest in playing music at an early age and had guitar lessons from their father. In high school they formed the band Cheerleader together with the drummer Max Kupperberg.[11] During high school, Kempner recorded demos in Garageband, which were later heard by Dan Goldin, the co-founder of Exploding in Sound.[12]

In 2012 they moved to New York City, where they attended Sarah Lawrence College and studied music.[13] There they recorded the six track EP Bent Nail with Carlos Hernandez and Julian Fader of Ava Luna. Their debut as Palehound was through the digital release of the song "Pet Carrot" in August 2013.[14] The EP received a physical release through Exploding in Sound Records in October 2013.[15] They later said, “when I first recorded [it], I was a little scared to put all the cards on the table."[16] What initially had been a "bedroom recording project" was transferred to the live-stage.[17] In 2013 Kempner’s performance at CMJ was described as "unflinching, whimsical lyrics with pleasantly off-kilter guitar work."[18] They dropped out of college and moved to Boston.[17] In February 2014, the single "Kitchen" was released.[19]

Palehound performing in 2017.

In August 2015, Palehound released the album Dry Food, produced by Gabe Wax in the US,[20] while Heavenly Records followed in March 2016.[21] In the same month, the band embarked on a UK/European tour in support of the album.[22] Kempner worked with Real to Reel Filmschool in Boston on a video for the song "Cushioned Caging" that appeared in June 2016.[23] On March 6, 2017, Kempner announced that Palehound had signed over to Polyvinyl Records.[24] Their 2017 album A Place I'll Always Go was released on June 16, and followed by Black Friday in June 2019, described by Pitchfork as "reach[ing] far toward the hazy horizon, letting the nervous energy of Palehound's first two LPs mount and unspool."[25]

Musical style

Kempner describes their music as "journal rock," a term they explain in an interview with Sound of Boston: "it’s kind of like journal-rock, just all of my biggest fears splurted onto some vinyl, no different from writing a diary, really.”[26]

Discography

Albums
  • Dry Food (2015)
  • A Place I'll Always Go (2017)
  • Black Friday (2019)
  • Eye on the Bat (2023)

EPs
  • Bent Nail (2013)

Singles
  • "Kitchen" (2014)
  • "Molly" (2016)
  • "Worthy" (2019)
  • "See a Light" (2020)

References
  1. "Palehound announces new album 'Eye On The Bat' (out 7/14) + watch "The Clutch" official video". www.polyvinylrecords.com. 2023-04-25. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  2. "Palehound: Dry Food". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  3. "Palehound's New Album Casts a Powerful Spell". Mother Jones. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  4. "Palehound". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  5. Milstein, Alex (June 1, 2015). "Interview with Palehound". Bearded Gentlemen Music. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  6. "She Shreds Magazine - For the Love of Music, Palehound's Ellen Kempner Owns Her Way Through Any Struggle". She Shreds Magazine. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  7. "Speedy Ortiz cleans up at the Boston Music Awards - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  8. "ellen kempner on Twitter (DOB on US border check card)". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  9. "Local Singer and Guitarist Featured at Arts Center". Westportnow.com. January 11, 2006. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  10. "Staples 2012 Grad Issues First Full-Length Album - WestportNow.com - Westport, Connecticut". Westportnow.com. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  11. "Q&A: Ellen Kempner Of Palehound". CMJ. November 15, 2013. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  12. Habeeb, Noah. "Local Spotlight: Palehound". Sound of Boston. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  13. "Stream Palehound Dry Food". Stereogum. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  14. "Listen: Palehound – Pet Carrot". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  15. "Palehound - Bent Nail EP". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  16. "Allston-based Ellen Kempner puts her all into fast-rising Palehound - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  17. "Palehound laughs at the past". Imposemagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  18. "The Best of CMJ 2013: 10 Bands to Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  19. "Palehound - Kitchen". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  20. "Palehound - Dry Food". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  21. "Palehound - Dry Food". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  22. "Palehound announce UK/EU tour dates". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  23. Hunt, El (June 9, 2016). "Palehound bring the destruction in 'Cushioned Caging' video". DIY. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  24. "Palehound Signs With Polyvinyl, Announces 2017 Album and Tour". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  25. "Palehound: Black Friday Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2019-10-12.
  26. Habeeb, Noah (26 May 2016). "Local Spotlight: Palehound". Sound of Boston. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
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