Local Band: Paxico Via Mexico

Tuesday, 24 August 2010 11:51

Paxico Via Mexico is an affable group of musicians who perform gutsy folk-rock in venues around town and who have organically grown a steady following. The band’s layered melodic instrumentation and intimate live shows are evident in its May 15 EP release, Under The Mountain, which we reviewed in June.

By Jon Silman

We were fortunate enough to catch up with Ricky (singer), Tony (bass), Jared (drums) and Stacie (cello and vocals) at Maude’s to get a sense of the band, past and present. Recently, John (vocals) and Daniel (keys) left the band to pursue other life interests, and Stacie is following in those footsteps. Despite these setbacks, the band plans to release a full-length album this month and fearlessly continue its musical journey.

Is it frustrating to keep losing members?

Tony: We’ve been here for two years, and we haven’t lost anyone until recently [laughs] they all started dropping like flies.

Ricky: Someone asked me yesterday, “How’re things going?” Well, my band’s really taking off, literally. To different parts of the country. It’s bittersweet. I’m really happy for everybody who is moving on with their careers and families, but it’s really hard.

Ricky, is the band mainly your vision?

Ricky: Originally, we got together because I had thirteen songs to throw around. And these guys made the songs ten times better than they would’ve been if it were just me.

So what did you guys think of Ricky and his music three years ago when he presented these songs to you?

Tony: I had heard Ricky play a bunch through my wife [who listened to Ricky’s old band, Jukebox Wagon]. She’d be like, “You should try and play with him.” And I was like [shrugs and laughs], “Ahh, how do you get into that?” Ricky called me one day and we ended up jamming from nine at night to three in the morning. So it went well. I haven’t stopped playing with him since.

What are your greatest strengths as a band?

Ricky: We’re really connected to each other. We can really feel each other when we play. I think that’s our greatest strength.

Is that skill though? Is it skill as musicians, or is that you guys being friends?

Stacie: I think it’s a good mix of both. We’ve learned each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and we know when things are working or how to approach something to make it better.

What goals do you have as a band?

Ricky: Our goal has always been, first and foremost, to really have fun. And always to enjoy the musical creative process. I think now we’re at a place as a band where we’re getting a little bit more well-known, and playing a lot more in places we actually really wanna play.

Like where?

Tony: The Atlantic.

Ricky: Common Grounds has been really good to us. So I think now it’s just like, what’s next? And exploring that.

What’s next?

Ricky: I think once we finish the full-length, which is being mixed right now. It’s gonna be kinda shopping it around to people who can hear it and help us out. Whether it be a label or just more production stuff to do our next album.

Are you surprised at the recognition you’re getting?

Stacie: I knew Ricky was a good musician and I knew the music we were making was something that I would listen to outside of the band. And so I was proud of it and as such, I feel like I wanted other people to listen to it. And other people came back with the response that it was good, and so they wanted to come and support us and be a part of it. But it’s a little surprising that we’ve come this far.

Tony: I was surprised when the crowd stopped being —

Stacie: —just our friends.

Ricky: We owe a lot to the bands around us. First of all, just to get the shows that would get us to more people. Like Morningbell and even The Footlights. It’s surprising in a good, pleasant surprise kinda way.

As far as motivation goes, how does that stay up?

Jared: It’s just fun to be around each other. We all get around great.

This question doesn’t really apply, but I was really sleepy when I wrote this. When do you give up on your dreams?

Jared: When I wake up.

Do you read INsite?

Ricky: Yeah, whenever I’m passing by it I’ll pick it up. I think that if anything, I wish I woulda started reading it sooner.

Tony: I read a burger review about every burger joint in town that I liked. My first experience with INsite was food.

Stacie: I read ’em on the bus.

Ricky: I like seeing when the shows are happening.