Arbor Day - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Arbor Day began in 1999 when three freshmen at New York University became engaged in a very serious conversation regarding various bootleg versions of the Beach Boys' SMiLE. This conversation led to a close friendship, which led to a semester of musical experimentation. But it wasnâ€™t until that Christmas break when singer/songwriter Dileepan Ganesan recorded a batch of songs and then played them for his friends Andrew Levine (trombone, Theremin) and Joseph Hasan (bass) upon his return to classes, that Arbor Day took a more solid form. These songs provided the basis for the group's sound: a subtle blend of 60s pop, indie rock aesthetic, and plenty of catchy melodies.
The first EP by Arbor Day, the six song Radar Boy, was released in 2003 on the group's own â€¦Or Best Offer Records. The release featured one of the songs from Ganesan's original home recordings, the jangly guitar driven "Vegetable". Radar Boy, was well received by local press, garnering comparisons to the Smiths and the Beach Boys (the Village Voice) and Orange Juice (TimeOut NY). In 2006, the group recorded their follow-up EP, Braver Than Today, again releasing it on their own â€¦Or Best Offer Records. A 7" single for the leadoff track "This Misery" was released by Awesometown Records in 2007.
On stage, the group now performs as a six piece rounded out by the talents of viola player Amy Cimini, pianist Gabrielle Fastman, and drummer Jon Gilmore. Arbor Day has shared bills with like minded acts such as of Montreal, Tilly & the Wall, The Hidden Cameras, and The Minders and has performed at such venerable venues as the Bowery Ballroom, the Mercury Lounge, and the Knitting Factory, just to name a few. Future plans include more recording, touring, and spreading their brand of infectious indie pop across the world.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 7/7/2004
Band Members: Amy Cimini - viola
Gabi Fastman - piano, organ
Dileepan Ganesan - vocals, guitar
Jon Gilmore -drums
Joseph Hasan - bass guitar
Andrew Levine - trombone, Theremin

Influences: Beach Boys, The Velvet Underground, Burt Bacharach, Phil Spector
Sounds Like: Orange Juice, The Smiths, Beach Boys, Jonathan Richman, B+S
Record Label: ...Or Best Offer (self-released)
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Arbor Day - This Monday 11/12 - Cake Shop

Oh folks,We haven't played a show for awhile, but we wanted to let you knowthat all of that will be changing this Monday night. On Monday,November 12th, Arbor Day will be playing our first show since...
Posted by Arbor Day on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:23:00 PST

Arbor Day at The Annex (Club NME event)- tomorrow night- 8/23/07

Hey folks, Thanks to those of you who came out to the Cake Shop show on Friday night. We had a good time and hope you did too. We are playing again, tomorrow night at The Annex for Club NME (9:45PM)....
Posted by Arbor Day on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 07:01:00 PST

Arbor Day & Friends- Cake Shop, Friday night (8/17)

Hello friends,We hope the summer has been enjoyable for you all. Been working hard on a bunch of projects since we last spoke to you about the NPR news, the soonest to be seen and heard on Friday nig...
Posted by Arbor Day on Tue, 14 Aug 2007 06:48:00 PST

Arbor Day on NPR!

Hey everybody, Hope your day is going well. We just wanted to send a quick note to let you know what our song "She's Got The Way" is currently being featured on NPR's Open Mic. ...
Posted by Arbor Day on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:09:00 PST

Arbor Day is live and free, Sunday night

Hi folks, We have another show for you already, this Sunday- a free one! It will be at Sound Fix Records at 7:30PM, 7/15/2007. It is being billed as the "Unofficial McCarren Pool After Party," but a...
Posted by Arbor Day on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 06:56:00 PST

@ Cake Shop, This Friday 7/6

"Hey now," Happy holiday and hope you are all well. We will be playing a show at our old stomping ground Cake Shop on Friday night, with My Teenage Stride and A Sunny Day In Glasgow. ...
Posted by Arbor Day on Tue, 03 Jul 2007 10:12:00 PST

Arbor Day at Fontana's- Thursday night

Hey folks, Hope you are all well. We wanted to let you know about our first show this year, this Thursday night at Fontana's. We will be playing with our good friends from Virgina, Pash ( http://www...
Posted by Arbor Day on Tue, 22 May 2007 08:11:00 PST

Braver Than Today out now!

Hey folks, Just a heads up that our new EP, Braver Than Today, is out now and available on CD Baby (link) or in person at Somethin' Else (record store, not the clothing shop), or Sound Fix Records in ...
Posted by Arbor Day on Mon, 21 May 2007 01:01:00 PST

Interview on Spanish Radio

Hey Everybody, On Wednesday, February 14 at 3:30pm (EST), Alex and Andy are going to be interviewed by our good friend Luis Mayo on the "Otra dimensión" program on Spanish NPR. You can lis...
Posted by Arbor Day on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 01:07:00 PST

"This Misery" 7" out now!

Our brand new 7" single for "This Misery" on Awesometown Records is now available! The 7" includes two new songs, "This Misery" and "Drive Into The Fire" (check 'em out here on myspace). T...
Posted by Arbor Day on Fri, 28 Jul 2006 01:35:00 PST