Pontius Pilate Sales Pitch was started in April 2004 by Morgan Y. Evans (former singer for Hudson Valley, NY Rock juggernaut Divest -who were on Dr Know of Bad Brains' FKM label-) and Nate Kelley (former drummer for Shabutie , now known as Coheed and Cambria , and former band mate of Morgan's in Divest, off and on, throughout the years).
The initial goal of the band was to write and record a mainly acoustic LP, Sense and Judgment (When the Body is Cold). Each of the songs would be told through the eyes of one key witness+ other characters in a noir-themed homicide story taking place in a tenement - the wife of the deceased, an alcoholic, love-sick detective, the landlord/slumlord of the building and the murderer himself.
But when both of the bands that Morgan and Nate were playing in split up, their focus turned to expanding both the material and the line-up for PPSP in order to morph the the once acoustic project into a full-fledged band.
Kirk Hansen was the first to join, helping to fill out the sound by adding additional guitars to the mix. Then the task of finding a fitting rhythm section was tackled when Justin Zipperle joined on drums and newfound friend Seth Bulkin completed the line-up on bass in 2006. Since then, though, Justin and PPSP have parted ways and Nate is currently drumming for the band until another suitor comes along to take his place.
Nate and Morgan have known each other for years, since even before the earliest days of Shabutie and Morgan's first band Melancholy played shows with early incarnations of the band Three and other Woodstock regional groups nearly every weekend. In addition to Nate and Morgan also playing together in Bleed Theory/Brain Fuck Daddy/ Divest (three names over 7 years that Divest was known as in different stages/line ups). At one point DIVEST even worked with Dr Know of The Bad Brains and Coheed and Cambria/The Sleeping producers Mike Birnbaum and Chris Bittner on a full length GHOST TOWN RECKONING in 2003 before disbanding awhile after. As for past connections, Nate and Kirk also had previous musical experience together in a band called the Eviction Directive (named after an apartment they shared w Mic Todd from Coheed that everyone was kicked out of for bad behavior). Kirk was a natural choice.
Kirk and Morgan also play together in a side project called Acid Arrow and Nate releases solo material under Friend Vs. Faux and also with his fiance, Deena, in The Widow Capet.
Morgan is not just a front man but also a music journalist and contributing writer for Crushermagazine.com and AMP/hails and Horns magazines and has interviewed the likes of Scars On Broadway, Acey Slade, Filter, Saosin, Max Cavalera, The Dillinger Escape Plan and many, many more!
Currently PPSP are looking for a record label and also are releasing a limited run EP of demos entitled MEURTRE DE CULTURE in France with the indie label Xcrocs. Stay tuned for more in 2009!
Photo by Yvonne Allaway.
BUY PPSP SHIRTS!!!
"Sense And Judgment" Tee (Green)
"I Am The Perfect Neighbor" Tee (Black)
$12 + $3 shipping.
Make sure to specify which size you want!
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