The Jaded Rakes rehearse and record in a downtown Columbia warehouse. Inside the space, a Sonic Youth poster hangs on the wall and some unusual electric guitars, including a Mosrite and a Univox 12-string electric, sit on stands.
A Columbia based quartet, The Jaded Rakes material spikes indie rock clang with electronic noise and piano song craft. At the center of it all: singer Chuck Mims’ voice, which calls to mind Elvis Costello.
“What Danger Mouse does to a lot of traditional guitar bands by incorporating new sounds is something we’re trying to achieve,” says Mims, who is in his late-30s. “But it’s still a work in progress.”
The Jaded Rakes, who formed about a year ago, hope to release a five- to six-song EP by March.
How do you guys generate the weird noises in some of your songs?
We used to have an analog synth, a Juno. But one of the guys that was chipping in down at the studio … he sort of went his separate way and took his Juno with him. Those things are like $2,000 on eBay. Since then we’ve been using some basic digital keys.
What do you think guitar-oriented music has to gain by incorporating atmospheric stuff?
I think it opens it up. It can still appeal to people who are into more traditional rock guitar and opens up the sound to give it more of a soundtrack dimension.
I hear an Elvis Costello influence in your music. What makes his singing and songwriting so distinct?
Costello’s sort of like Bob Dylan in the sense that throughout his career you can see certain avenues and paths he’s taken to change up his music along the way, but still keeps it uniquely Costello. He’s done pure country records, the “angry young man” records, the torch ballad standards, orchestrated records. He’s always looking for new ways to challenge his audience. There are people that like the first four Costello records and hate everything else, and I’m sure there’s people who like his last three that hate his first ones.
What recent bands are you into?
Arcade Fire. They combine a very dark Springsteen type of feel and also add more post-modern elements to the music. I don’t know if you caught that YouTube clip of them performing with Springsteen. You wouldn’t pair them together at all, but when you see Springsteen singing an Arcade Fire song it all makes sense.
The Jaded Rakes have some interesting flyers. What other bands’ flyers do you enjoy?
We make the flyers are ourselves, and we’re really into how artwork coincides with music. I like all kinds of flyers: old punk flyers like The Sex Pistols and flyers by that artist (Frank) Kozik.
What’s the best thing about the Columbia music scene?
Diversity. Everything from bands that sound like they could be Coldplay to down-and-out, dirty punk. There’s a good metal scene here, too. There are a lot of different kinds of bands, but they’re all sort of banded together by a basic sound and a drive.
College town music scenes often have a cool sense of community.
That can be hard to get a hold of these days, with MySpace and things like that, but it’s still out there.
The Jaded Rakes play Greenville Presents at 9 p.m. Dec. 5 (with Aaron Berg & The Heavy Love). Tickets are $5.
For more on The Jaded Rakes, visit www.jadedrakes.com.
