Helper

NY City’s Helper sprang alive in the middle-’90s, beneath the eyesight of bandleader Sam Rodd, with an extremely satirical make of wisecracking yet tuneful pop music. The group documented its only nationally released full-length recording — Supercatchy (Reverb Information)– like a three-piece in 1998, as well as the recording claimed a respectable amount of university radio activity and positive press. The band’s personage offers changed several times since that time, but Helper continues to be a dynamic live music group in NY. A indigenous of NY Condition, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist Sam Rodd collected plenty of materials to give food to his alternately (and occasionally concurrently) cynical and amusing diatribes against American mediocrity while developing up in the suburbs. Tunes like “Sportsguy” and “Quickly I’ll Be Ideal” appear to be content ditties on the top, but under the remarkably infectious melodies are scathing lyrical indictments from the ignorant and superficial. After shifting to NEW YORK, Rodd put together Helper, along with drummer Randy Lee and bassist Adam “K” Kiviat, as well as the trio created a quirky pop audio that lies somewhere within Weezer and Frank Zappa. Helper’s debut, Supercatchy, gathered a few of Rodd’s greatest materials, including “Honeybee” as well as the one “Where May be the Sheep.” Released in the indie Reverb label, the record enjoyed some university radio interest and good testimonials, but didn’t bring the music group to the type of levels that labelmates Nada Browse got reached. In 2000, Rodd extended Helper to a four-piece, which today highlighted Aaron Hondrous (bass, vocals, creation), Dave Shalansky (drums, vocals), and John Bardsley (second electric guitar, vocals). After gigging around in NEW YORK, the retooled Helper came back to the studio room to begin focusing on new materials in 2001.