Skidmore Fountain @ CMJ 2008 from Billy Corgan on Vimeo.

Big Fat Cat Showcase @ Banjo Jim’s- Skidmore Fountain

I headed deep into Alphabet City to Banjo Jim’s for the Big Fat Cat showcase to catch Skidmore Fountain. Based in Brooklyn, not only did they look incredibly dapper and keep their set wound tighter than a tick, their brand of pop, which runs the gamut from classical to funk-inspired, was highlighted by the absence of a bassist. Why? Well, when you’ve got a crack cellist like Topu Lyo, who needs one? Lyu also used his instrument for its intended melodic purpose, driving along the theme of “Asylum,” the single that lead singer Randy Bergida demanded everyone take home for free in CD form.Bergida has one of the cleanest, most earnest voices I’ve ever heard, one that neatly skirts generic pop vocals by harmonizing with guitarist Steven Cohen. Dylan Wissing is what happens when you harness a freight train to a drum kit, and the band never had the chance to step out of line once during the set. Their full-length album, Break, is available in iTunes, Rhapsody, and CD Baby from Triple R Records.

by Heidi Vanderslice