PRESS RELEASE:

"Between Us All" is the first album from Strange Parade, brainchild of keyboardist and songwriter Brian Cleary, former keyboardist and co-songwriter of Radar Brothers (Merge) and The Movies (Houston Party / Gern Blandsten). The album, also featuring members of Radar Brothers, Eels and Trans Am was released October 4, 2019 with a CD release party at Highland Park Bowl in Los Angeles.


HISTORY
Cleary got into his first band, Locals Only by playing Neil Young’s “Cortez the Killer”—solos and all—on piano for the band’s guitarist. There were problems, however. Cleary didn’t have a keyboard. And … he was only 12. The band held his spot until Cleary turned 14 and he’d convinced his parents that if they got him a keyboard he wouldn’t drop out of school and die of a drug overdose. (He at least kept his word on the second part.)

This was Florida’s ‘Space Coast.’ Cleary was a teen in a very decadent scene of 20-something surfers where drugs literally floated onto the beach. He spent the next 5 years playing keys for the band, surfing, hosting several radio shows at the local college station and immersing himself into the extremes and madness of the 24-hour party that was Melbourne Beach, FL in the 80’s. As it happens, it all came crashing down pretty hard.

At the dawn of the 90’s, Cleary moved to Boston where he’d reconnect with family, go to college and rediscover his talents by sneaking into the music rooms at BU at night to commune with the grand pianos. He also broke out his old effect pedals and bought a keyboard and started playing out as Very, a solo/experimental outing he still indulges. Cleary played at a few space rock festivals in Boston. It was around this time he started jamming with friends Timothy James and Jessica Gelt. In 1999, the three formed The Movies (Gern Blandsten, Houston Party) after James last band, The Vehicle Birth broke up. James and Gelt would quickly move to LA. The Movies released three albums and won LA Weekly’s “Best Rock Band” in 2005. Their song, “Creation Lake” was covered by old stage-mates, Silversun Pickups 2005. Cleary played keys and co-wrote a handful of fan favorites for the Movies. They broke up in 2009.

Soon after, Radar Brothers front man Jim Putnam snagged Movies drummer Stevie Treichel and Cleary for a new lineup of the band with Be Hussey on bass. Cleary co-wrote and played keys on Radars’ 2013 release, "Eight" (Merge). The LP got high critical praise and landed direct support tours with Modest Mouse, Teenage Fanclub and Overseas. Meanwhile, Cleary started recording his own songs with Hussey, Putnam, and Phil Manley (Trans Am, Terry Gross), who had also recorded The Movies 2nd album, "American Oil."

"Between Us All" is the result of it all, tied together and masterfully mixed by another Radar, Ethan Walter, who also lays down some bass on the LP. The songs run a gamut of subgenres, from the 80’s-like “The Locker Room” and “Under” to the shoegazey, slow-core folk rock of “Pause in Reception” to the piano-heavy songs that sit somewhere between John Cale’s nicer tones and Elton John’s early, angrier side – all with Cleary's vocals and experimental, yet hooky keyboards recalling Eno and post-Eno Roxy Music.

For two tracks on 'Between us All,' the album features an early/short-lived lineup of the band featuring Derek Brown (Eels) on drums, Paul Larson (DNTEL, Datamaps, Strictly Ballroom) on guitar and Seb Bailey (Division Day) on bass.

TODAY
Now a locked-in live unit, Strange Parade is Cleary, former Brian Jonestown Massacre drummer Dan Allaire, On guitar & lapsteel, Paul Lacques of I See Hawks In L.A., Double Naught Spy Car and Ashley Berry on bass.

Their sound has evolved into a distinctive brand of swirling psychedelic folk rock with an element of twang and hints of shoegazey introspection. Strange Parade is finishing up the recording their second LP at their studio in Highland Park.

For further info or to contact the band:
www.strangeparadeofficial.com

www.facebook.com/strangeparade
IG: @strange_parade