Ordinary Neighbors

Bio:

Ordinary Neighbors was conceived by Joshua Banner after having released two solo records independently. He wanted less rush, less isolation, less sonic perfection, less predictability and more noise, more happy accidents, more people and better lyrics. In the last six years, he purchased a ½ inch 8-track tape recorder, married award-winning poet Susanna Childress (Jagged with Love, Entering the House of Awe), and invited several friends over for nights, days, even weeks to explore what could happen with guitars, a beat up Rhodes, synthesizers, drum machines and distortion pedals. While their music owns Susanna’s lyrical substance, it also presents Josh’s fascination with soundscape and noise. Major contributions have been made by DM Stith (Asthmatic Kitty) and Dustin Ragland (Charlie Hall, Eutopitian Accident).

Oridnary Neighbors is an attempt to subvert the superficiality of much of popular culture. The concept of the 'cool' is here to stay, but nevertheless this couple is weary and suspicious of it. They hope that their marriage, their art and their home will be expressions of the same raw desire to live and love and learn sincerely and deliberately and they recognize the irony that one of the ways they are doing this is via the internet in pages like myspace.

Susanna's first book, Jagged With Love (University of Wisconsin Press), was selected by former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins to win the Brittingham Poetry Award. Her newest collection, Entering the House of Awe will be released Fall 2011 by New Issues Press.



"He's Not Safe," was written upon request for the soundtrack of the movie The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but, alas, did not make the cut because it was "too progressive.' It was written and arranged by Josh before he began working with Susanna. Check back soon for examples of their work together.

Member Since:

July 23, 2005

Members:

Joshua Banner, Susanna Childress, DM Stith, Dustin Ragland, Brian Bergman, Justin Rice, Judson Layne

Influences:

The One AM Radio, Boards of Canada, Lali Puna