Buffalo’s Del Paxton are set for a big 2017. With their debut album ‘All Day, Every Day, All Night’ due out on 3rd March through Topshelf Records, the 90s-emo influenced trio are rightly winning plaudits throughout the music world. The band, though, are humbled by the reception and are taking it one step at a time. “We are all pretty taken aback by the response to it already,”Greg McClure (drums) muses, explaining how it feels to be working with Topshelf Records on their first full length. “If I’m being honest, it felt a little surreal! As a label that could sign and work with pretty much any amazing band in our genre, it’s a real honour that Topshelf believe in us.”
‘All Day, Every Day, All Night’ follows Del Paxton’s first EP ‘Worst. Summer. Ever’ (released 2013) and a split with Montreal’s emo-math legends, Gulfer, in 2015. “Gulfer are amazing. We met them in a basement show in Ithaca, NY for Ithaca Underground. The show was us, Gulfer, Vasudeva and Cattle Drums. It was absolute magic. Just incredible vibes and instant friendships,” McClure remembers. He is quick to lavish praise on those Del Paxton surround themselves with, specifically their producer, Jay Zubricky. “We recorded this record with our good friend Jay at GCR studios here in Buffalo, NY. He was a pretty easy choice for us to make. Not only is he a great person and talented engineer, but we could talk about obscure 90s-00s bands with him all day,” he laughs.
There is a comfort, an ease, a confidence to Del Paxton throughout our conversation. There’s a real sense of self-assurance which can only come from a band that has worked tirelessly together since their inception. “The three of us got together for the first time in the winter of 2013 and we’ve been at it ever since. I think we’ve gotten pretty comfortable with one another in the way we approach the songwriting process. We each have our roles that we kind of fall into,” Zack Schoedel (bass/vocals) explains. “I think our best songs are the ones that seem to materialize naturally, as if they write themselves without us consciously manipulating them too much.”
With guitarist/vocalist Dylan England making the album’s cover art, Del Paxton are very much involved in every aspect of their band. However, England is quick to assert that he feels blessed with the opportunity to be involved so directly. “I did make the collage for the record cover, but not because I felt entitled for an opportunity or anything. Control is important to me in my visual art but in Del Paxton I’m only one part of the creative process. We make all of our band related decisions together, and I’m just lucky that Greg and Zack support my art,” he explains.
‘All Day, Every Day, All Night’ is the band’s first full-length, and Del Paxton have strong feelings regarding music consumption and the way music is distributed in the digital age. “I think all three of us look back with a particular fondness on the reign of the full length album as the primary medium”, Schoedel explains. “The LP prioritizes close attention, engagement and patience, and generally speaking, it feels as though these principles are becoming less and less important in today’s culture of music consumption. For me, it’s kind of tragic.” Their new record, though, demands attention
With the album release fast approaching, as well as plans to tour throughout the year, Del Paxton are bracing themselves for what could be the biggest year of their career. McClure acknowledges that “it’s an opportunity that we do not take for granted” and 2017 is sure to be the year Del Paxton is the name on everyone’s lips.