Pylon Reenactment Society Photo by Mike White
Pylon Reenactment Society will release their debut album Magnet Factory on February 9, 2024 via Strolling Bones Records. Led by Vanessa Briscoe Hay of the legendary post-punk band Pylon, Pylon Reenactment Society also features Jason NeSmith and Kay Stanton of Supercluster and Casper & The Cookies, and Gregory Sanders of Casper & The Cookies as well. The 11-song set was produced by NeSmith and Briscoe Hay and was engineered by David Barbe (Deerhunter, Drive-By Truckers) and Tom Ashton (Sisters of Mercy, Clan of Xymox).
It’s easier to explain what Pylon Reenactment Society isn’t than what it actually is. It’s not a continuation of Pylon or a reunion, because Vanessa Briscoe Hay is the only member in both groups. It’s neither a tribute act nor a cover band, although they do perform Pylon songs. Instead, this new band draws inspiration from that old band, and taps into its motivating principles. Magnet Factory, which features art direction by Pylon’s Michael Lachowski, presents these four musicians as their own unique entity, making music that is sophisticated, joyful, yet shot through with a deep sense of melancholy.
Pylon Reenactment Society formed in 2014 as part of Art Rocks Athens, a festival exploring the intersection between the college town’s vibrant music and visual art scenes. Rather than try and reunite Pylon — which was impossible, given the tragic death of founding guitarist Randy Bewley — Vanessa assembled a new, multigenerational group that included Jason & Kay, her bandmates in the supergroup Supercluster (which also featured members of Olivia Tremor Control and of Montreal) and Gregory from Casper & The Cookies. The response to their set convinced them to keep the band going. “Everyone was super excited and dancing like crazy,” Vanessa recalls. “At first we were sort of a tribute band, but we couldn’t help ourselves. We started jamming and writing new songs.”
The quartet made the album after Vanessa and Jason assembled the definitive Pylon set, 2020’s critically acclaimed Box. In addition to their originals, they worked up two Pylon deep cuts dating back to 1979. “If we’re gonna do a cover,” Vanessa laughs, “we might as well cover Pylon.” With its jumpy rhythm and jittery guitar licks, “3 x 3” sounds like it was inspired by one of Athens’ famous house parties from that era. “Heaven (In Your Eyes)” was a song that predated Pylon’s first studio album Gyrate. Jason, who had become Pylon’s tape archivist during the compilation of Box, rediscovered these songs, encouraged the new group to put their own touches on them, and record them for Magnet Factory.
The only fifth person featured on Magnet Factory is Kate Pierson of the B-52’s on “Fix It,” an effervescent rave-up that closes side one. “I’ve been a B-52’s fan since the first time I saw them, which was their third show ever,” says Vanessa. “They were always supportive of Pylon. When I saw their final show in Athens, it struck me that Kate would be perfect for that particular song.” Miraculously, “Fix It,” is the first time Vanessa and Kate, friends for over forty years, have collaborated.
In celebration of the holiday season, Under the Radar premiered Pylon Reenactment Society’s non-album single “Christmas Daze” today. Vanessa says, “This song was written very quickly between Christmas and New Years Eve right before we recorded it. Kay Stanton played a bass riff and it just fell into place. The guitar and percussion fit into the vibe perfectly. For the lyrics, I contemplated what it must be like for a single person who finds themselves alone during what is a very festive season for most. She goes on a journey to and from her family home, runs out of gas, but manages to find inspiration and meaning in the simple beauties of the holiday.”
The band previously shared videos from the Magnet Factory highlights “3 x 3” and “Flowers Everywhere.” “3 x 3” was directed by Tony Brazier & Bill Cody (director of the legendary 1986 documentary Athens, GA: Inside/Out and its sequel, Athens Inside-Out 2: Red Turns Into Blue) while “Flowers Everywhere” was directed by Dan Aguar (R.E.M., Widespread Panic).
Jason says, “In order to be faithful to the spirit of Pylon, we had to move on from them. Originally they intended to be around just as long as it took to get on the cover of New York Rocker, so there was a sense of impermanence built into the band. Trying to be Pylon or trying to be a Pylon cover band really goes against the spirit of the band, and I hope that spirit comes through in what we’re doing now.” Vanessa says, “They say people change their cell structure every seven years, so I’ve totally regenerated several times since we started Pylon forty years ago. Over the course of your life, you’re going to learn new things. Your mind is going to change and expand. I’m older now, and I can’t be something I’m not anymore. Pylon is our guiding star, but we’re not Pylon. We’re Pylon Reenactment Society.
Pylon Reenactment Society’s Magnet Factory will be available across digital platforms. Autographed Compact disc and vinyl editions autographed by the members of Pylon Reenactment Society will be available via Independent Retailers and both are available for pre-order NOW via STROLLING BONES RECORDS.
