Stomping Grounds: Aaron Maine (Porches.) on Pleasantville, New York

Porches.

Porches. (photo by Heather Craig)


Brooklyn bummer-pop quintet Porches. will release their upcoming debut full-length Slow Dance in the Cosmos,  out August 27 via Exploding in Sound Records. Porches., which is primarily frontman/guitarist/songwriter Aaron Maine, has released eight records in the past six years under various names.  It began in Pleasantville, NY, in 2010 upon return from four-week U.S. tour supporting Ramona Cordova. Aaron came across a casio CA-110 keyboard, and started recording songs with it on a four-track. He found it a refreshing departure from previous projects and quickly made it his priority.
Porches. released three EPs in 2011 and a 15 minute tape In 2012. Aaron and members Cameron Wisch (drums), Greta Kline (bass/backing vox), Kevin Farrant (guitar), Seiya Jewell (keyboard) spent 2012 putting together what will be Porches.’ first full-length. It has been referred to as porno-gospel, loner pop, bootyclapping, sad spread, and compared to the Arthur Russell, Neil Young, Chopin, and Kurt Vile. In the few years of existing Porches. have become regular fixtures in New York venues like Shea Stadium, Death by Audio, Silent Barn, Big Snow, Cakeshop and Pianos. They also frequent Philly, New Paltz, Bard, Ithaca, and Boston. There is a pureness in Aaron Maine’s writing that seems to be missing in a lot of music these days. Content is often dark, but taken lightly and delivered honestly.
Ghettoblaster recently caught up with Aaron Maine to discuss his hometown of Pleasantville, New York.  This is what he said about Peeville…
What’s your town’s nickname?  
Peeville.
What’s your nickname for your town?
Pleasantville pronounced with a french accent (pleasahnvee).
Why do you live there?
I was born, and grew up there, stayed there till i was 23 to not have to find a real job and not pay rent.
What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?
They drained our favorite lake one summer ago, and blocked it off with cement barriers.  My friend took a doodie on one of them.  
What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?
There is a beautiful lake,  Pocantico Lake more commonly known as “butchered anus lake”  to scare the non-locals away.
What is your favorite local event or festival?
There were a few kids whose parents were often away, they had really good parties.  No real festival or events to look forward to.
What is the best time of year to be there?
Fall.
Who is your favorite local celebrity?
Will Shortz <3.  Bill Clinton lives in the town over.
Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?
Foley’s club lounge, aka club folée (french accent again), aka club folée international…really good local dive bar…the tap beer always tastes a little like butter.
Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?
Folés.  a lot of good stuff you wouldn’t imagine at a dive bar.  I guess we would put the Ramones on a lot and play darts.
Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?
There  is one bar, Lucy’s, that holds open mice every Monday.  Me and my friends used to do that for a while.  Every once in a while someone would put on a really fun house show.  Then there was Wespac in Whiteplains, where a lot of Westchester bands played good, good shows.
Does where you live influence your music?
Yes.
What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?
Wespac. (which no longer does shows).  And every show that my friends played…no one and the somebodies, old table, genuine imitations, turbo sleaze, men who lunch, buffalo eskimo…
What is your favorite local band?

Old Table.
What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?

Thornwood Diner, disco fries w/ mozzarella.Or Pleasantvile Diner chicken souvlaki.
What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?
We had a borders in Whiteplains.  Thriller was on sale once.  And my first tapes I got at Sam Goodie, Backstreet Boys and Smashmouth. 
What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?  
There weren’t any really.  Some of my friends made zines and comics that i looked forward to reading.
What is your favorite local shop?
Dragonfly Café, which is now the Black Cow Café.  I have probably written 90 percent of my songs sitting there.
If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?
I live in NYC now, and it’s super inspiring.  But, I am a little bit in love with Santa Fe, New Mexico.