Webb Chapel
Webb Chapel operates on impulse, chance, and what sounds right. Since 2022’s Moverama, the project’s freewheeling approach to tape recording has yielded an enigmatic collection of raw art rock and guitar pop unattached to any one specific sound or idea. Little was said about World Cup, Webb Chapel’s sleeper hit of 2024. Recorded and released during a time of immense upheaval for the band, people in their inner circle became growingly convinced that it was a swan song, owed in equal parts to the volatile nature of the group and the reclusive nature of primary songwriter Zack Claxton in general.
Originating as a solo project, the philly-by-texas musician’s prolific grit has spawned nine, count them, nine, releases since 2022, each one a relative middle finger to philly’s laissez-faire scene of ‘ultimate homies’ who seem content to buy pedals and impersonate 90’s lollapalooza aesthetics. Vernon Manner, not to be confused with Vernon Manor (2024), shoots off like a cannon, increasing the depth of field to anthemic territories, while maintaining a vulnerability that feels almost tragic.
From a listener’s perspective, the latest iteration of Webb Chapel seems to pull significant influence from The Troggs, Cleaners from Venus, and Locust Abortion Technician era Butthole Surfers, to name a few. Bassist/vocalist Rachel Gordon, ex-drummer Christian Mailloux (see volatile), and The Strange Mono label’s Jess Kramer provide the perfect tether for VM’s kaleidoscopic smorgasbord, anchoring the songs with a weight that may have become pure ether otherwise. Elements of menacing punk and hardcore are filtered through a prism of drugged out acoustic bliss as Vernon Manner oscillates between a far-out daydream and urgent reality.
“ World Cup was like trying to finish a record while the house is burning down, and this one was more like sifting through rubble, but hearing sirens approaching”, quips Claxton, whose “I dunno” mannerisms come across as more of a defense mechanism than a front.
This ethos is perhaps most present in “Consolation Prize,” another reworked number from 2022’s Like the Country. With the original recording’s heavy breathing buried beneath a newfound immediacy, “Consolation Prize” is like the shit out of luck Loser’s Cup, its narrator fighting tooth and nail for the scraps of little victories.
Hopelessness aside, Webb Chapel’s signature style is equal parts dizzying melody and hooks that feel like they could have just as likely been lifted from tin pan alley as whatever laundry list of bands are being regurgitated at the moment (cough mbv, cough dinosaur jr.)
Not to say that there isn’t a reason to bang your head here. There is, but there’s also room to think about the brain cells you’ve lost along the way. Vernon Manner is at its heart an album of contradictions. Heartstrings are tugged one moment and then shredded into oblivion the next. Sonic pallets are explored and then pulverized, leaving one by the end feeling exhausted, exhilarated, and ready to get back in fucking line.
CONTACT
Booking: zwclax[at]gmail.com
Press: caroline[at]clarioncallmedia.com
Website: https://geocities.ws/webbchapel/
PRESS
“Sitting dead in the middle of the tracklist on the new album, “Hail Mary” is a welcome heady reprieve led by bassist/vocalist Rachel Gordon. The paradoxically groggy and poignant track is sandwiched in between an eclectic grab bag of energetic genreless haze like a brief moment of divine lucidity. With a spellbinding sense of intimacy “Hail Mary” moves through its unanswered recitations in isolation. Twinkles of dissonance and restraint permeate the track leaving you mesmerized. On an album that swings you up and down like a drugged-out pendulum, the solitude of “Hail Mary” only accentuates Webb Chapel’s knack for unpredictability.” – Charlie Bailey (Post-Trash)
“[T]he lead single off the Philadelphia band’s forthcoming LP World Cup…explores themes of life, death, and rebirth. ” – Northern Transmissions
Interview With Blood Makes Noise
“Webb Chapel’s ability to blend lo-fi experimentation with introspective lyrics sets them apart in the indie rock scene, making them a band that pushes the boundaries of the genre while still staying rooted in its DIY ethos. Their music offers a refreshing take on modern indie, combining raw emotion with a distinctive, unconventional sound that challenges listeners to engage with music in a deeper, more thoughtful way.” – Rebel Noise
“The song opposes the familiarity of typical chords, melodies, or structures with a grainy, non-conformist, almost impressionistic interpretation of art-punk music. ‘Springtime’ creates an atmosphere of intense suspense and queasy unrest. The raw, immediate sound, heavily inspired by the 80s No Wave or underground punk of the same era, is fast and dynamic but also lies thick like a heavy fog at midnight on a ghoulish Halloween.” – Post Trash
“Springtime is going to have some serious appeal for fans of early indie/college rock, and for anyone that likes more than a little feedback.” – If It’s Too Loud...
“[Springtime] blends raw art rock with vibrant guitar pop and angsty post punk, capturing the band’s evolving sound and collaborative spirit.” – Last Day Deaf
“There’s still a thrill when a song pulls you under, tossing and turning you over and over until you crest and the song unrolls before you, like this new single from Webb Chapel. Nearly a minute is spent mixing textures and noise, then angular guitars rip through the speakers, almost operating as a rhythmic pulse that feels harrowing, despite its pop nods.” – Austin Town Hall
“for those who like everything from odd-ball balladry to the lo-fi prairie hum and quintessential pop hooks, well Webb Chapel is most certainly your one stop shop.” – Sun-13
“US outfit crack out the killer grooves for this smooth and driven psych-rock-inspired gem” – Mystic Sons
“SPEEDING is an album grounded in a rich history of post-punk and psych-pop while bringing a fresh attitude of sonic deconstructionism; it’s a celebration of influences both old and new.” – Sub//Genre
“Lofi bonkers alien nowave rock from the other side of Philly (that means nothing). Would not be far off the early OC’s beaten path” – Sims Hardin (u2_is_a_government_drone)
“Speeding is one of those albums that eases the burdens of your day. Stick it on at the end of the day and tell us otherwise…” – Sun-13
“triumphantly lo-fi but undeniably focused, a wash of experimentation both bleak and warped.” – Post-Trash
“Krauty, wonky, psych rock with many layers of riffs, noisy blips, and samples captured in warm tape saturation.” – Sims Hardin (u2_is_a_government_drone)
“Even with the gnarled production, [Speeding] is an addictive listen with impeccable songwriting and masterful musicianship. I could listen to these tracks over and over again without getting bored and as they say, the louder the better! This is a fantastic release that certainly deserves top tier recognition.” – The Dungeon In Deep Space