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Music

Meet the Band: Pirate Prude

A look at a band with local ties.

By JULIE GARISTO
Published December 28, 2006

THE BAND: Mark Freifeld, vocals and guitar; Andrew Hawthorne, bass; Tom Kersey, cello and guitar; and Kevin McMahon, drums.

HOME BASE: St. Petersburg

THEIR SOUND: Moody, atmospheric with a raw edge. Unique touches include a hauntingly gorgeous cello, played by experienced jazz musician Kersey, and drummer McMahon, who turns a marching band bass drum on its side to create an extra-large tom drum.

Freifeld: "When Kevin came onboard it was like everything fell together," he says of McMahon, who joined in September. "The songs became more intense. ... The more that we play together, the more inspiration I have to write crazier and crazier things."

PROPS TO KERSEY: "Our cellist is an insane mad genius," Hawthorne says.

CD OUT IN SPRING '07: "We want it to have a live feel as much as possible," Freifeld says. "Whatever we do as far as overdubbing will be after the fact."

WHAT ARE THE SONGS ABOUT? "Everything is very moody, very brooding," Freifeld says. "We pay attention to nuance and texture. As much attention as I'm paying to lyrics, we pay that much attention to what's going on musically. It's been coming across these past few months since we've had this lineup."

DREAM PROJECT: Their goal is to collaborate with Robin Guthrie, the mastermind behind the Cocteau Twins.

CHECK 'EM OUT: 8 p.m. Tuesday with Dumbwaiters, Giddy-up, Helicopter! and the Vera Violets at Transitions Art Gallery at the Skatepark of Tampa, 4215 E Columbus Drive, Tampa. $5. (813) 621-6793. Pirate Prude plays first. www.myspace.com/pirateprude.

[Last modified December 27, 2006, 11:38:59]