Providing the soundtrack for crowd-surfing, mosh-pits and the macarena, you never know what you’ll experience at a PTCHWRK show. This past weekend, one of the Hudson Valley’s newest bands rocked with crowds from New Paltz to Binghamton, playing two killer shows in less than 48 hours.
Based in NYC and the Hudson Valley, the band has gained a devoted fanbase in their short months of performing together.
PTCHWRK first started as a collaborative effort between vocalist Noelle Janasiewicz and former keys player Laura Minoia. The pair wanted to form a band after previously performing together in a group known as Peapod. Luckily, Janasiewicz holds the dual position of Founder and Booking Agent for Doors at Seven, a DIY collective that seeks to provide support for musicians. With her networking, the band soon came to fruition.
“[We] asked Mike Hydos to play bass, as he was mutual friends with [us], and then by chance met Josh Alicea (guitarist), Zach Ferraro (guitarist) and Nick Bahamondes (drummer) in random passings, being at the same shows,” Janasiewicz shared. “It felt like all the pieces of the puzzle came together.”
They began rehearsing together and first debuted on Oct. 27 at the notorious Doors at Seven Halloween show, sharing a stage with familiar favorites such as Bird Week, WRONG COAST and 7 on Pump 1. Their energy was magnetic, as if they’d been playing together for years. They’ve gone on to play various shows throughout New York, gaining new fans at each stop.
Playing their first and last gigs of the year at the Doors at Seven Bah-humbug Ball and Jingle Bash, the group left fans wanting more. They spent the majority of December in the studio, sharing teaser photos on their social media.
Something especially wonderful about this band is how wickedly talented each musician is individually. When these dedicated artists combine their forces, something magical happens. Their unique and fresh sound is a main factor in their growing fanbase.
“When we first started playing together, we would talk about all of our individual influences and what we desired from the project,” stated Janasiewicz. “We all have different listening preferences but also have a ton of similar interests, so it makes blending all of those influences fun and gives us something unique to work with within our own sound. I’d say most of our influences come from the punk, emo and rock communities.”
To spark creativity, the bandmates share ideas and voice memos to their group chat to individually come up with their respective parts before trying them out at rehearsal. This collaborative effort allows for different influences and perspectives to shape the sound of each piece.
With five stellar shows under their belt, PTCHWRK has big plans for the future. They’ve been working hard in the studio to craft and record original songs. The band is anticipating the release of their debut EP, titled “Eve,” in late March.
“We’ve got weekend runs coming up for shows in March and April to celebrate the debut of our EP, then we’re taking a brief break from shows in the summer to focus on writing our album,” Janasiewicz beamed.
All things PTCHWRK can be found on the band’s Instagram @ptchwrkband.
