Not just any ordinary bag of potato chips. Cape Cod is, and always has been, the product of long-standing friendships. Cape Cod is currently based in Butler.
The band started with high school friends Alex (vox, guitar) and Colin (drums) aspiring to form a surf rock band together in college. In the summer of 2013, they started recruiting. Jim (lead guitar, vox, keys), who had participated with Alex in several college productions, was the first to join up. Josh (bass) and Logan (guitar), friends of Alex and Colin from high school, also began to rehearse
with the group. The new members all came up with fresh ideas to add some unique energy to the indie surf sound. After a period of strong activity, the group went through a period of change in 2015. First, Colin left to pursue a career in News Production in Arkansas. Dave (drums), childhood friend of Alex and fellow musician, filled the vacancy and brought his multi-flavored playing style along with him. Josh and Logan also left Pittsburgh to pursue other career interests. Danny (bass), high school friend of Alex and Dave and lead guitarist of Dave's "Something Dear" project, joined as a temporary fill-in. He quickly proved himself to be exceptionally adaptive, capable, and committed, and his role was made permanent. While Colin and Logan have left the band in a physical sense, they continue to help promote, design images, and occasionally contribute to the songwriting. Since the arrival Dave and Danny, Cape Cod has incorporated a new set of influences to its sound, drifting away from surf rock towards a power-house indie rock unlike most other bands in Western PA. Cape Cod is currently based in Pittsburgh, PA. They play shows around the Pittsburgh Metro area, as well as in Butler. Cape Cod creates unique Indie Rock that blends elements of alternative rock, surf pop, post-punk revival, and college rock. The music balances structural simplicity and high levels of carefully woven musicality. They build their songs from the 'bottom-up', with a solid rhythmic foundation that is layered with melodic guitar work. The poetically inspired lyrics dip into themes of companionship, common anxieties, and living in your early 20s. Lyrics are delivered by way of two lead singers who carefully plan melodies reminiscent of The Everly Brothers or Local Natives. The band consists of Alex Barnhart and Jim Garrity sharing lead singing and guitar duties, Danny Santoro on bass guitar, and David Thompson delivering expressive (and occasionally hyperactive) drums. All members are natives of Butler, Pennsylvania, except Jim who is a Pittsburgh native. The band formed in Slippery Rock, PA, when Alex and Jim were attending Slippery Rock University.