Clear Plastic Masks at Art on the Rocks

While elbowing their way through New York City life in 2011, vocalist and guitarist Andrew Katz met drummer Charles Garmendia. Brooklyn acquaintances Eduardo DuQuesne (Bass/keys) and Matt Menold (Guitars/Keys) graduated to friend level when the four discovered their jam session sound together. Six thousand and five rehearsals later, the quartet moved to Nashville where their Rolling Stones meets Southern-funk sound drew a community. And on Friday August 14th the CPM’s will roll in to Art On The Rocks at the Birmingham Museum of Art. The Clear Plastic Masks will headline the last arts and culture bash of the summer, and based on their interview responses they are just as creative as the paintings in the galleries.

Katy Ward- Everybody wants to know the band’s story. How did you all meet, and how did you compile musical tastes?

Clear Plastic Masks- We met in Brooklyn, New York at a $1,000 winner take all breakdancing competition that we had all entered and none of us won. As for our musical tastes, we listen to pretty much everything.

KW- What has surprised you the most about becoming a professional musician/ completing an album with a band?

CPM- The most surprising thing about becoming a professional musician is how endlessly diverse and interesting the United States of America is and that no matter how remote the location is there’s always someone who loves rock n roll.

KW- Art On The Rocks is about blending the best of Birmingham culture (music, performances, food, and more) with the beautiful Museum environment. In the spirit of fusing music and art, if the BMA was to curate an exhibition based on your band, which artist(s) would make Clear Plastic Masks art?

CPM- Pick out the nearest kindergarten class. Give them some paint and some candy and see what happens. That’s probably closest to our milieu.

KW- In Birmingham, we have a really great food culture. If your music was perfectly paired with a delicious meal and cocktail, what would be on the menu?

CPM- Tequila/red bull/pop rocks shooter to start followed by slabs of perfectly prepared ribs, a healthy salad and some righteous Mac and cheese paired with two bottles of 1945 Château Mouton-Rothschild, six ice cold Presidentes, chilled tap water and some kind of exquisite small batch root beer to finish.

Art On The Rocks will be from 7-11 pm on Friday, August 14th and the Clear Plastic Masks will go on at 10 pm. You can find a few more party sneak peaks here.

Katy Ward is an artist and journalist who loves all things Birmingham. Her artwork, articles, and special projects can be found at katywardcreative.com.