There are many people who consider the first two albums by the dB’s to be just as influential as those revered early Velvet Underground releases. The singing/songwriting backbone of the dB’s was the tandem of Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey, whose simpatico musical attraction was strong enough to fuel Mavericks, an excellent 1991 album by the duo. Eighteen years later, the longtime friends have released the equally stirring Here And Now. The pair has also begun recording again with the dB’s, including original bassist Gene Holder and drummer Will Rigby. Holsapple and Stamey are guest editing magnetmagazine.com all this week. Read our Q&A with them.
Peter: In an age where actual handwritten correspondence seems to be on the wane thanks to technology (like what I’m using right now), it’s great to see that Paperbird is making beautiful stationery. Debra Jane Quinlan is a friend in Raleigh, N.C., who designs and prints cards, journals and other paper goods. They have a delicate design with simple and peaceful images. These are the kind of cards that deserve only the most loving sentiments inside; I can imagine a stack of them, bundled together and tied up with a satin ribbon, preserved in a bureau drawer for ages and read and re-read in times of emotional need. Guilty as I am of slacking in that department, Paperbird cards inspire me to write love notes to my wife that befit the images on their fronts. The motto at Paperbird is “correspond like you mean it,” a fine suggestion in this busy, cyber-heavy time. Surely you owe someone a letter?
