Matt Jencik's doorbell might be in Chicago now, but his childhood memories roam with the yard birds, and yard deer, of Pittsburgh's North Hills. Jencik (Hurl, Don Caballero) now helms ambient psych band Implodes, along with two other ex-Pittsburghers -- Justin Rathell and Ken Camden -- and bassist Emily Elhaj.
Let's say that you'd moved to sunny California instead of Chicago. Do you think you'd be making the same kind of music?
I think so. When I started writing the Implodes songs, it had nothing to do with temperature or weather or anything. Then again, I was writing a lot when it was snowing and I was stuck inside. So, I don't know. Maybe if I moved to California, I'd sound like The Descendents or something.
Implodes' debut record, Black Earth, really conveys a sense of process. Its sound grows on you like peat moss. How did you create this extra-dimensional texture?
All the little acoustic bits are taken from early demos. We were just slowly recording on our own to where the record took, like, two years to make. So, if there is any type of "journey" to it, I think that's really because it's a long period of music to put into 40 minutes.
I've heard that you work at the legendary Chicago shop Reckless Records.
Actually, three of us do. Ken and the bass player, Emily, and I all work together. That's how we all started playing together. In retrospect, I don't know if the three of us working together is such a good idea. I mean, it sure wasn't easy for all of us to get out of work for this tour, but we figured it out.
IMPLODES with KEN CAMDEN, LIGHTED, MOLE HOLE. 8 p.m. Mon., August 8. The Shop, 4314 Main St., Bloomfield. $7. All ages. 412-951-0622