Bumper-to-bumper Rock 'n' Roll at Sentient Bean with Ken, Where’s My Car? and others
The Sentient Bean is hosting a show with a handful of bands united under the theme of having automobile-related names. Savannah’s Pink Peugeot and Ken...Where’s My Car? will be joined by Athens-based rock trio Parking Garage, but as far as I’m aware (correct me if I’m wrong), none of the bands write songs about cars, so gearheads looking for anthems about tuned-up muscle cars should be warned.
There is a surprising lack of emo bands in Savannah, but Ken...Where’s My Car? (KWMC) fills that much needed niche. KWMC formed last summer and features Kieran Panning-Miller (vocals, guitar), David McGee (guitar), Jake Sherry (bass), and Chris Felo (drums). Sherry and Felo were formally in the band Skydiver, and McGee was in Arms Up. KWMC combines their love for Midwest emo bands like Mom Jeans, Hot Mulligan, This Town Needs Guns, and emo legends American Football, with elements of math rock.
“It’s like peanut butter and jelly,” said Felo.
KWMC have been building its fanbase with excellent gigs at El Rocko Lounge, Sentient Bean, a St. Patrick’s Day Emo vs. Punk show at Red Porch Pit, and even a birthday party.
Although they are one of the only emo bands in Savannah, KWMC have had no trouble finding a place in the music scene and building relationships with other bands. Sometimes literally.
“Half the members of Ken, Where’s My Car? are dating half the members of Girlfriend From Hell,” Felo pointed out.
'Just jamming and playing off each other'
KWMC only perform original material and have fallen into an easy synergy when it comes to writing songs as a band.
“This is the easiest band I’ve been a part of as far as input and participation,” said Felo. “We can play an entire show where we don’t know what we’re going to do before we get on stage. Just jamming and playing off each other, it’s very seamless and intuitive. That makes writing the songs easy because David might play the melody, and I’ll play the drum part, Jake will play bass, and we’ll go through an entire movement. If we would just record them on our phones we would literally have an endless supply of songs.”
KWMC are currently mixing their first single which should be available soon.
As far as who Ken is and what he is doing with their car, the band have an origin story that I imagine changes with each telling. According to Felo, 15 years ago, when he was 8 years old, he encountered an Arabian alchemist on the street who blessed him with an incredible gift.
“He said, ‘I’m going to bless you with the gifts of being able to hit things rhythmically,’,” recalled Felo. “Everything will be a drum for you. Everything you touch will turn into a drum.’
“He spit in my eye, and screamed, ‘I am Ken!’ Then he punched my dad in the face, jacked his car and steered on out of here. That’s been with me ever since.”
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Also on the bill
Pink Peugeot are a heavy synth-based rock and roll band featuring the duo of Robert Melton (guitar, keys) and Joe Kaplcin (drums, keys). Melton and Kapcin played separately in other popular area bands like Hot Plate, Heavy Books, and Knightsquatch, butPink Peugeot play a unique blend of heavy drums, math rock finger gymnastics guitar, and video game dungeon-level synthesizers inspired by bands like Black Sabbath, Kraftwerk, and Archers of Loaf, as well as horror and videogame soundtracks.
Pink Peugeot’s dynamic debut EP, “Repchild,” was recorded at the Holy Ghost Tabernacle and released in 2020.
Athens’ Parking Garage Parking Garage is a band comprised of multi-instrumentalists Nathan Whatley, Dakota Snow, and Casey. Parking Garage label their style as Salt Rock, a genre of music defined with a portmanteau of "sad alt rock," where light funk elements are met with the jagged edges of garage and alternative music.
If You Go >>
What: Pink Peugeot, Ken...Where’s My Car?, and Parking Garage
When: 8 p.m., May 13
Where: The Sentient Bean, 13 E. Park Ave.
Cost: $10
Info: instagram.com/kenwheresmycar
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Music Sentient Bean Savannah Georgia host Pink Peugeot, Ken Wheres My Car
