ALBUM REVIEWS

‘A total misuse of a voice.’
-Norma Jean and Clyde Burke

Art is Shit Review:

 There are some things that are uniquely Charlotte, Price’s Chicken Coop, Infinity’s End, The Milestone Club and fortunately Andy the Doorbum. Anyone who has seen his live show has instantly been addicted to the death metal intensity with which he approaches his live (mostly) acoustic shows. Unfortunately I didn’t get to hear his first release of demos, so nothing prepared me for what I was about to step into when I got a copy of Art is Shit, his newest release. It’s honestly taken me a long time to review because I’ve listen to it over and over, trying to process what is put before me. 

It’s a huge impressively layered cd, with layer upon layer of instruments and vocals, most of which Andy played himself. Which is not to say he didn’t have help. There is a who’s who of guest stars on the cd including members of 25 Minutes to Go, 2013 Wolves and his Appalucia band mates Wiley Buck Boswell and Corey Ziggler. Andy seems to have a knack for making a melody out of unexpected noises. Indeed at times it appears Andy is a conductor of some weird otherworldly orchestra. This album is part Beck, part Ween and all Andy. From his somewhat unconventional idea for world peace on opener “Burn Barrel” to the haunting melody of “Catching the Moon in A Mason Jar” Andy weaves a tapestry dense with hidden melodies and noises of all sorts and varieties. Indeed a lesser obsessed song smith would have been happy with half the layers but that’s not Andy. He clearly approached this record with the same intensity he approaches his live show. It’s all or nothing and in this case all works quite well. In the hands of a lesser artist this cd would have been a mess but in the hand’s of Andy it’s a masterpiece.

The song writing is dead on, even if a bit unconventional. I’ve mentioned the often haunting melodies earlier but the crazy thing to think about is how did he figure out that would song cool with that? The fact that he orchestrated the large and random variety of noises together to form these songs is insane to think about. But sometimes it’s best not to think but just enjoy the fractured beauty of the whole thing. By the time you reach “Rock N’ Roll Is Dead” you feel like you’ve reached the last act of a massive rock opera with a huge sing along that includes almost everyone who did any guest work on the cd. A fitting and awesome ending to a massive record!

Sonically a lot of bands could learn from the production of this cd. For having as many layers as it does it comes across clear as a bell. You can hear every layer, even the ones who are buried in the frenzy. I wish half the local bands I heard had this level of production.

Charlotte is fortunate to have Andy the Doorbum and this is easily the cd of the year as far as I’m concerned. Next time you catch Andy working the door at the Milestone Club hit him up for a cd. It’s well worth the money and trust me, it’s a landmark cd from this Charlotte original. 

-Ryan Dead

http://www.stillnotdead.com/andycdreview.html

Thought is Digestion (Cassette Review)

Andy The Doorbum is weird. The dude looks weird, his music is weird and releasing your album on cassette in 2010 is weird. I, however, have been known to gravitate towards the weirdos of the world. The tunes have a little bit of Tom Waits and maybe a little bit of Mellow Gold era Beck but mostly it’s this maniac, hobo, meth-head folk punk sound. Needless to say, it’s fucking fantastic. The insanity level is high and clearly not for show. And let me tell you, it’s not easy finding pure, uncut insanity these days.

http://www.brooklynskiclub.com/2010/08/andy-doorbum-free-mp3.html

DOORBOOTH ALBUM REVIEW

www.beartrappr.com.—————————————————————————————————————Andy The Door Bum “You’re Going Crazy, And I’m Coming With You (TheDoor Booth Album)” (Afterbirth Casserole)Andy works the door booth at Charlotte’s world famous Milestone Club.Andy recorded this entire record (25 songs) over a three monthperiod…while working the door booth. I should probably mention that thedoor booth occupies a space that’s about six square feet. We’re talkin’the size of your hallway closet, folks. If that doesn’t qualify Andyfor this list, I don’t know what does. Oh yeah…fucking awesomesongs…which Andy cranks out in abundance. I’ll admit that there are afew kinda sorta unlistenable tracks on this record but on the whole TheDoor Booth Album is creative, sharp and often hilarious. Andy has aunique way of taking dirty, acoustic punk rock ditties and smearingthem with even more grit and grime before shoving a ton of melody uptheir collective ass. Songs like “Trendy Kids,” “The Yeti,” “Two Bite”and “P Is For Pot” are covered in Andy’s blood and guts, but polish emup and you’ve got some real pop gems hiding beneath the filth. And Imean that in the best possible way.
MT HOLLY SESSIONS REVIEWS

If I could be the belle of any ball, it would be a ball held at The Milestone Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Somewhere off a maze of highway access roads and on-ramps,down a long and winding road into the decidedly “bad” part of town,you’ll find The Milestone: a somewhat rotting house with a dirt parking lot bordered by fading little shops with faded little signs.

This is how you build a rock and roll shrine: take some plywood and some dirt, mix with water, let harden in the sun, cover in thousands of band stickers, apply graffiti.

The first time I played a show at The Milestone, there was some music playing at the bar and I liked it right away – it kind of reminded me of Daniel Johnston.I went up to the bartender, the one with the ZZ Top beard, thick southern accent and kindly eyes, and asked him what was playing. The bartender said, “it’s Andy – the guy working the door.” Indeed, there WAS a guy tucked into the booth behind the door, a young fellow with wild hair and wild eyes and a shit-eating grin. I told him I liked his music.

Then, months later, I get a note from the booker at The Milestone, asking me to play a Sunday night show. I said yes without thinking and a few weeks later drove myself to Charlotte, two and ahalf hours away from my place in Carrboro down a soul-destroying stretch of I-85.

I didn’t know it, but I was opening for “Andy the Door Bum.”It was his CD release party. This was the music I had heard playing atthe bar last summer, and it turned out to be the best show I’ve seen this year. Andy played an acoustic guitar that looked like it had been dragged through the forest by a log-roller for a good 10 miles. For about a half hour he pounded on that thing like a demon, with his facing hovering above it like a blurry photograph and his hair a wild halo. The crowd went crazy for it and so did I.

The album is called Mt. Holly Sessions and it is full of drinking songs, scorned-love songs, punk-stomp blues, southern rawk and eerie ballads. They are totally satisfying without being simple,peppered with spoken-word samples, tribal rhythms, touches of mandolin and flute as well as references to crack-smokers and ancient greek mythology. At times they are starkly beautiful. At times hilarious or downright head-banging. Recorded with what sounds like a couple of  microphones stuck in the middle of a room somewhere in Mount Holly,North Carolina, they always convey a certain immediacy and straight-to-the-heartness. Hats off to Robert Childers whose production and capable drumming put you squarely in the front row of the best house show ever.

For three dollars, I bought a handful of zines from Andy before the show. I asked him what they were about and he said, “Just fucked up stories about me and my family and stuff.” I read them a few days later and Andy was right; his family IS pretty fucked up! There’s a wily Dad who fails to elude the cops on a drunken car chase, some misadventures with Poison Ivy, relatives and friends who die pointless deaths or end up insane. Which means that Andy could probably qualify as an Outsider Artist. Which means that, if he were to die of a huffing-overdose or from too many deep fried cheese steaks tomorrow,that he would be an instant celebrity. But why wait for Andy to die?Let’s appreciate him while he’s alive and well, writing zines, making great music and working the door at The Milestone Club. Go get it: www.myspace.com/andythedoorbum <http://www.myspace.com/..andythedoorbum>  ————————————- <http://soundaslanguage…wordpress.com/2007/04/04/tim-..barry-3/>


BIG SMILE MAGAZINE INTERVIEW


BSM: What’s your name and describe your musical talents in Andy The Doorbum.

My name is Andy Fenstermaker.  Iwrite and record the material myself on either 4-track cassetterecorders or outdated, hand-me-down digital consoles and then performthem either solo with an acoustic guitar or with a few friends backingme up. 

BSM: How’d you manage to get the type of sound that is now ATD?

When I was younger I would record “albums” just for the fun of it onthe 4-track.  I probably did ten of them.  Eventually I started workingdoor at the Milestone Club in Charlotte, NCand letting people listen to them.  I recorded an album in the doorbooth while giving out wristbands, and started selling it and hoppingon shows, which lead me to where I am now.

BSM: What has been the biggest inspiration towards your musical career?

I find myself inspired by the harsh realities of the world around me. Drugs, death, history, religion.  I know it sounds grim, but they canall be quite mesmerizing.  Music just seems to be how my observationscome out naturally…  I’m not really sure if you could call what I doa career though, but it is flattering.

BSM: So I see you came out with a CD recently, can you tell us a little
about it?

The new CD Mt. Holly Sessions is the self-released follow up to the Door Boothalbum.  It’s been described to me as sounding like moon shine fueledbackwoods appalachian refugee music.  I’d say that’s about accurate. Maybe through in a few hallucinogenic talks with god.

BSM: How can fan’s get a hold of this CD?

You could send $8 to me (message me on myspace), or log on to myspace.com/andythedoorbum .  I should have paypal set up very soon.

BSM: I watched a few of your video’s such as “The Yeti”. Did the director
pick the locations or were they just randomly picked?

The director was a friend of mine I was on tour with called The Emotron.  We pretty much found the locations along the way while we were on a month long tour together.  The Yetiis an exception though.  It was filmed at the Mtn. Island Libraryopening, while two 11 year old kids did the Viennese Waltz.  Why theyasked me to do it, I will never know.

BSM: Have you had any interest in touring to the West Coast?

I had a tour planned for California but it got canceled due to lack of funds.  I hope to be out there in the coming year though.

BSM: Is there anything new coming up that we can  be looking foward to?

I will be releasing a two part album in the next few months.  It should be two CDs of 35 songs total. (I was lying here.)

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ANDY THE DOOR BUM: The Mt. Holly Sessions: CD

This
guy is like a punk rock Tom Waits, but with more folk and less blues.
Raucous and stripped-down acoustic folk-punk with a sense of humor and
some demons in the closet. –Sarah Shay (Afterbirth Casserole, no
address)
 

http://www.razorcake.org/site/..modules.php?name=News&file=..article&sid=11794&PHPSESSID=..5d3b3ffdc1f0599e2b756ea748a939..93
 

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http://www.musicemissions.com/..artists/albums/index.php?..album_id=7520


 

Straight out of the
dumpster in back of Charlotte NC’s world-famous Milestone Club comes Andy The
Door Bum (aka Andy Fenstermaker), a sort of legend in those parts according to the press
release before me. Apart from his aspirations as a singer-songwriter (of
sorts), Andy can be found checking IDs and adding to the club’s
atmosphere at the front door, hence the name. That name also has something to
do with the man’s unkempt appearance. Of course what matters most here is what
the guy is putting out musically. The Mt. Holly Sessions is 17 mostly-quick
hits of a brew of styles, from 2-step to rockabilly and an acoustic
punk/hardcore attitude. Before I dig into the meat of the album, let me just
say that the quality that redeems the album from it’s shoddy production and
mostly baked and broken tracks is the sheer atmosphere of up-closeness and
immediacy that clings to The Mt. Holly Sessions like stink to…well, you know.
No matter how bad it is at heart, below it is a feeling of quiet power that you
can’t help but get caught up in.

 

That being said, what
we have here is mostly a collection of ideas, a few fleshed-out songs and
mostly it comes off as an audition tape more than an actual LP. Whether or not
this was intended is not up to me to judge, but you get the feeling Andy simply
wanted to show his worth as a multi-instrumentalist within the confines
and atmospheric qualities of a small studio, bringing that previously mentioned
feeling of closeness and urgency. The first true song, “Parrot
Anthem” is the best song of the bunch, a slow and moody blues-tinged ode
to the worst hangover of your life. This is the type of song I think Andy The Door Bum aims to perfect, the ones he holds more
personal. “Ode To Extinction” is a more
experimental number, with it’s drawn-out melodies and a 60’s-hippie-rock feel
in the lyrics and beat.

 

It’s a shame the
material doesn’t always hold up. If it’s not the production bogging down Andy’s
vision, it’s the vision being bogged down by whatever stigma rises up in him
and says “Hey, do exactly what doesn’t make sense and hope it works”.
Still, with such a limited array of quality recording materials, can you really
expect Bob Dylan? No, you can’t, but what it comes down to is “is the
music good or is the music bad?” It’s mostly bad, but it’s the sort of bad
that never sees good disappear completely. And when it’s good, when the
integrity of the music matches the imagery and perceptions we’re meant to have
about Andy The Door Bum, it’s quite impressive. But
that may only be because the expectations lower with each short, droning piece
of acoustic depravity. I can’t put my finger on it, but The Mt. Holly Sessions
is a valuable part of my collection. It’s an underdog story of the most clear sense of the word, played out in the shadow of
one of the
country’s
most prominent rock clubs. It represents a feeling we’ve all had, when looking
up at our favorite bands on stage.

 

“I want to do
that…I can do that”.

 

 

 

“There really
is no cohesive pattern to these songs. 
However, don’t let that turn you away so quickly.  Listening to this recording is like
experiencing a sonic Rorschach test. 
As one track ends and another begins, images of overflowing pints of
beer appear in my mind.  The setting
for these hallucinations vary between a long-deserted ghost
town to a wild free for all aboard a ship at sea, stranded with rowdy
pirates.  The driving force behind Andy
and his weathered voice and his guitars (both acoustic and electric) with a
little help from basic percussion and some sound effect samples.  This is truly unique and though it may
not change your life, it will most certainly change the day you hear this for
the better (and for the bizarre).” – Give Me Back #52———————————————..———————————————..———————————————..———————————————..—————————-


Andy
The Door Bum, the Milestone’s resident door dude / bearded troubadour is
teaming up with the venue’s owner Neal Harper and sound guy Robert
Childers – collectively known as 2013
Wolves – for a short tour of the Southeast (Jan 14 – 22).  The two bands will be making a stop at Snug Harbor in their hometown of Charlotte on January 16th.


 

Andy The Door
Bum’s latest release, Mt. Holly Sessions,
is overflowing with hell-raising, barebones, acoustic punk rock gems, but underneath
it all, he never fails to deliver an undeniable melody and a sucker-punch
knockout hook.  Andy can flat-out write,
and whether his inspiration stems from The Milestone or his personal demons,
there’s no denying the artistry…and boisterous, fun-loving riot contained within.

 

“An
amazing, insane, raw and brilliant record.” - Subba-Cultcha

“Tales of
American woe told with a gruff voice and an acoustic guitar.” –
New-Noise

“Interesting,
clever, and melodically sound.  Andy the Door Bum’s crafted a winner.”
- Aversion

 

While 2013 Wolves
tread similar ground as Andy – at least in terms of the raw, fiery Southern
scrawl pouring from the speakers – this instrumental duo is as equally
fluent in math rock as they are in garage punk. 
The band’s stories are more abstract, but the melodic thrash of
the guitar and drums is universally understood.
(Tour press release issued by Chuck)chuck@beartrappr.com


http://www.myspace.com/..beartrappr
———————————————..———————————————..———————————————..————————- If I could be the belle of any
ball, it would be a ball held at The Milestone Club in Charlotte, North
Carolina. Somewhere off a maze of highway access roads and on-ramps,
down a long and winding road into the decidedly “bad” part of town,
you’ll find The Milestone: a somewhat rotting house with a dirt parking
lot bordered by fading little shops with faded little signs.

This is how you build a rock and roll shrine: take some
plywood and some dirt, mix with water, let harden in the sun, cover in
thousands of band stickers, apply graffiti.

The first time I
played a show at The Milestone, there was some music playing at the bar
and I liked it right away – it kind of reminded me of Daniel Johnston.
I went up to the bartender, the one with the ZZ Top beard, thick
southern accent and kindly eyes, and asked him what was playing. The
bartender said, “it’s Andy – the guy working the door.” Indeed, there
WAS a guy tucked into the booth behind the door, a young fellow with
wild hair and wild eyes and a shit-eating grin. I told him I liked his
music.

Then, months later, I get a note from the booker at The
Milestone, asking me to play a Sunday night show. I said yes without
thinking and a few weeks later drove myself to Charlotte, two and a
half hours away from my place in Carrboro down a soul-destroying
stretch of I-85.

I didn’t know it, but I was opening for “Andy the Door Bum.”
It was his CD release party. This was the music I had heard playing at
the bar last summer, and it turned out to be the best show I’ve seen
this year. Andy played an acoustic guitar that looked like it had been
dragged through the forest by a log-roller for a good 10 miles. For
about a half hour he pounded on that thing like a demon, with his
facing hovering above it like a blurry photograph and his hair a wild
halo. The crowd went crazy for it and so did I.

The album is called Mt. Holly Sessions and it is full of
drinking songs, scorned-love songs, punk-stomp blues, southern rawk and
eerie ballads. They are totally satisfying without being simple,
peppered with spoken-word samples, tribal rhythms, touches of mandolin
and flute as well as references to crack-smokers and ancient greek
mythology. At times they are starkly beautiful. At times hilarious or
downright head-banging. Recorded with what sounds like a couple of
microphones stuck in the middle of a room somewhere in Mount Holly,
North Carolina, they always convey a certain immediacy and
straight-to-the-heartness. Hats off to Robert Childers whose production
and capable drumming put you squarely in the front row of the best
house show ever.

For three dollars, I bought a handful of zines from Andy
before the show. I asked him what they were about and he said, “Just
fucked up stories about me and my family and stuff.” I read them a few
days later and Andy was right; his family IS pretty fucked up! There’s
a wily Dad who fails to elude the cops on a drunken car chase, some
misadventures with Poison Ivy, relatives and friends who die pointless
deaths or end up insane. Which means that Andy could probably qualify
as an Outsider Artist. Which means that, if he were to die of a
huffing-overdose or from too many deep fried cheese steaks tomorrow,
that he would be an instant celebrity. But why wait for Andy to die?
Let’s appreciate him while he’s alive and well, writing zines, making
great music and working the door at The Milestone Club. Go get it: www.myspace.com/andythedoorbum <http://www.myspace.com/..andythedoorbum>


 
————————————-
 
<http://soundaslanguage…wordpress.com/2007/04/04/tim-..barry-3/>
The show I attended last night certainly lived up to my hype. Unfortunately, Fifth Hour Hero <http://www.myspace.com/..fifthhourhero>’s van broke down so I missed out on my last chance to see the band.
Andy The Doorbum <http://www.myspace.com/..andythedoorbum>
opened the show and was very impressive. Despite some odd lyrical
diatribes, his songs have a noticeable depth to them. There is also a
great folk-punk sing-along feel to many of Andy’s songs which
definitely fits the live setting well. I picked up his new album and a
review should be upcoming in the next couple of weeks. Smoke Or Fire <http://www.myspace.com/..smokeorfire>
headlined and put on a raucous set. The band has been slimmed down to a
three-piece and they sounded incredibly tight. They were much better
last night than when I saw them as a four-piece late in 2006.

 
———————————————
 
<http://www.aversion.com/..bands/reviews.cfm?f_id=3052>
Now this could be a lot of things. Could be the fact that we’ve
sniffed ourselves high from the tennis ball / Playdough-like scent from
the soft plastic packaging to The Mt. Holly Sessions. Could be the 86
ounces of coffee we’ve consumed in the last two hours, or that we
haven’t slept in four days in fear off slipping back into night
terrors. Still, it may just be that this oddball disc is a sheer
pleasure to take in. Whatever’s responsible, we’re shit-faced happy
listening to it, the sophomore full-length from the man known simply as
Andy the Door Bum.
Quirky, messy, yet roughly cohesive, The Mt. Holly Sessions are much
like its birthmother, err, birthfather, Andy the Door Bum. Andy is just
that, a door bum. He’s a vagabond-resembling bouncer at a club in North
Carolina, perfectly surmised in his band bio as looking like a
“moonshine-fueled Appalachian backwoods refugee.” Eccentric,
unpredictable, and ever-inventive, Andy steers the ear through 17 cuts
in a little more than 34 minutes. Now, we here at Aversion never
claimed to be math wizards, but it’s simple to figure out: multiple 17
by the square root of 49, carry the 2, round down and divide by three,
and that works out to be a little over two minutes a track. Just enough
time for Andy to bang out a tight little nugget, memorable and unique
with a psyche-sticking hook.

Using that everything-but-the-kitchen-..sink approach like the
late 54-40’ or Fight! Records’ Ticonderoga and Sicbay, Andy “The Door
Bum” Fenstermaker and his few guest musicians resort to everything from
guitar and organs to mandolins and tambourines, to clarinet, drums, and
so forth. Yet they make it all gel. Fenstermaker has the lung capacity
of a deep-sea cave diver, stringing together and voicing more words in
a single breath than most can in three. Vocals on Sessions are full of
personality, brimming with attitude, and often seemingly drunkenly
delivered. Fenstermaker has a definite grasp on song writing. It shows
in every track, no matter how short.

Standout tracks include shorty-but-goodies like the stark-spunky,
disorienting “Jimmy the Angolan” with it’s merry-go-round
“whoa-ah-oh-ahs” and funky rhythm, the spastical strumming and
confidently - if again, drunkenly - sung “Knuckles”, and the coyly
delivered and humorously-lyriced “Things Change”. The Mt. Holly
‘Sessions is four parts Andy heart’n’soul (and tireless energy), three
parts acoustic guitar, one part rough production value, and some extra
goodies mixed in for seasoning.
Though a quick listen, The Mt. Holly Sessions is a memorable one.
Interesting, clever, and melodically sound. Andy the Door Bum’s crafted
a winner. Try to track down a copy.
… Now where’s that album packaging?
 
 
———————————————..———
 
<http://www.subba-cultcha.com/..article.php?id=4934>
From the very first glimpse of the name of this artist, the cover
art and right to the moment I started listening to the disc itself,
this record was setting off every eccentric alert going. There was a
siren going off on the top of my very own head which I keep there for
very such purposes. Here, my friends, lovers and various others, is a
man with a truly unique and slightly bizarre worldview, and it’s here
splayed out, legs akimbo, awaiting your love, big boy!

Like a unique blend of Kurt Cobain, GG Allin (solo stuff), Daniel
Johnson, Danbert Nobacon and Nick Cave (twenty years ago) Andy The Door
Bum is a truly individual listening experience. When you hear the story
of the album, it seems even more odd - he really is a doorman, and
recorded the whole thing in the six foot square booth of the World
Famous Milestone Club in North Carolina where he works. And it is
exactly the lo-fi, punk-rock super-weird gem you would hope.

With a surprising range of ideas on display, based of course
entirely on imagination rather than any production trickery - this
whole thing sounds like it was done on a four-track for twenty pence
and mixed live - this is an amazing, insane, raw and brilliant record.
Someone give the man a tour, for Beelzebub’s sakes.

www.myspace.com/andythedoorbum <http://www.myspace.com/..andythedoorbum>
Rating: 4 out of 5
For fans of: Jim White, Kurt Cobain, GG Allin’s solo stuff
 
———————————————..———————-
 
<http://www.new-noise.net/..album-reviews/nuggets-/19-..april-2007/nuggets—-19-april-..2007_1369.html>


Andy The Door Bum - Mt. Holly Sessions
By Simon T Diplock

This is modern folk music, tales of American woe told with a
gruff voice and an acoustic guitar. But there’s a mad-eyed anger and
something a little weird to ‘The Mt. Holly Sessions’ that sets it
apart. This is a record rabbling and rousing from strange experiments
with noise to Nirvana-esque fuzz rock, from aggressive acoustic twang,
through big, bad country punk like Against Me! do it, to some sort of
evil Elvis blues. Yeah it sounds like it was recorded in your wardrobe
but it sounds like it could kick your ass too. And what else were you
expecting from a guy with a dirty mouth who calls himself Andy the Door
Bum.

 
———————————————..—————————-
 
<http://www.absolutepunk.net/..showthread.php?t=233217>
Andy The Door Bum – The Mt. Holly Sessions
Label: After Birth Cassarole Records
Release Date: April 10, 2007 

Who:

The
creepy guy who may or may not be homeless that hangs out at your
neighborhood venue and knows the roaches in the bathroom by name made a
record. This local vagabond goes by the name Andy Fenstermaker and was
bred in the hills of Appalachia, which for those unaware is home to
everyone who has ever been on Jerry Springer.


How is it?:

Drew Danburry it ain’t, but there’s
something charming about this door bum. His off-key caterwaul and
poorly played gaggle of instruments fit his persona and when he
bitterly gruffs out those door bum anthems, we all start to embrace the
door bum in each of us. Ahh, to be young and dirty again.

Song you’ll be most embarrassed about getting stuck in your head: “Knuckles”

Eccentricities: Jason Webley, John Frusciante, Atom & His Package



www.myspace.com/andythedoorbum <http://www.myspace.com/..andythedoorbum>

 
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<http://www.smother.net/..reviews/items/punk/1213/Andy_..the_Door_Bum-Mt._Holly_..Sessions.php>

What the fuck is this? Weird lo-fi pop that is punk-riddled and very
just well strange. The lyrics are personal and remind one of John
Frusciante. Mostly stripped down sounds are what you’ll hear but this
is going to take a lot to like. Imagine if that annoying “kid” Andy
IHaveALongLastName on MTV recorded an album, yeah I know!

 
———————————————..—————————-
 
<http://www…feastofhateandfear.com/..reviews.html>
ANDY THE DOOR BUM - The Mt. Holly Sessions CD (Afterbirth Casserole)
Not to far away from where I currently stand is a red-bearded cat that
wails like his soul is on fire, and tells stories through rambled
poetry via acoustic tunes in Charlotte, North Carolina. That cat man’s
the door of the Milestone Club, and though known as Andy the Door Bum
or Ugly Dobro his birth name is Andrew Fenstermaker, and you should
give a listen to what he wails. This is the second release for The Door
Bum, as he earlier let the world in on what’s inside his head via his
2005 release Door Booth Album. “Parrot Anthem” and “Alamissibamassippi”
both had a touch of Delta blues ala Robert Johnson (the infamous
musician that sold his soul to the devil) or Big Bill Broonzy. “Eyes”
and “Horace Wells and the Chloroform Junkies” still kept a bluesy
sound, but also incorporated catchy pop-punk hooks. “Black Snapper” was
pure punk rock fury, while “Look It” is a garage rock anthem. In
between his vocalized tracks are a few instrumental numbers that could
be considered abstract or avant-garde as they emit a quality of cut-up
tape-loops. Though I do have to point out that while I like the wild
amalgam of music Andy brings to his latest work, it’s his lyrical
content that I’ve enjoyed most. If you’re into philosophical songs
about drinkin’, lovin’ ‘n’ losin’ and wanting to kill the dude that
broke into your car, by all means, take a trip up to The Milestone Club
- or just send Andy some dough and ask (nicely) for a copy of his
newest work. (May 5, 2007)

 
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<http://www.dieshellsuit.co…uk/article_detail.asp?rID=1297..>
8 out of 10
A curiosity indeed. Recorded in the actual doorway of a famous club
in North Carolina by the Andy of the title who spends his time as the
bouncer at said club (All this according to PR lore) and the follow up
to “Door Booth Album”, what we have is a record that brought to mind
Joy Division, Elliot Smith, Johnny Cash, Murder City Devils, Coachwhips
and Nirvana all in the same sitting. Something is afoot I reckon.


The album actually comes across like a singles collection than
a singular collection of work, but that benefits the mood and way I
imagine it was created and while it is pretty hard to describe the
actual workings of it take it from me that there is something on here
to interest almost everybody.

Not that the album is some kind of multi-genre attempt, more that
it touches on a range of moods from punk swagger to almost tender
acoustic moments to americana esque rock.

This is indeed an
unusual album and one that takes a bit of work on the behalf of the
listener, but I hope you can find as much to love about it as I did.
It’s worth the effort.


Listen: www.myspace.com/andythedoorbum <http://www.myspace.com/..andythedoorbum>


 
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<http://www/>.evilneedles.com <
http://evilneedles.com/>/main/..newmusic.html
Band/album: Andy The Door Bum, Mt Holly Sessions
Label: After Birth Casserole BEARTRAP

For fans of: retard folk punk? acoustic creep music

Here’s what it is: Overall I took this as a funny disc. It’s the
kind of thing people who work in indie coffee shops play to keep the
jocks away. Andy is a bouncer and he uses an acoustic guitar to lay
down a few tunes in a bathroom or hallway. Some people compare it to
Nirvana and I kinda see it, but I think he sounds more like Charles
Manson.

 
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<http://www.twowaymonologues…com/review.php?reviewId=877>
I immediately gravitate toward any album produced by a label like
After Birth Casserole Records. Not because I am familiar with the
label, but because afterbirth jokes are hilarious. No, they are. They
are hilarious. I think they?re hilarious.
Okay, all right. Whether or not afterbirth is funny, there is one
implicit guarantee that comes with any band on a label like After Birth
Casserole: little to no pretensions. North Carolina?s Andy The Door Bum
has a kind of a carefree, garage band feel which I enjoy, and a
careless quality control from which Mt. Holly Sessions suffers. I feel
sorta ambivalent about this album. Andy Fenstermaker and his band
exhibit an eccentric imagination, and the ability to move in-between
genres. The band?s musical and technical potential far outweighs their
budget and facilities, that much is audible. I never begrudge a band
for having limited production resources, and poor quality equipment ?
today?s Daniel Johnston is tomorrow?s Daniel fucking Johnston, dig?
But, given Andy and his producer Robert Childers? demonstrated prowess,
as well as my benevolent look-the-other-way-ing in regards to the poor
sound quality, I have to assume that Mt. Holly Sessions? shortcomings
were intentional? and unforgivable.
Andy is a versatile performer. His voice has a kind of congested
bluster, and he is able to produce a formidable rock ?n? roll howl,
which he uses sparingly and appropriately. It is a genuine voice, with
a lot of personality. The album features an interesting collection of
instruments, and the arrangements for each song are generally superb.
There is a little something special added to each track, so it?s easy
to recall the sound of each title. But there is something sloppy about
the album, that makes it seem like Andy was in a hurry to produce, or
else he simply couldn?t be bothered to tidy things up a little.
?Ode to Extinction? is a prime example of the best and the sloppiest
this album provides. The track opens with the intriguing combination of
what sounds like a thumb piano and some xylophone percussion. There is
a palpable ambiance about this, and the recorded male voice, extolling
the virtues of the second amendment frames this eerie and effective
opening. But then it stops, dead, and the ?real song? begins.
Thematically, the intro and the song proper are perfectly suited. It
makes me wonder why there is no transition bridging the two. This is
still an amazing track: lazy bass, both eastern and western percussion
influence, a pained and moving vocal performance. This seems to be a
sarcastic ode to firearms. The lyrics are cruel and effective ? ?give a
gun to the man that broke into my car, the same calibre as mine. If
nothing else we?ll square it off. And find out who?s the better shot.?
I get the overall impression of a kind of near-distant dystopia. ?We?re
free to make decisions. That kind of thing lands men in prisons.?
?Puro Muerto? is a frustrated anthem about United States
imperialism, and the exploitation of Mexico, featuring a mandolin and
weeping electric guitar highlights. ?The River, The God, The Satan? is
notable for its woodwind interlude, and traditional eastern European
influences. However, out of seventeen tracks, many of the songs are
fillers. Quite frequently these fillers are under a minute long; and
though each of these tracks demonstrates a broad musical creativity, it
begins to feel like a waste. Andy hits pay dirt for a precious few
seconds and? that?s all we get. It?s like if I was writing a review and

[The author herein leaves his computer to hit a bong and watch Star Trek: The Next Generation]
?Horace Wells and The Chloroform Junkies? is the best example of the
kind of punk/folk combination that makes Andy The Door Bum so engaging.
It is a ballad about a real-dead dentist, named Horace Wells, who
pioneered the use of anaesthesia in dentistry. Wells later became
addicted to chloroform, then deranged, assaulted a couple of
prostitutes with sulphuric acid, and killed himself ? assuming the
people on Wikipedia aren?t just fucking with me. It?s an interesting
story, expressed through one of the best arrangements on this album.
There is an unforgettable synth hook, alien and addictive, and the
adroit interplay of acoustic and electric guitars.
The album finishes with a chain gang song called ?Clawless.? Chain
gang songs are meant to musically recreate the repetitive rhythm of
physical labour, forced upon inmates. This is a North American folk
staple and its application here speaks to Andy?s diverse musical
mobility. It is a hopeful spiritual about a man, freed from torture.
?Take his hand, sew on some fingernails. They didn?t need them, where
he came from.?
Perhaps Mt. Holly Sessions was intended to be a kind of sampler.
Some sort of demo to leave as a calling card, and advertise the band?s
potential. And there is a lot of potential here: there are a few songs
I can?t get enough of, and I?ll probably rip ?em onto my mp3. But as an
album, it has many problems I suspect the band was aware of, and didn?t
bother fixing. Maybe they were trying to make a statement? Maybe they
got high and watched Star Trek.
SCORE: 6.3 
 
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<http://www.75orless.com/?/..archive/2007/06/andy_the_door_..b.php>
The musical grab bag of the year (so far) is here. Andy comes at you
with some drugged folk; Tom Waits crossed with early Sebadoh. The full
band kicks in on “Eyes #2”, recorded in glorious drum heavy
lo-fidelity. Add to that droning middle eastern music with taped
messages of someone refusing to surrender his weapons. Some of the
backing vocals will induce vertigo and as a bonus, there’s also some
speedy screaming folk. Andy is the beloved troubadour who never
bothered taking music lessons because he blew the money on booze. - mark

THE SKINNY ON MUSIC COURTNEY DEVORES
He works club’s door, makes fine music on its stage

If you’ve been to the Milestone Club in the past few years it’s likely you’ve come across Andy the Door Bum — the friendly, red-bearded fellow taking cash and stamping hands.

You may not realize that Andy Fenstermaker is also a singer-songwriter. He recorded his first album in that cramped door booth and regularly appears at the club. He and 2013 Wolves, which is Milestone owner Neal Harper’s band, cross town Wednesday to perform at Snug Harbor (10 p.m., $5).

Andy may be a singer-songwriter, but his songs and his deep, rolling baritone aren’t quite like any other folkie, as he demonstrated the first time I saw him — opening for Avail’s Tim Barry. Fenstermaker is one of the best examples of folk-punk or anti-folk I’ve seen. His live songs sound as if they could easily be plugged in and rocked up. On his second album, “Mt. Holly Sessions,” he uses electric guitar, organs, samples and bass.

My husband came home from a show talking him up a couple of months ago. He thinks that with the combination of a unique voice, his arrangements and his easy, charismatic way of working the crowd that Andy’s appeal could transcend the indie punk crowd he often plays for — if passers-by will stick around.

Funny and thought-provoking, his songs aren’t all simple, bare-bones folk tunes. “Ode to Extinction” is strangely lovely and unsettling in its spare intimacy. “(Eyes #2)” marries a macabre sense of humor, a simple ’60s girl group-meets-“Patty-Cake” melody, and raw recording. Elsewhere he bellows and yells, veering from loud and punky to experimental to near symphonic.

What’s exciting is he’s doing something different not just for the sake of being different, and it’s usually good.




http://www.charlotte.com/364/story/438635.html

5 Year Anniversary Show Review

 Andy Fenstermaker celebrates five years of official Door Bum-dom this evening, and it is a deserving hallmark indeed. Last year’s Art Is Shit blended ATD’s briar-patch growl-and-holler into a hooch of illegal substance-fueled swamp rock and twisted hill-folk that careened between the profane and the holy, the deadly serious and the laugh-out-loud hilarious. Every time I play it I’m surprised anew, and when the 25th (!) track rolls around and the choir sweetly laments that “Rock ‘n’ Roll is dead,” you certainly don’t feel that way. Because in an era of post-everything hipster stances and multiculti plagiarism, Fenstermaker earns an accolade you just don’t hear much anymore: He is an absolute original. With 25 Minutes to Go, Babyshaker and 2013 Wolves.

Andy the Doorbum was definitely the meat of the sandwich on this night. Andy, along with a banjo and sax player, offered up a healthy portion of his acoustic music that gives the listener a good tune with poetic lyrics. His gruff voice occasionally gives way to something more melodic, but he’s quick to bounce between the two. His music bounces between something folk and the edge of metal for a unique style that isn’t heard often… anywhere. There’s no polish on his albums — usually found in the form of cassettes — but there shouldn’t be. His music is best heard live, raw and in the flesh anyway.

Andy the Doorbum continues to write poetic songs and provide an energy that isn’t often found in acoustic-led music.