Salesman
Austin, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2006 | INDIE
Music
Press
“When a song arrives that is described as “It’s the desert-rock murder ballad of a dancing girl and her two boyfriends at a strip club called Deja Vu Showgirls in Colorado Springs, CO, near where I grew up”, I cannot imagine a song I would want to hear more…sounds a bit like Nick Cave’s more twisted, sicker twin and that is a very good thing indeed.” - John Grain, on Salesman's "So Much Faster" - Mad Mackerel
“When a song arrives that is described as “It’s the desert-rock murder ballad of a dancing girl and her two boyfriends at a strip club called Deja Vu Showgirls in Colorado Springs, CO, near where I grew up”, I cannot imagine a song I would want to hear more…sounds a bit like Nick Cave’s more twisted, sicker twin and that is a very good thing indeed.” - John Grain, on Salesman's "So Much Faster" - Mad Mackerel
"[Salesman has] an extraordinary musical palette with unusual patterns, tones and textures. Fry, himself, is fueled by a deeply-rooted desire to do away with paralyzing fears that prevent individuals from expressing themselves. He thrives on that residual feeling one gets after letting go. Salesman’s live shows feel downright cathartic." - KUT.org
"[Salesman has] an extraordinary musical palette with unusual patterns, tones and textures. Fry, himself, is fueled by a deeply-rooted desire to do away with paralyzing fears that prevent individuals from expressing themselves. He thrives on that residual feeling one gets after letting go. Salesman’s live shows feel downright cathartic." - KUT.org
"Salesman is the most original band I've heard since the Dirty Projectors ... one of the most original bands of the last ten years."
-Wayne Kramer, after joining Salesman onstage at Roky Erickson's Ice Cream Social during South By Southwest 2012 - Wayne Kramer, guitarist of the MC5
"Salesman is the most original band I've heard since the Dirty Projectors ... one of the most original bands of the last ten years."
-Wayne Kramer, after joining Salesman onstage at Roky Erickson's Ice Cream Social during South By Southwest 2012 - Wayne Kramer, guitarist of the MC5
“Sparse and powerful compositions…go see this band live. This is one you’ll regret having missed soon enough.” - Billy Thieme - Denverthread.com
“Sparse and powerful compositions…go see this band live. This is one you’ll regret having missed soon enough.” - Billy Thieme - Denverthread.com
Salesman's sound is cinematic and lyrical; D.fry could sing nonsense and I'd still enjoy it. The unsettling lyrics, however, complete this record. I find myself repeating "2nd Time," an eerie, redemptive lullaby... When he creaks out the words "no one's gonna fuck you around," the f-word feels dirty again.
-C. Benz, the Alaskan
"Fry shows that he knows how to create a mood with just a few carefully chosen elements... as a songwriter, he could be dangerous."
-Greg Kot, Chicago Public Radio and the Chicago Tribune
"Moody and mesmerizing sound drenched in harmonies..."
-Austinsound.net - The Chicago Tribune, The Alaskan, Austinsound.net
Salesman's sound is cinematic and lyrical; D.fry could sing nonsense and I'd still enjoy it. The unsettling lyrics, however, complete this record. I find myself repeating "2nd Time," an eerie, redemptive lullaby... When he creaks out the words "no one's gonna fuck you around," the f-word feels dirty again.
-C. Benz, the Alaskan
"Fry shows that he knows how to create a mood with just a few carefully chosen elements... as a songwriter, he could be dangerous."
-Greg Kot, Chicago Public Radio and the Chicago Tribune
"Moody and mesmerizing sound drenched in harmonies..."
-Austinsound.net - The Chicago Tribune, The Alaskan, Austinsound.net
Discography
"Wasp EP" released by the Castle Keep Collective (Austin, TX) 2012
"Four Legs" single, released on hand-lathed 7-inch singles by the Castle Keep Collective (Austin, TX) 2011
"So Much Faster" b/w "Red Jug Wine Lover" 7-inch vinyl released by TakeAKnee Recordings (Austin, TX) 2011
"Gatherer" EP, released by the Castle Keep Collective (Austin, TX), 2010
"Skull" EP, releaseed digitally and on repurposed laserdisc through People In A Position to Know Vinyl Recordings (Olympia, WA) 2009
"Salesman" 2007, hand paint-splattered CD only, 200 copies
"White Eyes EP" 2007 hand paint-splattered CD only, 400 copies
"Sweetheartr" 2008, hand collaged CD only, 800 copies
"Tour EP" 2008, hand collaged CD only, 300 copiesSalesman "Tour EP" 2008, hand collaged CD only, 300 copies
Photos
Bio
DJF started making music under the Salesman moniker in 2006 in Colorado.
"Salesman shows are downright cathartic." -Laurie Gallardo, KUT 90.5 FM
"The Visigoths had the same word for selling something at a market as they had for making a sacrifice," says singer Devin James Fry. "So every transaction involved the spirit. The word was 'sal-jan', which is where we get the word 'sell', and the name Salesman."
We love being alive, let madness go certain directions we have a hunch might be useful and then work it over by playing and saying and singing whatever we feel to each other which has taken time and doing and more doing to understand. We go by dreams but mainly just go. We have around six feet and whatever's left of seventy years apiece to see light which we do with many thanks to our families blood, musical & otherwise.
"Salesman is one of the most original bands of the last ten years." -Wayne Kramer, guitarist of the MC5 and founder of Jail Guitar Doors
Band Members
Links
