New Cleveland alternative music from the band Proof I Exist is further evidence I should visit. Two things come to mind when I think of Cleveland. First, it’s the home town of Liz Lemon’s early boyfriend, Floyd DeBarber (Jason Sudeikis) on 30 Rock. Liz nearly Flees NYC with Floyd after an idyllic vacation in Cleveland. Second, more obviously, Cleveland held the cavernous backstage that so confused Spinal Tap.
Proof I Exist is alternative music Cleveland (and you!) should hear
Paul Kulis — stand by a second, we’ll return to Hollywood with Kulis — is the band Proof I Exist. His White Picket Fences EP starts with an earworm guitar hook and chorus on the glossy title track, “Hard to Believe.”
Trying to place the influence there…what is it? Am I hearing The Smithereens?! From here, Kulis moves through three more cuts that carry a host of mid-90’s crossover acts like the Gin Blossoms on “Colin’s Song” and “The End.” Never thought I would name check Gin Blossoms in a blog post.
White Picket Fences wraps with the easy Sunday strum of “Finally” that could be a deep cut from a 90’s MTV Unplugged release.
Proof I Exist is the actor Paul Kulis
Turns out Kulis is a Cleveland-based actor with multiple minor roles in movies like The Fate of the Furious, Joker and The Irishman. Acting and writing music are just a couple of his occupations. For a taste of some new Cleveland alternative music, buy his White Picket Fences EP from Bandcamp.
Oh, and The Smithereens had a Christmas album! Who knew? You probably always wanted to know how the Smithereens would sound playing “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and you can do it here.