Texas-based multi-instrumentalist John Dulfilho is responsible for a lot of great music, whether as founder of The Deathray Davies and I Love Math or as drummer with psych-pop Elephant 6 collective Apples in Stereo. With eight albums to his credit since 2000, Dufillho has another 45 or so fully finished songs sitting in his back pocket – a collection Apples’ frontman Robert Schneider calls “a production masterpiece” and describes as “high art.” Dulfilho is releasing 14 of these tracks under the moniker John Singer Sergeant, whose self-titled debut will be released on April 10 on Kirtland Records.

On his first full-length album since 2008, John Singer Sergeant finds Dufilho taking a high-minded route: the name refers to 19th Century American painter John Singer Sargent and the album lives up to its namesake with a colorful, impressionistic sonic palette buzzing with creativity and full of inspired collaborations. Dufilho recorded, performed, and mixed the 14 backing tracks entirely by himself, aside from a few piano parts played by Rich Martin, then invited a cast of musician acquaintances and close family friends to replace him on lead vocals — included in this crop of guest contributors are Ben Kweller, The Apples’ Schneider, Rhett Miller, Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla, Centro-matic’s Will Johnson, Kool and the Gang’s remarkable Sir Earl Toon and indie chanteuse Sarah Jaffe, each of whom lends their own recognizable vocal stylings to Dufilho’s music.

Erik Sanden will join John in Austin on May 4 (The Parish on 6th st.)  and in Dallas on May 5 (The Granada Theater)  to sing three songs from this new album, including the one that Erik sang on the record, “Lazy Days Are Good.”   Click on the “upcoming gigs” to the right for more info…Sarah Jaffe headlines. Read more: http://www.bloginity.com/2012/03/project-john-dufilho-john-singer-sergeant/#ixzz1td03pflB

I believe you can purchase a ticket for just this performance for just $5.  Don’t quote me on that.

Read a glowing review of this performance in Glasstire Magazine.

Culo de Oro/The Golden Ass, June 2011 from Julia Barbosa Landois on Vimeo.

Grackle Mundy is Buttercup’s signature performance, eclectic and full of surprises. This night the band returns to San Antonio and hopes to bring new takes on many of their favorite songs. Buttercup will be joined by drummer Jason Garner (the Polyphonic Spree, Deathray Davies) and will be doing an early tribute to Mothers in advance of Mother’s day. Pay for your mother and YOU get in free.

Painting by John Howard Sanden

Monday April, 16, 2012
Doors 6pm
Music 7pm-9pm
Cover: $5 or spin the wheel, if you bring your Mother and pay for her you get in free
Beer, wine and delicious food available from Blue Star Brewing Co for purchase

“Buttercup conjures an alternate universe where Ray Davies and David Byrne collaborate on jangly pop songs with unexpected twists in the shade of the Alamo.”
— David Brown, NPR

“…I can honestly say that I’ve never witnessed any musical performance quite as wildly inventive, unique and fun as Buttercup’s “Grackle Mundy” shows.
When you write about music for a living, it’s sometimes all too easy to get a little jaded and occasionally flat-out weary of seeing live music on a regular basis.
But, Buttercup, bless ‘em, made me a believer all over again.”
— Richard Skanse, Texas Music Magazine

“Remember when music was fun? San Antonio quartet Buttercup masters the breezy good times of Texas summer on second LP Hot Love (Bedlamb). Pre-released song by song through singer Erik Sanden’s grassroots Dial-a-Song service, Hot Love rings up somewhere between early Flaming Lips and GBV. Buttercup is really just having a good time, and if you listen close enough, you can hear them laughing.”
— Darcie Stevens, The Austin Chronicle

Blue Star Brewing
1414 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78210-1117
View Map · Get Directions

We are in the throes of this massive drought/heat wave thingy in Texas and like all good critters, we are going underground. Actually, we are steadily amassing the songs for our new record and letting Odie enjoy his visit with his son, Kenji.
So we will be off the beaten path for a few weeks. In the meantime, stay cool and we’ll keep you posted on how the record’s shaping up. A big thanks to Jon, Claire, Marc, George (Paraguay) and Sally Crewe for coming down and sharing the night with us at Boneshakers. We had a great time listening and playing. Also, thanks to everyone at Boneshakers. We are always treated so well there. Thanks guys.
See you all soon!
Le Cup

Here’s what’s up. You guys are the best ever.
Thank you ,Joseph, for driving to my house, bringing me presents and playing at my party!
I wanted to send a hand-written thank you letter to all of you, but I was afraid of coming across as creepy.
And even though this email cannot suffice in gratitude, I hope you guys get the main idea, which is–

thanks! for: making great music, emailing my persistent mother, playing music for my party, giving me a hand-written card, your demos, and a guitar strap (I’m wondering; is it Joe’s?), and for being genuinely kind, successful musicians.

I’m especially grateful to Joe, but I know if guys could of been there you would have; and that blows my mind.

I’ll be at future shows, but I wanted to write out a brief summary of my gratitude towards all of you.

so, gracias.
You made my party “superior”.

sincerely,
-selena puente

We are pleased to announce that we’ll be playing the Pearl Amphitheater on July 3, 2011, from 2 to 5 PM.

The stage stands a stone’s throw away from, Tacoland, and so we may throw some test stones just to say “hey p***y” to our old friend.

The irony of these shows for us and others who used to hang out or play at  Tacoland is quite palpable. But it will be nice to be near where we many of us used to play, back when this part of the San Antonio River was a little more treacherous.

So please help us celebrate the Fourth of July holiday at this new/old place for music.

Love,

Buttercup

Buttercup at the Pearl Amphitheater

Sunday, July 3, 2011 from 2 to 5 PM

Near the intersection of Grayson and Elmira

Free Admission

We are gussying up the new songs for our next record. It’s going to be a loud one or we need hearing aides or both. And as always we are grateful for your support. As individuals, we all have families and friends, but as a band we exist in a vacuum (except when we’re working) until a fan’s Mom asks us to visit her daughter Selena’s graduation party and we visit for a bit, chat about the music biz (bad), summer jobs (worse), play a song (better) and then let the fajitas continue to flow (best). Congratulations Selena! Congratulations also to Joseph for winning the Phil Collins cassette at our Trinity U show!  And thanks again to Angela for the invitation!

Tuesday, June 7 in Main Plaza (San Antonio, 78205) from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM.

Friday, June 17 at Club Deville (900 Red River, Austin, TX 79701) with The Service Industry from 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM.

Saturday, June 18 at Club Dada (2720 Elm St, Dallas TX 75226) with The O’s from 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM.

Thanks again. We hope to see you all soon.

Love,

C U P

We are performing in Austin this weekend at the quarry-like club called Club Deville (900 Red River) this Saturday. It’s a great lineup featuring our pal and producer Salim Nourallah from Dallas and our friends from Austin itself, Leatherbag.

Salim kicks things off at 10 pm and as an added treat, our good friend and drummer extraordinaire (Apples in Stereo, Phil Collins, Modern Drummer) John Dufilho will be pounding the skins for both Salim and The Cup. He will also be conducting a drum clinic at the back bar. Make your reservations now!

Thanks and please excuse our inactivity on this site. We will strive to serve you better in the future.

Love,

Buttercup