(The following is part one of a two-part Pencil Storm piece from yours truly, JCE. Each part is basically a record review. It just so happens that both records feature the bass playing of a good friend of mine. I met Randy Mendicino when he was playing bass and singing in a band called 98 Colours around 1985. (You can read about that band here: Pencil Storm & Proust, Remembrance of Bands Past, part one: 98 Colours - by JCE (intro by Ricki C.) — Pencil Storm). Randy, like some of you, has steadfastly refused to stop doing what he loves, which is playing music. He has a day job and he has a great family, but he has never stopped playing. Over the many years I have known him, Randy Mendicino has been a part of 98 Colours, The Dollmakers, Cellophane, Spike the Dog, Heath Haynes & the Crying Shames, Spits USA, Horsehead, The Pollocks and now The Melody Chamber. And that is definitely not an all-inclusive list. I started to write about these two new records together, but upon further thought, I wanted to devote a post to each, hence the “Part One.” We will start with The Melody Chamber, but don’t miss the upcoming review of The Pollocks – Summer of Love in the very near future.)
PART ONE: THE MELODY CHAMBER
This new band out of Richmond, VA released a few songs leading up to the full release on November 7, 2025. The band’s social media describes them as a “southern gothic new romantic jangle pop band.” I would describe them as a highly melodic mash-up of The Psychedelic Furs (vocally) and Wire Train with a little bit of The Church thrown in. The band is the brainchild of Wallace Dietz and Daniel Deckelman (Dan-O). The first track on the record is called “Memories of Fall” and I hear a little bit of similarity with Richard Butler (Psychedelic Furs) in the vocals right away. The record has ten tracks, not a clunker in the bunch. “She’s Painting Zebras” is perhaps my favorite track. The aforementioned opening track and “This Train” are close behind. In all, there are ten stellar tracks that are all truly well-crafted and beautiful to listen to. The record is garnering a lot of attention in the indie pop world, and rightfully so. It has been landing on tons of “best of 2025” lists, including my own for Pencil Storm. It is a lush piece of work indeed. It shimmers and shines so bright you might need sunglasses when you drop it on your turntable. The production is nothing short of stellar, which is likely the result of one of the bands’ primary forces being a long-time sound engineer (Deckelman).
I caught up with Randy to talk about the record and get a few insights.
JCE: Hey Randy, thanks for doing this. Today, we’re starting with a great record by The Melody Chamber. This kind of came from nowhere, didn’t it? Tell me briefly how you got involved with this project.
Randy: I had worked with Dan-O on several projects over the years. When the time came to add bass to this group of songs, he contacted me.
JCE: I believe Dietz and Deckelman wrote all of these songs, maybe prior to your arrival. They’re great songs, and I hear some strong bass lines in all of them. When you were introduced to the songs, what was your reaction?
Randy: They sent me the sound sketches of several songs. I liked what I heard. The songs they sent me had bass on them. I pretty much played those parts. Maybe adding connecting pieces and a little more here & there.
JCE: To me, the record is really a throwback to an older era, yet it sounds really fresh at the same time. I think the only other record like that for me was “Out Come the Wolves” by Rancid. That record was such a throwback to old school punk when it came out, but it was so great. This record takes me back to so much of the post-punk, super-melodic stuff from the 1980’s, and I love it. Your thoughts?
Randy: Yeah, retro-modernist I’ve heard it called. The record definitely feels like that period in music.
JCE: I know the band has been rehearsing and plans to play some shows. I definitely plan to be there when that happens. I assume you’ll get started at one of the many great clubs in Richmond, but do you think you will take the show on the road at all?
Randy: As far as the road goes, I suppose we’ll have to wait to see what comes up.
JCE: There are videos for a few of the tracks (linked below). I’m just curious, have you been in music videos before? What’s that like, was there a director telling you what to do and someone telling you how to dress, or what was it like in general?
Randy: I’ve been involved in a couple but just background shots. They’ll tell you to wear light or dark clothing and give basic directions, “Look over there, now look over here.” Mostly a lot of sitting around. The old “hurry up and wait.”
JCE: I’ll stop here Randy, but I want to cover another band you are in, The Pollocks as well, so that will be Part Two. Thanks again for taking the time, and thanks for the vinyl copy of The Melody Chamber. Everyone should get one! Anything else you want to say?
Randy: Thanks John. It’s always great chatting with you. Looking forward to seeing you out and about!
Okay, here are the videos. Enjoy them, and go check out the record. It is really quite spectacular. And don’t forget to tune back in to Pencil Storm Thursday for Part Two – The Pollocks. That’s another new record you really don’t want to miss.
“Memories of Fall” by The Melody Chamber
“1 + 1” by The Melody Chamber
“This Train” by The Melody Chamber
JCE, or John to his friends, is a lifelong music fan living in rural central Virginia. From his first plastic record player, to his transistor radio, to his years immersed in the music scenes of D.C., and then Charlottesville, he has never stopped pursuing new music.
He is 62 years old, married 34 years and has a grown daughter. He is retired and life is good.