The Mashti's Little Journey

Itai, Erica, and Neil are no longer the Mashtis.

The band has apparently called it quits after a notable three-year run. The seven-inch “A Canopy of Sundays” and the complimentary digital EP included for free download with it will serve as the band’s swansong. The EP is considered one of the best local releases from 2011 and provides proof of another local act going out at the top of their game. The group had a handful of performances set up for the upcoming South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, which had to be canceled.

According to singer/guitarist Itai Faierman, drummer Neal Bociek wants to devote more of his time working on his metal art sculptures and bassist/singer Erica Putis wants to spend more of her time working on her clothing line, Nuclear Clothing, and custom jewelry.

“One thing I very much appreciate about Erica and Neal is that they are both creative in their own ways,” Faierman said.

Faierman cited a show at Spaceland in Los Angeles, playing the Atari Lounge at the Casbah during a Film School performance, and recording with Mike Kamoo at Earthling in El Cajon as his highlights of the band’s run. He added that singing with Erica was “by far the most fun I have had singing with another musician.”

Faierman is not going to stay inactive for long, though. He has begun collaborating with local guitarist singer/songwriter Mike Flynn in a yet-to-be-named project. They better think of a name quick, though, as they have a show scheduled for Thursday, April 12, at Bar Eleven. Faierman said he is shooting to have eight or nine songs ready for the performance.

As far as the new material goes, Faierman describes it as “kinda like the stuff I was doing in the Mashtis but different in the sense that it has a lot of layers. There are alternating guitar parts and alternating vocal lines. It’s very melodic but also psychedelic, which is [Flynn’s] background. We might throw an ’80s drum machine in there. We are going to be switching instruments a lot. We have known each other as friends for so long that we don’t have to talk too much, we just kind of vibe.”

As for the Mashtis, Faierman feels the band ran its course and went out at the right time.

“We went on a little journey and popped out on the other side.”