Doctor Squid Gets Started At Tasty World

by Lindley Curtis
02/14/2008

Doctor Squid will be performing their third show in Athens, on Monday, Feb. 18, at Tasty World.

The band consists of rhythm guitarist, Larry Cardinal, 18, bass guitarist, Sam Perren, 18, lead guitarist, Mark Spurlock, 20, and drummer, Mike Thompson, 20.

Cardinal, Perren and Spurlock began playing together while in high school in Paulding County, Ga. They began to play with Thompson, a Charlotte, N. C., native, once they came to the University of Georgia.

Cardinal and Perren are also members of UGA’s Redcoat Marching Band, and play trumpet and trombone, respectively.

Participating in their middle school band program helped them learn to play the guitar and the bass, they said. Over the years they have experimented with playing a variety of instruments.

When all four began playing as a band, it was like pulling every possible rock genre together, from punk rock to classical rock to alternative rock. Perren’s love is the Beatles, but the only group the band as a whole can agree on is Weezer.

The band's first Athens public exposure was as the opening act at a Monday night show during finals week in December and then they played at Tasty World again in January.

Now, after only three shows, Tasty World has asked them to headline Monday’s lineup of four bands.

Cardinal said they like to think of their music as a type of “power pop.” It is a mellow alternative rock that is vocally driven.

Doctor Squid plays songs that are written by Cardinal and Spurlock, and will be introducing three new songs Monday.

Outside of Athens, Doctor Squid has played at home in Paulding County at The Skyline in Dallas, Ga. They enjoy playing close to home because it brings out a lot of their friends.

The band likes being able to share their music in an intimate setting, Perren said. They like bringing fun music to people, so that everyone can get into it.

“I came to their show unsure of what to expect, but now that I’ve heard them, I would actually go out and buy their CD,” said Valerie Kingsley, 19, after attending that now famous first Athens show in December.

The band promises lots of energy in their upcoming show.

Drummer and art major Mike Thompson is in the process of designing stickers and T-shirts for the band to sell and said items will be available soon.

The show starts Monday at 10 p.m. and costs $5. Other bands featured (in their order of appearance) are Green Screen, making their debut, Nero and the Burning Violins, and Stegosaurus.