Back when “indie rock” was a more definable term, Papas Fritas were one of our city’s definitive exports. Innocent, catchy and carefree, the Tufts University trio released three albums between 1995 and 2000.
“We had gotten a record deal right before we graduated from college, but it was for $2,000,” notes guitarist Tony Goddess. “But it still blew our minds that people wanted to spend that much money on us. We said we’d give it a year and made enough to pay rent. Then we gave it another year and had meetings with major labels and were trying to ask for the bank.”
Playing their last show in 2002, bassist Keith Gendel and drummer Shivika As-thana left the area while Goddess stayed in Gloucester. Like many local notables, their Euro fan base was much larger. A promoter invited them to play the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona next week alongside The National and Pulp.
“One of the guys from Primavera said he was at all of our shows when we played in Spain and asked if we wanted to do the festival,”?says Goddess. “It’s such a big gig, we couldn’t resist.”
