Cover Story AIR TIME: Jon Barthmus (left) and Patrick Marsceill are enjoying the good life.
Colin Kerrigan spends the day with Philly's classiest shoegazers.
Relaxing in the
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t’s early afternoon on one of the coldest days of the year in late January. Jon Barthmus, the brainchild behind Sun Airway, sits in his quiet, retrostyle South Philadelphia home, nestled between two 80-something-year-old Italian neighbors. His brand new record player is spinning some 50’s big band vinyl that complements the atmosphere perfectly. Blanch, his extremely friendly cat, rolls around playing with nothing in particular, completely satisfied. Barthmus sifts through a variety of tea bags before settling on Zen Green Tea. He’s patiently waiting for the other half of Sun Airway’s recording duo, Patrick Marsceill, to pick him up. The two of them have a one o’clock appointment to get a straight razor
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shave, sometimes know as a cutthroat shave, at The Art of Shaving on Walnut Street. Marsceill is driving down from Fishtown so he’s running a little late. As usual.
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arthmus, 30, and Marsceill, 27, have the type of chemistry that only true best friends have. They first met more than a decade ago during their college days at Drexel University. Barthmus, who studied graphic design, had formed another band previous to Sun Airway called The A-Sides. That band had a more traditional indie rock sound compared to his project now. The original drummer of the band bailed rather quickly and Barthmus’ friend recommended his Cosi coworker, Marsceill, who was studying information
science with a minor in business. Marsceill lived half a block away from Barthmus and passed the test on his first visit. Now they make dreamy, shoegaze, psych-pop music together.
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arsceill finally arrives to pick up Barthmus and they only have five minutes to get to their appointment. Once in the car, 80’s pop music blasts from the radio. “This is like a Delorean cover band,” says Marsceill as he drives around Center City looking for a parking spot. The next song to come on the radio is Sheryl Crow’s If It Makes You Happy and Barthmus mockingly sings along. “I always did want to take on a really shitty song to cover and see if I can make it sound decent,” explains Barthmus. jumpphilly.com