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A free download of It’s Elephant’s debut LP, “Little Trouble in Chinatown,” is available at www.threefortysevenaugusta.com. (Credit: Photo provided)

It’s Elephant’s recorded their 2008 album, “Little Trouble in Chinatown” at Nickel and Dime studios, a converted theatre in Avondale Estates, Ga.

The facility’s 25-foot ceilings helped contribute to the record’s warm, natural production. Velvet curtains added to the vibe.

“There was something about being in that space,” says It’s Elephant’s multi-instrumentalist David Fountain.

Unfortunately Nickel and Dime is now closed, Fountain says; a “victim of the whole economy thing.”

“Little Trouble” is a worthy relic of the studio. The song titles reveal a punk rock/ Charles Bukowski sense of humor.

“Brightside of An Ulser” scatters bar room truths over four chords. On “Two Beers & Mr. Coffee,” frontman Brent Jay digs deep over guitar geometry and horn section punctuation.

Based in Atlanta, It’s Elephant’s is giving away “Little Trouble” for free, and not just the download available atwww.threefortysevenaugusta.com. Physical copies are gratis too.

“The philosophy behind that is if people come hear us and we’re a band they’ve never heard of they’re probably not going to pay $10 (for a CD),” Fountain says. “This way people can listen to us and become fans of our music. I think the compact disc as a medium is sort of dying.”

Initially, Fountain began working with It’s Elephant’s—which also includes bassist Barrett Range and drummer Justin Shotwell—as “somewhat of a producer.” Eventually he was brought in as a full-time member: the musical equivalent of baseball’s utility infielder.
Fountain added piano, steel guitar, mandolin and even horns to the “Little Trouble” material.

Although he digs his role as It’s Elephant’s resident Brian Jones, Fountain enjoys playing keys the best. That trend will likely continue as he recently picked up a 1968 Wurlitzer electric piano.

“Sonically, the combination of guitar and piano has a little bit more weight and gravity,” Fountain says. “I also like playing pedal steel a lot although I don’t know what I’m doing.”

It’s Elephant’s is currently touring the Southeast, with upcoming stops in Athens, Ga., and Mobile, Ala. In the van, the band has been listening to Big Star, The Pixies and Tears for Fears, Fountain says.

And they’ve already begun work on a follow-up to “Little Trouble.” Fountain describes the new tunes as “Fugazi meets the Beach Boys.”

“At the heart of it is very fuzzy pop music; it’s like a teddy bear gone wrong,” he says.

It’s Elephants: ‘Like a teddy bear gone wrong’ [Metromix Greenville]