Quick & Easy Boys Talk

http://www.pittnews.com/node/20045

Quick & Easy Boys talk touring, writing and concrete

photo credit: Alex Steininger

Quick & Easy Boys
Sept. 26, 5:30 p.m.
Howler’s Coyote Cafe

Think quick and easy boys.

Now, get your mind out of the gutter and put an eclectic punk-rock band in the previous image’s place.

The Quick & Easy Boys are “a power-trio from Portland, Ore., that creates its own brand of rock ’n’ roll by mixing together honky-tonk, funk and a DIY punk attitude,” according to its MySpace page.

And if anyone wants to even try to fathom what its sound is like, its MySpace also suggests imagining “the Minutemen, Funkadelic and Willie Nelson rolled into one.”

The band members themselves first came together as a couple of young guys just looking for something to do together.

“We all started off playing in different bands in Eugene, Ore., where we met going to college,” Michael Goetz said in an e-mail interview.

The three band members were all around age 24 at the time, added Goetz.

“As we were all supporters of local music, we would [frequently] cross paths, and we finally formed the Quick and Easy Boys as [a sort of] collaboration,” Goetz said.

Since that day in 2005, The Quick & Easy Boys kept in line with its moniker and quickly made a name for itself in Eugene, Ore. Eventually the group traveled together to Portland and began building a fan base there, as well.

“It was nice already being in other bands as far as getting our name out,” Goetz said. “We all had different groups of friends that were brought to the table.”
These days, those first performance areas still hold a strong allure for the band because of fan loyalty.

“We have the largest pull in Portland, Hood River, Eugene [and] some other surrounding areas. Denver [and] Flagstaff [ Ariz.] are pretty good as well, but we love the home turf. On the road it seems to be pretty consistent,” Goetz said.

These days band players Jimmy Russell, Sean Badders and Goetz each have stage names, as well. Russel becomes guitarist Elvis O’Reilly. Badders is bass player Bon Shatsters. And Goetz himself is drummer Uncle T. Wankster. Each band member functions as a vocalist.

The 2008 release of the band’s album Bad Decisions With Good People has left people raving about its unique and vibrant sound.

“The album is kind of a funny story,” Goetz said. “There was a different drummer originally, but after he got a woman and became increasingly hard to get ahold of, the band contacted [me] to help get the album done. And since that moment, [I] became the new drummer.”

For the band, recording the album was not a fancy task.

“It was a very low budget, basement record and was kind of thrown by the wayside and not really pushed,” Goetz said. “Since then ... [the album has received] some attention, and [we] are currently working on another with a bit more push behind the it.”

The Quick & Easy Boys are currently on a headlining U.S. tour — a change from merely performing as an opening act for other bands.

When asked about what sort of insanity has happened on the band’s tour, Goetz wasn’t sure how to react.

“That’s kind of a loaded question, and we usually roll by the motto what happens on the road stays on the road,” Goetz said.

“But other than that, I would say the craziest and most unfortunate moment was in Denver. We had been partying with Lewis Black all night and hopped in a cab to go home when we were broad-sided by a drunk driver. [We] spent the night in the ER. The drummer suffered some pretty severe wounds and was out for about four months.”

And what if the band didn’t have music to keep it occupied?

“If we weren’t performing, we would probably be crying and holding each other, planning our next move,” Goetz said.

“The world is a scary place, but we’ve recently heard that the mortuary business is always crackin’, that and concrete,” he added.

“We are definitely happy with the progress we’ve been making. We would love to eventually go abroad, and that’s something we are looking into,” he said. “Playing music, traveling and meeting colorful people is our passion, so if we’re accomplishing that, we are happy.”

CD Review - Priscilla Renea

http://www.pittnews.com/node/20041

Priscilla Renea album as diverse as a 'Jukebox'

Priscilla Renea
Jukebox
B+
Capitol Records
Rocks like: Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Lily Allen

Jukeboxes still exist- in the form of new CD releases.

Priscilla Renea’s debut CD Jukebox reflects the variety of songs a real jukebox contains, bringing a little taste of every genre to the musical banquet.

Renea opens with a little techno and vocals, which go a long way.

“Dollhouse” is her first single for a reason. With catchy beats and some well-crafted lyrics, this song is bound to earn her some loving.

And love is what this album preaches. Every song is a cry for self-respect, quality relationships and not tolerating anything less.

Her techno sounds include pop drums and piano ballads, with Renea’s voice adjusting in level and character for each song. She makes the CD a journey for listeners to bounce through.

Renea is probably more accessible to women, but don’t jump to conclusions too fast. Perhaps her pop tones and cheerful lyrics will be spirit-lifters for both sides of the gender coin.

In The News

I received an e-mail a few days ago.

Congrats! Your article "Memorial Day" was chosen to be published in Teen Ink's print magazine! As such, it will be viewed by an estimated half-million readers of this issue.


This news is welcome indeed, even if the poem itself is not an epic.

Here's to a future with more writing!

"Local Pittsburgh jazz singer, Carolyn Perteete, takes the stage"

http://www.pittnews.com/node/19947

Local Pittsburgh jazz singer, Carolyn Perteete, takes the stage

photo credit: New Hazlett Theater

Perteete may be young, but she's got the talent to impress the greats.

Carolyn Perteete
Performing at New Hazlett Theater
September 19, 2009 8 p.m.
Tickets $10

Starting something new can be terrifying, especially for a young singer in an older genre of music.

“I’m probably the youngest singer in town,” 29-year-old jazz performer Carolyn Perteete said in an interview with The Pitt News. “I grew up with different music, I’m coming from a different place. I’m different by being younger than people on the scene in Pittsburgh.”

How did this young woman become a musician?

It kind of found her, she said. Cliché and yet poetic, it’s the truth. Perteete was never too sure about where she was going in life.

“I always liked singing, but I hadn’t really found anything I thought I was really good at,” she said.

Then, Perteete’s mother gave her an Ella Fitzgerald CD, and there was no question left in her mind.

“The first moment I heard it, the heavens opened. Everything just clicked,” she said.

Perteete began lessons with a local jazz singer and completed her music degree at Duquesne University. After that, she joined and performed with the Sean Jones sextet.

“When I was on tour with Sean Jones, I got to see a lot of the world and a lot of the country,” she said. “I got to sing in really great venues. That’s the highlight of my career so far.”

Even though Perteete’s tour ended, she is certainly not slowing down. “These days I’m feeling more than just jazz,” she said. “I’ve been writing my own music for the past year.”

According to Pereete, her music is all planned out but not quite pop.

“I approach it vocally the same way I approach jazz. I think the texture of my voice fits jazz but also fits this genre that I can’t put a name on.”

“I like being able to do both,” she added. “There aren’t many singers who can do both.”

And she is determined to differ from other singers in as many ways possible.

“The most important thing for me is people doing something different,” Perteete said. “I appreciate musicians writing their own music and trying to find their own voice, because that was original jazz — trying to find their own thing.”

Musicians are not doing their jobs if they’re not trying to be creative, according to Perteete. “If you’re trying to do stuff to please others and not yourself, that’s not the point.

“The only person I have to satisfy is myself,” she said.

But if she can please others, it’s certainly a pleasant bonus.

“Locally, when the greats like Roger Humphrey see me, they say they’re proud of me,” she said. “That means a lot. They don’t say that to just anybody.”

But Perteete isn’t too cocky just yet.

“I definitely know I have a lot to learn,” she said. “I don’t think I’ll ever be quite satisfied."

CD Reviews - Ballyhoo!, Owl City

http://www.pittnews.com/node/19926

Music of the Week: From mellow pop to surfer rock to teenybopper electronic

photo credit: Album: Cheers!

Artist: Ballyhoo!

Band: Ballyhoo!
Album: Cheers!
Label: Surfdog
Sounds Like: Sublime meets Yellowcard
Grade: B+

Every relationship has a story, and every story can be told in song.

Ballyhoo! uses Cheers! to tell tales about relationships, from the wonderful beginnings of what might be first love to the evils of a friendship going sour and of course, the inevitable breakup.

Relationship drama and wonders alike are conveyed through lyrics that aren’t really remarkable compositions but still hold some meat on their metaphorical bones — take a listen to “Paper Dolls,” a personal favorite.

Vocals alone will not impress listeners with a wide range of octave coverage, and instead the band’s focus goes to what instruments can be used to bulk
up and complete the song.

Ballyhoo! has a mean drummer who provides the perfect percussion base to go with the mellow surfer-dude guitar riffs. Every song is almost propelled forward by percussion alone.

They also have an awesome sound manager who perfectly mixes the guitar and bass with any effects needed to complete the emotional vibe the band strives to achieve.

In the end, the album’s accompaniment is done so well that every song has an easy-to-like melody.

There is no unnecessary dwelling on the relationship, and no tears will be found unless someone is just trying to cry.

And honestly, why do that when you could dance along to mellow rock music instead?

*

Band: Owl City
Album: Ocean Eyes
Label: Universal Republic
Sounds Like: Lights, Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie
Grade: A-

Who says insomnia is a bad thing? Musician Adam Young claims it’s what led to his compositions and the creation of the musical project called Owl City.

Experimenting with electronic music until it sounds far more natural than expected, Owl City’s newest album Ocean Eyes bounces about in style between pop, orchestral and a sharper rock.

The funny thing is, no matter what style the electronics are imitating, it almost always works. Somehow it stays peaceful and charming.

In addition, the vocalist’s voice harmonizes perfectly with the pitch of the keyboard and intricate sounds. The result is a captivating set of songs with a multitude of sounds to share.

Lyrics are not average at all — the opening song has one line that ends, “ ... Every mushroom cloud / Has a silver lining.” Rack the points up for sharp-witted creativity.

No song will ever come out and forthrightly explain what it means. It’s like a refreshing poetry reading available on your iPod.

Even if a sad element emerges in any of the songs, the vibe consistently remains passive, allowing for tranquility and enjoyment in one round regardless of the lyrics’ tone.

Perhaps the best lesson that can be picked up is, “I’d rather pick flowers / Instead of fight / And rather than flaunt my style / I’d flash you a smile.”

And while Owl City seems to drift in its own little world of music, its poetry can have a place in the real world, too.

CD Review - Bad Veins

http://www.pittnews.com/node/19856

Bad Veins anything but bad

Band: Bad Veins
Album: Bad Veins
Grade: B
Record Label: Dangerbird Records
Sounds Like: The Fray, Race the Ghost

Riddle me this: Why would an album be named Bad Veins if it doesn’t qualify as “bad” anything?

Tucked away inside a CD case is the catchy self-titled release from indie duo Bad Veins.
Between the two musicians come 10 songs of interest to the ear.

The duo’s musical style is varied. One song opens with a drum march and another with a soft, feminine vocal demonstration. Some take on interesting sounds from multiple instruments, such as the harmonica, brass and some string instruments.

In the end, each song has its own flare, but each song also has the uniting feature of a distinct and desirable beat.

Keeping up with its instruments, the band’s lyrics are certainly not of the highest quality, but at the same time, they are more satisfying to the ear than a bad pop song.

Personal tastes will either give the singers the thumbs-up or thumbs-down. At least the instruments are set.

Sona The Voice in the 'Burgh

http://www.pittnews.com/node/19783

Sona brings his voice to Pittsburgh

Being heard is important to anyone, especially to emerging hip-hop artist Sona the Voice, an independent rapper offering a different message than the mainstream media.

Born in Cameroon, West Africa, Sona has spent his life struggling to move forward and shares a message about the status of the world and its social and political issues with anyone who will listen.

“Some people are scared to stand up,” Sona said. “I stand apart and say, ‘Look, this thing seems wrong. This thing seems right. Why don’t we think about it for a minute.’”

With the memories of growing up in poverty inside a crowded house in West Africa, Sona went on to put the past to good use, sharing his message with any listener who has open ears.

“I write about things in my past and also about some of the social struggles around the world,” Sona said. “There are a lot of people in America who do not get to see how some people live around the world.
While living in Africa, music became his escape.

Sona described the imported music from America and Europe as “music for people who don’t really have an outlet.”

Tupac was his favorite among all the artists.

“He kind of gave me a way out,” Sona said. “I would say that was my connection. He was an outlet in a country where you cannot speak your mind.”

Sona’s opinion of hip-hop and rap came from listening to music such as Tupac’s, and his opinion is set in stone.

“To me, good hip-hop is the traditional hip-hop that helps uplift people.” Sona said. “[Hip-hop’s] not about people talking about how much money they have or disrespecting someone else. It’s not about talking about how many women you can get. Good hip-hop is not about bragging. There are some social issues that could be addressed by music and helped by music compared to the so-called hip-hop we have nowadays.”

Sona’s belief that music should not always be about making money was also on his mind when his first single became popular.

“I always try to not get in over my head, just because I haven’t accomplished my goals,” Sona said. “It was a good thing, and it felt good in the sense that I was getting some good response and people were getting the message. And pretty much, that’s what I’m trying to accomplish. I’m trying to bring people into the reality.

So, what is his music about? Everything.

“It’s not just social issues. It’s about the music, too,” Sona said. “What I like to say is that it’s not only about bling bling. It’s not only about the money. It’s about helping each other. It’s about helping your neighbor and loving your neighbor.”

And, while all of his goals have not been accomplished, he will continue to produce music.

“I’ll consider myself an alternative,” Sona said. “Someone who is not going to let people impose something to him. I don’t let anyone stop me just because I’m independent. It means I make a sacrifice to create a change.”

In the end, according to Sona, “All that stuff kind of comes together and kind of makes me the person I am.”