Monday, October 31, 2011

The Floorwalkers release "Spooks" for Halloween

Prior to Halloween, The Floorwalkers released the vaudeville-style number "Spooks" on iTunes. Watch this Ohio Sessions video to see the band perform this spine-tingling chanty for a bus-bound audience in Columbus, Ohio.


Filmed by Andrew Baasch
Lyrics: "Spooks" 
Source: www.thefloorwalkers.com

Ghosts in the graveyard run, child, run, evils arising with the falling sun
Ghosts in the graveyard the little boy shouts 'cause mama can't save you now
Ready or not he's coming for you, darkness falls on the devils moon
Night wind howls and the raven screams, mushroom scowls, the nightmare dreams

Oh but children run cause he's coming don't you scream just keep on runnin',
Children run, cause he'll find you don't look back, he's behind you, he'll find you
My Donna keeps turning she can't sleep at night, she's got them spooks with her at night,
I've got them spooks all around my bed, chill up my spine hair rise upon my head
Taste the moonlight on your tongue, taste of blood all night long,
It's too much to bare, it's too much to live, too much to have something's gotta give.
Oh but children run cause he's coming don't you scream just keep on runnin',
Children run, cause he'll find you don't look back, he's behind you, behind you
Hearts of clover dagger and sage placed upon the unknown grave
Skull shaker, skull shaker hen's egg and thyme, a lifeless body crawls back through time
Morning wake and evil falls, black night of fear becomes us all
Twilight mist, the dragon fleas another day we live, live to see
Oh but children run cause he's coming don't you scream just keep on runnin', children run, cause he'll find you don't look back, he's behind you, he'll find you spooks


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Show to See: Thursday, Oct. 27 – Nicky English at Grog Shop

Rocker Nicky English will play at Grog Shop on Thursday, October 27, with TS & The Past Haunts (featuring Travis Shettel of Piebald), Aficionado and ME before he migrates southwest from the cold, coming winter to make Southern California his new home.

The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10, purchase in advance here.

The former Posh Army frontman recorded a Live From Bad Racket session earlier this year. Watch Nicky English and band perform "Call You Back."


Live From Bad Racket is an award-winning series produced by Aaron Freeder. 

First Listen: The Black Keys "Lonely Boy"

In their typical jocose fashion, The Black Keys release a randomly awesome video for the first listen of "Lonely Boy," a new single off the new album, El Camino, due to launch on December 6.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Live, Local Music is at Heart of Bad Racket Anniversary Show

Written by Priscilla Tasker

Camaraderie and music pulsed through the multi-colored paneled walls of Bad Racket Recording Studio in Ohio City as friends and artists gathered to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the business that is growing into a mainstay of the Cleveland music scene. An intimate crowd upwards of 60 people assembled to swill a few brews and listen to area bands play on the small stage centered in the studio chamber.

Ladybird and The Folk led off the night to entertain early arrivers with live incantations of spritely verse and acoustic-driven progressions.
 Bad Racket Anniversary Show! – October 21, 2011
©Bad Racket

An assorted mix of folk mingled in the dimly lit room around miscellaneous seating arrangements, a makeshift coffee table propped up by tires, and a piano bar, behind which was a keg of Buckeye Brewing’s Cleveland Beer Week “special brew” – a gift bestowed to the studio owners by its crafter. 
Humble Home emerged to the performance platform. Nebulous harmonies and ghostly minstrelsies soon filled and hung in the space with listeners yielding to the beauty of sound suspended in air. Many of the band’s songs are doleful and pensive in nature, but the four men delivered a lively set. To appease the congregation’s calls for one more song, the band closed with an upbeat work in progress, “Welcome Home,” giving witnesses a first listen to the song which had never before been played outside of the Humble Home practice space.

Humble Home at Bad Racket – October 21, 2011
©Bad Racket
Although Ladybird and Humble Home were the only artists promoted as part of the bill, Bad Racket invited several other musicians with whom the studio’s worked to take the stage. 
After a brief intermission, Thaddeus Greene and The So & So’s roused the company of music lovers with swelling vintage rock grooves, harkening to acid rock days. The band played as a duo, Greene and drummer Anthony Foti (also of Humble Home). With a few words, they paid tribute to ailing bassist, Matthew Augusta, who was unable to join them for the evening.
Thaddeus Greene at Bad Racket – October 21, 2011
©Bad Racket

The extended lineup drove the event well beyond its scheduled end time of 11 p.m. Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money strolled in close to midnight, after the band’s show at Wilbert’s, to set the party off with its blues-bound rock ‘n’ roll. The performance was marked by G. Patrick Jenkins III’s exhibition of his new lead guitar role. The energy of the full band behind familiar tunes sent a few individuals into a dizzying dance.
Cool Jason and Pat Mulloy wound down the night with a few good ol’ boy bar tunes before the crowd dwindled. There were only a hand full of people left talking and diddling around on the instruments strewn about the stage as Bad Racket’s Thomas Fox picked up the acoustic guitar to croon a couple of tunes in the quiet company of those who remained.


ººº
Listen to The Rhythm Report's pre-show interview with two of three Bad Racket co-owners, Adam Wagner and Thomas Fox.


Read about one of many wins for Bad Racket in 2011 in this article: Last-minute music fest takes Rock Hall, Science Center


Bad Racket, LLC is owned and operated by Thomas Fox, Adam Wagner and James Kananen.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

A Rhythm Report Film – The Great Unsaid: Documented

I know many of you have been waiting for it. And to my patient patrons and Benjamin Barr fans, I present The Great Unsaid: A Documented Tale.

In March 2011, Barr produced and directed a music video to accompany the debut of his musically inclined alter ego Jim Truth's single "The Great Unsaid." The song is the sixth track on the album Caught and Held Fast, which Barr originally released under a different title in 2010 and re-recorded under its new moniker with the help of Bad Racket Recording Studio earlier this year.

Filmed at The Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights and Barr's Ohio City home, The Great Unsaid: A Documented Tale captures the escapades of the crew and cast during the two-day video shoot as well as the director's reflections on the production. The documentary premiered at the music video release party in June. This is the first time it has been released online.


The Great Unsaid: Documented
Run time: 10 minutes, 44 seconds

Produced and directed by Priscilla Tasker of The Rhythm Report and De los angeles Productions 
in association with Benjamin Barr and Failure Films
Standard definition Grog Shop footage shot by Priscilla Tasker
HD Grog Shop footage shot by Eric Leiser, Sian Wright and Len Ganley
Director interview filmed by Sian Wright and Eric Leiser

Watch the music video for Jim Truth's "The Great Unsaid," too.



A music in film spotlight: Before the Music Dies

Bob Dylan's long-winded, socially critical compositions would not fit the modern recording industry's model for a successful pop artist, and yet, he is revered among musicians and fans for his brilliant storytelling and ability to capture an era with his music. But what if he had never been given the shot? How would the history of American music and Rock & Roll been affected?

The history of the music industry would not be the same without transformative artists such as Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, among a multitude others.

Director Andrew Shapter and Producer Joel Rasmussen explore the disenfranchisement of the modern musical artists in the shadow of million-dollar pop entertainers funded and created by music recording and entertainment giants in the documentary Before the Music Dies, released in 2007.





This one-hour and 28-minute film features interviews with legendary musicians from a variety of genres and decades including Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, Elvis Costello, Erykah Badu, Bonnie Raitt; Pop Music Critic for USA Today Edna Gundersen; CBS News Sunday Morning Contributor Nancy Giles; Secrets of the Pros, Inc. Founder Ken Walden; an anonymous Clear Channel executive; other recording industry professionals; and, of course, music fans from across the country.

Shapter and Rasmussen conduct an experiment to demonstrate how pop stars, American culture's prized celebrities, are created and hyped up with a formula that is evermore evident in today's entertainment industry.

The issues addressed in this documentary filmed five years ago still fester in the undercurrent of the growing indie music circuit.

With the advent of the internet and home recording software, musicians across the U.S. and around the globe have the power to write, record, produce and promote their own music records without the backing of recording industry conglomerates. However, the business motivation of titans like Clear Channel, among other entertainment corporations, affect how fans hear and discover music and musicians' ability to be exposed to the masses.


Watch the film on Hulu and share your thoughts about where today's music industry is heading in this article's comment box.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Bad Racket Anniversary Show! Full interview with Thomas Fox and Adam Wagner

Rhythm Reporter Priscilla Tasker interviews Thomas Fox and Adam Wagner of Bad Racket about their Ohio City-based studio’s first year in business. In this 12-minute interview, the two Cleveland entrepreneurs talk about the goals they set for 2011, the making of the Live from Bad Racket series, organizing 6ixth City Tech Fest's musical lineup earlier in July, and the artists they've worked with since the studio officially opened shop on October 17, 2010. 

Bad Racket Anniversary Show! Interview with Thomas Fox and Adam Wagner by TheRhythmReport
Featured music: "Let Me Be" Thaddeus Greene – Recorded at Bad Racket Recording Studio – August 20, 2011 (Song is scheduled for official release later this fall.)



Bad Racket Anniversary Show! 
Friday, October 21 – 8 p.m.
Musical acts: Humble Home and Ladybird and The Folk
Free event with registration
Find more information and register at http://anniversaryshow.eventbrite.com/.

Bad Racket, LLC is owned and operated by Thomas Fox, Adam Wagner and James Kananen.


Thursday, October 20, 2011

TONIGHT: Revolution Brass Band @ Beachland, Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money @ Musica

Live Music Update — Thursday, October 20

Revolution Brass Band
The eight-piece brass ensemble will be performing its array of jazzy funk & blues instrumentals at The Beachland Ballroom & Tavern tonight. Revolution Brass Band executes with precision as the band plays its original compositions and cover arrangements. RBB will open for the jazz, soul group The Bo-Keys from Memphis.


Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12.


Watch Revolution Brass Band perform "SuperdopalisciousRedClayMatthews," an original arrangement of Outkast's "SpottieOttieDopaliscious" and Freddy Hubbard's "Red Clay", in this Rhythm Report video from Great Lakes Burning River Festival 2011.




Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money
A musician originating from Chardon, Tom Evanchuck, will take the stage at Musica with the backing of his band, The Old Money, this Thursday. Evanchuck and crew is one more Northeast Ohio homegrown act that is bursting at the seams of opportunity. Catch the band in Akron before the TOM heads South for its first extended regional tour. The band is opening for Robin Electric.


Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 advanced. Purchase here.


Read The Rhythm Report's recent interview with Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money.


Musica is located at 51 East Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44308.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Paste Magazine highlights Cleveland's The Lighthouse and the Whaler - "Venice" premiere

Song Premiere: The Lighthouse and the Whaler - "Venice" :: Featured Audio :: Paste

In case you missed it last week, Cleveland's own The Lighthouse and the Whaler (TLATW) was featured on PasteMagazine.com in an exclusive premiere of the band's "Venice" studio recording. "Venice" is the first single off of the TLATW's This Is An Adventure album, pending release. This Is An Adventure was recorded at Seattle-based Bear Creek Studios with producer Ryan Hadlock. 

The band leaked a recording of "Venice" earlier this year as part of its Daytrotter session in July.

This Friday, Oct. 21, TLATW is on Paste & Rdio's roster for the three-day Afternoon Delight at the Living Room event in New York City.

Are you paying attention to Northeast Ohio's music scene yet? Share this article and spread TLATW love.



Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Cleveland to consider dropping 8 percent admissions tax on small clubs — Cleveland.com

News from Cleveland.com — "Four members of Cleveland City Council [Joe Cimperman, Michael Polensek, Jay Westbrook and Matt Zone] introduced legislation Monday that would exempt clubs holding less than 700 people from the city's 8 percent admission tax ... The proposed exemption follows the lead of Seattle, which waives its admission tax for clubs holding less than 1,000 people." - Thomas Ott, The Plain Dealer

Get full details on the proposal, reaction from Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson in Ott's blog post:
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/10/cleveland_to_consider_dropping.html

Cleveland residents, I implore you to take 20 minutes to write or call your local legislators about this issue. Help Cleveland music thrive; it cannot without the venues that open their doors to art. In Ott's blog post, Happy Dog owner Sean Watterson is mentioned as saying the city has the potential to be a "destination music city," which was exactly my sentiments after a recent visit to Nashville. A Cleveland renaissance is percolating, and we have the artists and venues to support it. We need the fans to support it, too. Contact your city council member today.

Audio Tease: Bad Racket interview with Thomas Fox and Adam Wagner, full interview to come

Rhythm Reporter Priscilla Tasker interviews Thomas Fox and Adam Wagner of Bad Racket about their studio’s first year in business. In this short, the two Cleveland entrepreneurs tell how they met at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio.
Bad Racket Interview - Teaser - October 18, 2011 by TheRhythmReport

Featured music: “Caught (and held fast)" by Jim Truth from the album Caught and Held Fast. Principal recording by BNAB at The Liar’s Lair. Additional recording and mixing by Adam Wagner (Bad Racket)


Bad Racket Anniversary Show! 
Friday, October 21 – 8 p.m.
Musical acts: Humble Home and Ladybird and The Folk
Free event with registration
Find more information and register at http://anniversaryshow.eventbrite.com/.


Bad Racket, LLC is owned and operated by Thomas Fox, Adam Wagner and James Kananen.


Stay tuned for the extended interview later this week.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Shows to see at Musica in Akron this week

Tuesday, October 18 — The Floorwalkers 
This soulful, funk-rock band from Columbus, Ohio is going to grace the stage at Musica in Akron. The six-piece has been busy touring up and down the U.S. Although the band is currently based in the state's capitol, the founding members of this group are from Chardon, Geauga County. Northeast Ohioans come out to support this locally grown group. At the rate this band's headed toward its dream, you may not be able to catch them around town all too often. 


Show starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $10 advanced. Purchase here.


Read more about The Floorwalkers in this Rhythm Report article


Thursday, October 20 — Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money
Another musician originating from Chardon, Tom Evanchuck, will take the stage at Musica with the backing of his band, The Old Money, this Thursday. Evanchuck and crew is one more Northeast Ohio homegrown act that is bursting at the seams of opportunity. Catch the band in Akron before the group heads South for its first extended regional tour. The band is opening for Robin Electric.


Show starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $10 advanced. Purchase here.


Read The Rhythm Report's recent interview with Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money.


Musica is located at 51 East Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44308.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Facebook's digital music partnership sparks industry optimism - San Jose Mercury News

"It's been nearly a month since the announcement at Facebook's annual developer conference of its partnerships with Rdio and other music services. That's too soon for a definitive answer about whether Facebook will reboot the music industry. There are early signs for optimism, as well as pessimism." - San Jose Mercury News


Read the full article via this link: Facebook's digital music partnership sparks industry optimism - San Jose Mercury News

What are your thoughts? Do you think this will "reboot" the traditional music industry? Who do you think will reap the benefits of Facebook's digital music partnership – musicians, fans or corporations? Share your thoughts in the comment box

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Video: Stevie Wonder Drum Solo

I just had to post this right now.

 "Stevie Wonder. That mother fucker." - Reaction of YouTube bystander and  friend, Will.

Here's another fun one: Karen Carpenter drum solo (1976)

Friday, October 14, 2011

Music Video: Smoke Screen "Melodies Of A Silhouette"


Smoke Screen released a new music video for "Melodies Of A Silhouette" from the hip hop duo's Imagination Beyond Illustration album. The video begins with a time-lapsed pan of the Cleveland skyline and features emcees Chemist and Mooke serenading the city streets as the cartoonish, graffiti-inspired album art floats along the brick-building backdrop.


Follow Smoke Screen on Facebook and Twitter:
Twitter: @Smokescreen216

Monday, October 10, 2011

New indie BOX episodes: Joseph Arthur and The Parson Red Heads

© Wasted Talent Media
Written by Priscilla Tasker

indie BOX Episode 11 features Akron native Joseph Arthur, whose musical career was launched at the hands of Harvey Schartz and Peter Gabriel when he signed on as Real World Records' first American artist in 1996. A dark, tangled image of phantasmic human beings reaching in lax desperation toward three crosses on a hill is a penitent backdrop to his nearly 22-minute set at Musica in Akron. With his back to the audience, Arthur shades the spaces around the forlorn faces black and grey, and recites the dusky, confessional verse of "I Miss The Zoo" before turning to face the crowd again. He follows with "I Donated Myself to the Mexican Army" at his mother's request.

Watch Arthur's full performance here. Get to know this Ohio-born artist in this Arts Quest interview.

indie BOX Episode 12 stars Portland, Oregon-based The Parson Red Heads, a wistful band whose sound wafts like the redolence of the Love Generation. Four-part vocal harmonies emulate the air of West Coast freedom as the band interweaves simple chord progressions and light percussion into danceable, insouciant songs.

Watch The Parson Red Head's full performance here. Read what Wasted Talent Media's Todd Volkmer had to say about the band's Musica performance on the Arts Quest blog.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

"TOM" beyond the Evanchuck: An Interview with The Old Money

Written by Priscilla Tasker
In America's popular culture, the frontman is the face of a band. Often times, he (or she) writes the lyrics that connect people to the emotions behind the music; he is the most accessible, vulnerably projecting his voice out to the world. Yet, this man does not stand alone.

Tom Evanchuck
©The Rhythm Report
Most songs we hear on the radio, in a live music venue, or ringing through our MP3 players are carefully crafted from a single idea, one line of words or music written by an individual and built upon by another or several others. Let's not forget it takes a team to create the sounds that become our favorite tunes. (I have faith that Rhythm Report readers do not take this whole for granted.)

One of Ohio's most laudable solo acts recognized the power collaboration brings to his music and has spent the better part of the year growing his band from one, to two, and then, to four. Tom Evanchuck released his first electric record, Tom Evanchuck is Back as The Evanchucks, in May, a composition that would not have been possible without Will Nolan's wild key coordination and the drone of G. Patrick Jenkin III's bass to bring out the soul and blues. And, of course, what is a rock 'n' roll record without the crashing beat of the drums?

The group has endured lineup changes since the release. Nolan moved on to pursue a personal project, and, with Jenkins living in Washington D.C., Evanchuck and drummer, Anthony Evanchuck, played gigs on their own throughout the spring and summer. But the band began to solidify its current lineup when Jenkins returned to Ohio to perform with the group full time, and with his homecoming came a new identity – Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money.
To give a voice to the musicians who are helping to guide Evanchuck down a new road away from his acoustic folk roots, The Rhythm Report interviewed Jenkins, A. Evanchuck, and the newest band member to get the instrumentalists' perspective on the band's evolution, its week-long "trial tour" in September, and its extended fall tour this October. (Of course, Tom shared a few words, too.)


RR: The band recently added “The Old Money” to Tom’s name. How does the name reflect the band’s new direction? 
Anthony Evanchuck: The name reflects our new direction, in my eyes, because it's not just Tom anymore. He is the brainchild of the whole thing, but we're a group now. It kind of gives us an identity. When people ask me what my band name is, I'm not saying "Tom Evanchuck;" I get to say "and The Old Money." It's pretty cool. 
G. Patrick Jenkins III (PJ): It was Tom and Tom's talents before. Now, we all get to share this idea of music. We all get to kind of chew up ideas and spit them out. After a while, it starts to look like something new. A good friend, Will [Nolan], played keys on the album and that has such a different feel from the way these songs are played now. Every change in the lineup changes these songs. Not just in instrumentation but in emotion. I guess I am still trying to see how it effects the band's direction. When you are playing with skilled musicians, it's always positive. Always changing, I guess.
RR: Is there a story behind the term? 
AE: I have no idea how we came up with The Old Money. I'm pretty sure it was Pat's idea, and we ran with it. I like it, and it's fun. It's cool because I think people really enjoy it, too.
PJ:  The Old Money came from a long brainstorming process for a name. The idea of finding a name and branding is a bit tougher than we expected. We all have wanted to keep Tom Evanchuck in the name, but adding a name for the rest of band helps identify us, personally and to the listener. The Old Money comes from the idea of our influences. Instead of going to college on the bank roll of some dead grandpa who was a tobacco farmer, we are playing and writing music on the influences of some really great American artists. Our influences are old, and we are using what they have given us.
G. Patrick Jenkins III
©The Rhythm Report
RR: Pat, you moved back to Ohio (from D.C.) to fully commit to playing with the band, and left what seemed to be a pretty good job, what was your motivation?
PJ: Well, "pretty good job" is subjective. I personally think playing guitar along side Tom Evanchuck and some best friends is the best job for me! In all seriousness, this is what I want to do with my life. Tom knew that and it was always part of our friendship. He had always talked about helping me get there and did just that. I hope I have offered the same support to him. I loved D.C. and the office job and all that, but I am sure a lot of that was the fact that I have seen five seasons of the The Office and wanted an excuse to wear loafers with tassels. O.K. Someone may judge me for that one! 

RR: You've got a new band member. Who is he?
Tom Evanchuck: Yes, we have a new band member. Our good friend, Chris [Verdi], moved home to travel with us.

RR: Chris, what prompted you to join the group?
Chris Verdi: [It was an] opportunity of a lifetime: travel the country with some of my closest friends, and they just happen to be talented musicians.

RR: Where were you and what were you doing before coming back to Ohio?
CV: Working as a banker out in Washington. [I] was primarily out there to climb and explore the northwest. I ended up injuring my knee in May, leaving me out this climbing season, which turned out to be a sort of serendipitous thing, 'cause here I am now. 

RR: Tom, you've mentioned that you and Pat were coaxing Chris to return from Washington, why was it important for you to have him join the band?
TE: Well, Pat is a guitar player, and we always talked about [moving him from bass to guitar]. And rather than move him over to guitar on the next record, we figured we might as well do it now. Chris was a big role in making that happen – put Chris on bass and start the evolution.

RR: What is he bringing to your musical collaboration? 
TE: Chris brings fresh ears and new ideas; not much more you could ask for. 
RR: Pat, with the new band member taking over bass, you're moving on to lead guitar? Is guitar more natural for you? 
PJ: I started on bass when I was in like 8th grade, but guitar is the reason I am in love with playing music. It is way more natural; also, more of a challenge. I am kind of hard on myself when it comes to guitar. If you ask the guys they will tell you that, if I am home, I am multitasking while playing guitar. It is as much a part of my life as eating now. Maybe more, I think I have skipped a meal or two.

RR: I've had the pleasure of witnessing you and Tom writing together, how is the synergy with the full band? Are you writing new music now?
PJ: Yeah, Tom and I with guitars really becomes a black hole of time. If only we could remember all the stuff we fool around on! Right now, I think we are all just trying to grow as musicians. We are playing a lot together and playing a lot of nonsense together. The songs are the songs and the performance, but I know I am really working hard to grow personally as a musician. I couldn't do that without the band, and I think the same goes for all of them. As far as writing, it just seems like it happens. Tom sends me a text with a sound clip of something he strummed out at 3 a.m. It's wild. I live with the guy and he still finds these ways to make his process mysterious. That is probably why, even after sharing laundry appliances, I am still a massive fan of Tom Evanchuck.

AE: We just wrote a new song with the whole band. A few little things came together and, before you knew it, we had something that all four of us collaborated on and created. I can see our future writing coming with any combination of the four of us. Whether it's Pat and I, Tom and Pat, etc. We all get ideas every once in a while. By having more minds and different perspectives on music, one little jam or just sitting there putzing around, I can see it turning into our next song.

Anthony Evanchuck
©The Rhythm Report
RR: Anthony, how did you and Tom write together before adding members to your two-piece band?
AE: Before the addition of Pat and Chris, Tom and I locked ourselves in the back room with a couple beers and jammed 'til we had something we liked. Then, Tom put words to it. The songs were open enough that, when we added people, parts just fit right in. I think that's the beauty of what Tom and I did. We wrote songs for the two of us, but the vision of more people was already there whether it was going to happen or not. We're extremely lucky to have Pat and Chris now. They add so much to the music; not only playing, but with ideas and visions. They've not just joined Tom and I. They jumped in and said, "Hey, I want to be a part of this, and I want to make these songs the best that they can be."

RR: Chris, being the new member, what are your musical influences and what do you think you'll bring to the band?
CV: A lot of the same as the rest of the band, very into soul and the blues ... You always hope to bring fresh perspective and creativity. That and solid bass to keep Anthony happy.

RR: So, Anthony, is Chris keeping you happy?
AE: Yes, I like Chris a lot. He's a great all-around musician, and he's really great to bounce ideas around. I was definitely skeptical at first. I really loved the three-piece, but Chris stepped right in and rocked the thing. And it gave Pat the chance to play lead, which I think he was itching to do anyway. You can tell its made the band better. Plus, it's one more person in the van. It's hard to piss three people off, so you always have someone to talk to. 

RR: You just came off a brief stint on the road. Did it feel different from playing gigs at home in the Cleveland area?
PJ: Yea, we went south for a few dates. It definitely had its differences. 
AE: It's a different kind of excitement. We're wowing new people for the first time, and meeting new people. Here, [in Cleveland], everyone knows our songs and sings along. On the road, you see all new reactions, pretty cool.
PJ: I know a lot of it was the excitement of playing for new people in new cities, but that is very much accompanied by the anxiety of playing for all new people. We are lucky our parents love to come out to support us when we are in the Cleveland area. That is a level of comfort you understand when they aren't there. However, the south was really receptive and welcoming. "Roll Tide."
RR: "Roll Tide"? Care to elaborate on your use of the reference?
PJ: We adopted that while we were in Tuscaloosa. It was a game night, and I have never seen anything like that. It was a lot of fun.
RR: The trip was the longest the band has shared on the road together. What was it like being cooped up with three other guys in a packed van for a week?
Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
July 2011 ©The Rhythm Report
AE: Our first real trip out was a pretty, enlightening experience. You learn a lot about people being cooped up in a van for a while. It was probably the best thing that could have happened though. It was long enough to really get to know each other and find out quirks and habits, but short enough that I could sit back and know just what I'm getting into on future trips. It's also funny working out bathroom breaks and the diminishing turkey sandwich supply.
PJ:  It was definitely a learning experience. More of it was logistics – food, sleep, finances and how long we are able to drive straight. As far as the four of us, we can spend hours talking about nothing and everything. I think we had one verbal scuffle over a BBQ menu but I can accept blame for that. We were all ready to eat!
RR: You're heading back out after the recent Eddy & Iggy's show in Lakewood. Where are you going and how long will you be on the road?
PJ: We will be out for about three weeks. Looking at 16 dates, I believe. Another small stint. Starts in Kentucky and just works its way south. I think we end up in Georgia.
AE: I've been itching to really do a longer tour, and this is the first one we'll really have to grind out. That first one was a week; this one's quite longer with dates nearly everyday. I'm excited to go back to Tuscaloosa, but getting to play Nashville and visit states I've never really been to, such as Georgia and Mississippi, is really exciting.
RR: Tom's put out two (and a half) records this year – a solo acoustic album, a full-band electric and a three-song EP. Amidst the band's touring, are there plans to get back in the studio any time soon?
PJ: We would love to record the new sound and the new lineup, but there is nothing set (that I know of!). Right now, we want to play shows, we want to spread the word. Records just aren't as important anymore I feel like. I think Tom's philosophy has gotten in my head which is a good thing. We don't like to tell people we are recording when they ask what the band is up to. We like to be able to say we are playing shows and meeting new people; probably because that is what we like about it. I personally want to see the band grow a little bit more before we etch the sound into MP3 for all of eternity!
AE: There are definitely plans to get into the studio again. I think, right now, we're still getting to know each other. I definitely think we're going to get in and record a new CD, but it's down the road. We're concentrating now on tightening up what we have now. Tom has historically written in just a flash. The electric album, we wrote eight of those songs in one week. I think once we sit down and try, we'll come up with something, but we're not dwelling on it right now. We're open to writing. And, like I said, we just wrote a new song. But we're not killing ourselves to get into a studio right now. We're putting all our efforts into being on the road.

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