Post by Jeff on Jun 18, 2008 14:41:02 GMT -5
linky
or
copy+paste
Rustic Overtones keeps band dynamic strong
By Regis Behe
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Even a cursory listen to a Rustic Overtones song indicates there's a musical fearlessness present, a willingness to cross genres and blend sounds.
Singer and guitarist Dave Gutter ascribes that to the familial nature of the Portland, Maine, band.
"That fearlessness you hear is because we're like a bunch of arguing brothers," Gutter says in advance of the group's appearance tonight at the Three Rivers Arts Festival. "It's like you don't want to make the rock brother mad today, or the jazz guy. There are healthy compromises all of us make."
And that makes for music that is refreshingly diverse and difficult to pigeonhole, typical of bands from the Pine Tree State.
"Definitely the theme up here is the disconnect from the industry and what's trendy," Gutter says. "That has a huge effect on bands. ... Everybody is doing something different. If a band sounds too much like the Foo Fighters, that's not something to be hailed."
The seven-piece group re-formed in 2007 after five years apart. During the 1990s, it was arguably Maine's most popular band, and seemed to be on the verge of national attention in the latter part of the decade. Clive Davis, then at Arista Records, signed the band and enlisted noted producer Tony Visconti to work the group. Visconti brought in David Bowie and Imogen Heap as guest artists.
While the musical experience -- especially working with Bowie and Heap -- was memorable, the business aspect left a bad taste.
"It's kind of like there's a burger stand on one side of the street and on the other side a really fancy restaurant," Gutter says. "It's like we tried the fancy restaurant and didn't like the food; let's go back to the burger stand."
But man, these are tasty burgers. Last year, Rustic Overtones released "Light at the End," an energetic, engaging album. Gutter says the record came together in a very short time, the musicians playing musical show-and-tell with all the things they learned from being in other bands.
While Rustic Overtones is committed for a long run, those side projects are not going away. Which, Gutter says, makes for a better, healthier band dynamic.
"I wake up every day and pretty much say, 'What am I going to do today, what am I going to record?'" Gutter says. "If it's not one group, it's another, and if I was only in one group, I might not have anything to do.
"Then I would have to go and get a job."
Regis Behe can be reached at rbehe@tribweb.com or 412-320-7990.
or
copy+paste
Rustic Overtones keeps band dynamic strong
By Regis Behe
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Even a cursory listen to a Rustic Overtones song indicates there's a musical fearlessness present, a willingness to cross genres and blend sounds.
Singer and guitarist Dave Gutter ascribes that to the familial nature of the Portland, Maine, band.
"That fearlessness you hear is because we're like a bunch of arguing brothers," Gutter says in advance of the group's appearance tonight at the Three Rivers Arts Festival. "It's like you don't want to make the rock brother mad today, or the jazz guy. There are healthy compromises all of us make."
And that makes for music that is refreshingly diverse and difficult to pigeonhole, typical of bands from the Pine Tree State.
"Definitely the theme up here is the disconnect from the industry and what's trendy," Gutter says. "That has a huge effect on bands. ... Everybody is doing something different. If a band sounds too much like the Foo Fighters, that's not something to be hailed."
The seven-piece group re-formed in 2007 after five years apart. During the 1990s, it was arguably Maine's most popular band, and seemed to be on the verge of national attention in the latter part of the decade. Clive Davis, then at Arista Records, signed the band and enlisted noted producer Tony Visconti to work the group. Visconti brought in David Bowie and Imogen Heap as guest artists.
While the musical experience -- especially working with Bowie and Heap -- was memorable, the business aspect left a bad taste.
"It's kind of like there's a burger stand on one side of the street and on the other side a really fancy restaurant," Gutter says. "It's like we tried the fancy restaurant and didn't like the food; let's go back to the burger stand."
But man, these are tasty burgers. Last year, Rustic Overtones released "Light at the End," an energetic, engaging album. Gutter says the record came together in a very short time, the musicians playing musical show-and-tell with all the things they learned from being in other bands.
While Rustic Overtones is committed for a long run, those side projects are not going away. Which, Gutter says, makes for a better, healthier band dynamic.
"I wake up every day and pretty much say, 'What am I going to do today, what am I going to record?'" Gutter says. "If it's not one group, it's another, and if I was only in one group, I might not have anything to do.
"Then I would have to go and get a job."
Regis Behe can be reached at rbehe@tribweb.com or 412-320-7990.
