Chris Arter Band
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Chris Arter Band

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"Leader of the band"

His tunes:: Chris's musical interests run the gamut: Faith No More, Fishbone, Michael Jackson, Alice in Chains and the godfathers of progressive rock, King Crimson.

Favorite movie:: "Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Cannibal! The Musical."

His style: Budgetary concerns and personal preference take Chris to local Goodwill stores. He's said he's basically a T-shirt and jeans guy, but he's been known to don a suit for some shows.

Q: Your band doesn't sound like the usual MTV emo music. Can you explain your style?
A: I think it sounds kind of indie and, at the same time, it's funky, like jazz-fusion. I like to describe it as filth funk.

Q: Your band plays most of the top spots in Philly, like Grape Street and the Fire, but you also played the Cherrywood Lounge in Blackwood. Is the Jersey scene growing at all?
A: It used to be better. There were more places to play. It made me feel really good that we could put the Cherrywood thing together.

Q: Where do you get your inspiration for songs?
A: I'll be walking down the street and all of the sudden, it's like a lightning rod. Something I'll see will make me want to start singing and I'll want to write it down.

Q: You play a bunch of different instruments. Which one is your favorite?
A: I'm best at guitar, so I would probably stick to that. I really wish I had stuck with the piano, though, 'cause there's so much more you can do with it.

Q: What was the first song you learned to play on the guitar?
A: I think it was the theme to "Double Dragon." - Interview with Jason Nark, From Impulse Magazine in the Courier Post


"Interview with Ryan Tobin"

The North Star Bar is exactly that, a sight for sore eyes on the far, far north edge of Philadelphia. There's a bar atmosphere upon entering when you're not only asked for a cover but also your ID being that night's show is 21 and up which is very common for the Star. The show gave your eight-dollar admittance restitution as the audience has the honor of seeing not just one band but rather a total of four. The primary objective was to witness and assess the likes of Mr. Chris Arter and his band titled very accordingly, The Chris Arter Band.

Arriving shortly after ten o'clock in the pm, the stage was occupied by what turned out to be the most bar-style and jam-oriented band of the evening, Just Like Me. Comprised of five members included a fresh face on bass according to a band mother, had done the job of an opening band and warmed the audience right up. A fellow attendee warns me to put on my dancing shoes in anticipation for the band that's to follow. The band name speaks millions, but the Metrosexuals didn't seem to have the right amount of allotted time in order to make their mark although asses were shaking to the much heavier guitar sound driven on lots of drum stops and starts with some nice texturing from the keyboards section. With an Orgy sound (call me crazy) and pretty cool background effects, these well-groomed gentlemen seemed a tad dissimilar to what Mr. Chris Arter and his band had in store for us.

While the Metrosexuals started loading their gear, correspondingly and ever so logically, the Chris Arter Band started unloading theirs. Perhaps in light of all this Johnny Cash nostalgia floating in the atmosphere, Arter was dressed in black collared shirt, belt, pants and shoes. His striped gold tie and friendly boy-next-door face did lighten up his aura. The band had also dressed accordingly withdark collared shirts and ties inflicting a sense of a tight niche and organization that perhaps would pour over into the music lined up ahead. Tall and focused, bass player John Delventhal seemed a little too far left corner for comfort while alto sax, baritone, and occasional rhythm guitar player Ryan Peiffer laid down his very rigorous solos contently placed in front of keyboardist Steve Marcucci and drummer Dave Rusciti. The spotlight, however, lies totally upon the shoulders of the very talented backing vocalist Ms. Lidia Ramirez while at the same time, satisfying most concertgoer's demand for more cowbell and xylophone. When ready, Arter counted it off and away they went. Remaining true to the season, although some may question the choice of repertoire, we were treated to the anti-Claus tune itself; You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. Immediately following, the band jumped into a little ditty, which would underline the bluesy-rock theme of the night. Taking quick notice to Arter's use of vocals, it was apparent that it would be a big element to his style. Arter has very unique vocals, which seems to derive more from the throat than anything, very similar to a Tom Waits sound but put into a George Thooregood and the Destroyers or Black Crowes context. Now, with his style entangled with Remerez, we have some powerful and to a certain extent, emotional harmonies on our hands.

While Piphfer traded in the brass for guitar, Arter announces and starts the next song "Love" with a repetitive bark of the very word. Although not very effective at first, the song holds some substance from the look of Arter's electrifying and animated face while he vocalizes. We got a taste of Arter's more jazzy sound with "In the Evening" but didn't stray too far from the Chicago bluesy undertone. He is a very composed guitar player as to not solo too far out on any tangent, which would seem very difficult especially for Arter who has grown up on the Jazz music style. Things slowed down for the first time in the set when Pipher picked up his flute and just when I didn't think the band could incorporate any more instruments, we were treated to the foreshadowed cowbell and then tambourine. Arter's band seemed very disciplined when running through his compositions which stood out due to the lack of improve and soloing aside from front men Chris and Ryan.

The Chris Arter Band has much talent and perhaps given a bigger time slot could show a little bit more of their chops. They had received the biggest applause of the night thus far, leading to a quick power struggle, which ensued and ended quickly as there was a request and rejection for one more song. In order to make enough room for headliner, Mrs. Argentina, the light man and stage manager denied the band their encore but that's the breaks people. It's rock and roll but what is good rock and roll with out a little blues.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Arter post-show even though it was quite the task trying to find the most audible place to sit and talk. With instruments packed, leather jacket on, and a solid performance under his belt, Arter seemed very relax - Origivation Magazine, February 2006


"Singer/songwriter carves own niche"

Chris Arter has musical influences that range from Beethoven and Chopin to Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. He also plays in a jazz quartet, teaches music and fills a spot that was once occupied by his father in a wedding band. It all plays a role in the singer/songwriter's drive to weave his way through musical genres. While the Somerdale resident's father entertained guests at receptions and his brother played in a rock n' roll band, the then 8-year-old Arter was taking classical piano lessons in what would be the start of his musical journey.

Arter eventually stopped tickling the ivory and ebony and began to learn how to play guitar, drums and bass. He took over his father's spot in the wedding band when he retired and also began playing in area restaurants as part of a jazz quartet. But something was missing. In his spare time, he would write and record his own music at his home and penned the track called "Love," that would open the door for him to be an established musician.

An up-and-coming promoter in Philadelphia named Joey Mahoney heard the song and instantly fell in - well, in "love" with it. He began helping Arter get gigs through his organization Songspot.org, which showcases local artists. The song generated a buzz and the drummer of the jazz quartet, Dave Ruscitti, said that they should form a rock band and take Arter's musical vision the the next level.

"To be able to play original music is an added bonus," said Arter, 23. "To be able to write music and do whatever your heart desires. It's very important to me that my vision comes through.

"(The band) trusts me and they all really want to do it. That's why this band is my dream come true."

The band, simply named after its leader, consists of Arter as lead vocalist/guitarist, Ruscitti on drums, Ryan Peiffer on saxophone, background vocalist Lidia Ramirez, bassist John Delventhal and keyboardist Steve Marcucci.

The group features two members in Delventhal and Peiffer who have music degrees from Rowan University. Arter is a jazz major at the school and Ramirez will soon be seeking her musical degree on the Glassboro campus. Despite the familiar backgrounds, the group is all over the map according to Arter.

"It's a very eclectic style and I know a lot bands say that, but we do soul, R&B, rock, alternative and avant garde jazz," Arter said. "It's skitzophrenic in a way because it goes from one style to the next. At a show you could hear anything from a Prince cover to some Afro-Cuban folk songs."

The group is recording a CD at Habitat Studios in Woodbury and has lofty goals for their immediate and distant future.

"We would like to become a signed band and go on tour," Arter said outside of the studio. "We are working on this album and hopefully we can get some management and talk to some lawyers and shop (the CD) around to some labels.

"We want to market the CD and get our name out there and put it on the radio."

For right now, the band will take part in a special anniversary celebration for the Mahoney's organization at the Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia tonight and the group can feel the momentum.

"I never played a place like the TLA," Arter said of the famous South Street rock venue. "The fact that you can buy tickets for this on Ticketmaster...it's pretty exciting for me."

And you can bet that the group will be dressed for success. The band members all wear their sunday's best whenever they perform.

"The main reason we always wear suits and ties is that we would go right from our jazz gigs to our rock gigs, so we didn't have time to get changed. People liked it and it stuck.

"I like it too though, because I feel that the band should look different from the audience," Arter said "You should distinguish yourself from the people you are going to entertain." - Peter Proko, Gloucester County Times, August 12th, 2005


Discography

Currently recording an EP entitled "Android and Angel," due to be released in October of 2007.

Photos

Bio

The Chris Arter Band has been together for three years. The band is comprised of six members, five males and one female. They have a wide range of influences including Faith No More, Alice in Chains, Michael Jackson, XTC, Kate Bush, Jeff Buckley, Fishbone, Quincy Jones, Sound Garden, The Talking Heads, Sam Cooke, The Black Crowes, and Brazilian Girls, to name a few. The band’s electrifying and eclectic sound evokes the question, “What if all of these influences joined together and blended their sounds to create something completely new?” They have been playing throughout Philadelphia, New York and, New Jersey to an enthusiastic and growing number of fans and consistently draw between fifty to a hundred people to each of their shows. They play on average twice a week. They are currently working on their first release, an EP entitled Android and Angel.