Citizen Band

One expects great things from a band whose lineup contains some heavy hitters from the local scene. Fronted by Jeff Berkley with bass and backup vocals by Marcia Claire, this talented group of musicians creates an appealing sound that is notable for its emotive vocals, engaging harmonies, crisp rhythms, and sinewy guitar work. The melodies are catchy and couched in robust arrangements that showcase how well-crafted they are. Citizen Band plays rock, first and foremost, but they infuse it with stylistic touches of country, Americana, alternative rock, and folk.

Influences abound. One can hear flashes of artists like Neil Young, R.E.M., the Traveling Wilburys, Heart, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and the Byrds in their melodies and delivery. The combination of Berkley's lead vocals and the harmonies spearheaded by Claire sometimes even evoke Buckingham/ Nicks-era Fleetwood Mac, particularly on a song like "For Lillian." Lyrically, the songs tend toward the personal and introspective, but they aren't sung with the intent to make them depressing or heavy. These guys make music that is at once fun and entertaining but also artful in its execution.

The songs encompass a variety of styles. "Boomerang Love" is a pretty country ballad with soulful vocals by Berkley who relates the melancholy lyrics with a husky world-weariness. It serves as a nice interlude before "Slide," a perky alternative rock number that could have been the result of a collaboration between Michael Stipe and Crazy Horse. "Love You to the Bone" is reminiscent of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down," but it goes in different directions, melodically.

Some other standout numbers include the electric guitar-driven "Broken Man," which calls to mind "Victim of Love," one of the harder tracks from the Eagles' classic Hotel California album. It's got a deliciously nasty riff that's fuelled by a relentless bass and drum rhythm track. "In Among the Roses" is a southern rock tour-de-force that wouldn't be out of place in a Lynyrd Skynyrd playlist. The 12-string guitar comes to the fore in "Crush," giving this song a distinct Byrds/R.E.M. flavor, that is, if either of those groups were fronted by Don Henley. The penultimate track is also my favorite. "Waste of Time" sounds like the Beatles went country, complete with a George Harrison-style slide guitar break. It has what is possibly the most engaging melody of the album. It's an unlikely but highly appealing amalgam of Brit-Pop and Americana.

While I cite many points of reference, I don't mean to imply that they are the sum total of their influences and nothing more. Citizen Band avails itself from a cornucopia of classic sounds, then combines and re-interprets them to create a really nice vibe. It might sometimes remind listeners of things they've heard before, but it has the virtue of being brand new music created by a terrifically talented band.

- Mike Alvarez - San Diego Troubadour - July 2009

Mike Spurgat and Jeff Berkley are early. They are hanging around the Backstage Lounge at Humphrey's by the Bay, preparing for the night's performance. On the outdoor stage are Lyle Lovett and his band who are distantly visible from the club's terrace. The usual flotilla of boaters floats placidly on the darkened bay. Both men seem to enjoy the show very much, chuckling and commenting as they do at the cleverness and humor that permeates Lovett's music. Spurgat notes with amazement that members of Was Not Was and Bonnie Raitt's band are on that stage. Berkley and Spurgat are the two guitarists for Citizen Band, a local supergroup of sorts whose members come from several established local acts. They are currently playing a run of shows to promote their new CD, Breaker Breaker My Heart. Berkley, of course, is well known as half of the acoustic folk duo Berkley Hart. His is a formidable presence, but his demeanor is always sunny. A cheery smile seems to be permanently stamped on his face, especially when he is making music. His warm, robust vocals and confident guitar playing are at the forefront of Citizen Band's stage act. When asked what being in Citizen Band does for him, he readily answers, "I get to play electric guitar with a full rock band, including drums. that's not something I always get to do. But you'll get a different answer from everyone else if you ask them that."

Spurgat is the lead guitarist of the group, citing Warren Haynes, John Scofield, and Mark Knopfler as influences. He has created a lexicon of blazing riffs and licks, which he expertly flies into the varied styles that comprise Citizen Band's music. Berkley quips, "Having Mike on lead is a good thing because I only have three or four licks and maybe one riff," but Spurgat modestly deflects that, saying that the two of them actually trade lead duties. In addition to Citizen Band, Spurgat performs with Deadline Friday and the Barbara Nesbitt Band. Bassist Marcia Claire arrives next, and after some words of greeting her attention is soon diverted toward the view of the distant stage. Like many bass players, she has a more anchored, less boisterous manner, preferring to weigh her thoughts before expressing them. Nevertheless, she has an easy laugh and manages to get a few good ones in. Her resume includes performing with Cindy Lee Berryhill and Barbara Nesbitt. The members of Citizen Band are relaxed. No pre-stage jitters here because every one of them is a seasoned performer. The only one left to arrive is Bill Coomes. Interestingly, everyone says to expect a big entrance, but when he shows up he's quietly focused on putting together his drum kit. The band lineup includes one more person, but John McBride and his pedal steel are unavailable for a few shows. So on this night, Citizen Band is a quartet.

As they do their sound check, a quick perusal of the club reveals a sparse crowd, but that doesn't last long. This "sound check" turns into a mini-set that puts butts in seats and gets them shaking on the dance floor. They do a spirited rendition of "Evangeline" as well as their own song, "Crush." "Slide," also a cut from their new album, showcased their upbeat grooves and pleasing harmonies. And that was perhaps the most wonderful discovery of all: they all sing! Soaring vocals mingle with their great instrumental chops to create a dense sound as they deliver their original songs and a few choice covers. Even short one member, they effortlessly recreate the classic rock/country/Americana sound of Breaker Breaker My Heart. Each gets to take a turn singing lead, which makes for a varied set. Yes the spokesperson is Berkley, who has no problem establishing an easy and humorous rapport with the audience. He applauds the dancers, tells jokes, and skillfully keeps things moving. Obviously, one can't help but have a good time at a Citizen Band show.

Speaking of the CD, it's a veritable goldmine of influences. From the jangly 12-string alternative sound of "Crush," to the country-rock stylings of "Boomerang Love," to the guitar-propelled hard rock number, "Broken Man," it is a group with something to offer all listeners. They are fans of all kinds of music and it shows. They effortlessly infuse that passion into their own songs, playfully evoking songs you might know before flying off into a whole new direction. Their live show more than does justice to the recording. The dynamic rhythm section of Claire and Coomes rocks, swings, and everything in between. Spurgat is a masterful lead guitarist, but true to his word he shares the spotlight with Berkley, whose abilities on the 6-string are much more impressive than he let on earlier in the evening. Prior to the show, Berkley was marveling at the reception the club"s staff gave them, musing, "They are all pretty excited that we're playing tonight. I mean, sure...I think we"re a good band but that was very cool." Judging from the reaction the steadily growing crowd was giving them, they are much more than a "good band." They are among San Diego's best, making music with a lot of spirit and heart. - San Diego Troubadour - September 2009

"Yes there are two paths you can go by,
but in the long run,
There's still time to change
the road you're on"

These familiar lyrics to a rock ‘n' roll classic have been heard so many times that most people probably don't even contemplate their meaning when they're singing along with the melody. Yet it wouldn't be surprising if these words were somewhere in the back of Jeff Berkley's mind when he got the notion to form a new band. This well-regarded artist started playing in alternative rock bands before finding his niche in the acoustic music scene. Keying off such influences as Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, he soon found himself alongside such notables as Jackson Browne, David Crosby, the Indigo Girls, and Bruce Cockburn. A skilled djembe player as well as an accomplished guitarist and singer, he fit very easily into the rootsy sound of these performers. His attentive ears eagerly soaked up these sounds, and before long he was devoting his energies to writing his own original songs. Turns out he was very good at this because validation came in 1999 when he won the Kerrville New Folk Songwriter award for his song "High School Town." Shortly thereafter he began performing with Berkley Hart, an acoustic duo he formed with partner Calman Hart. It wasn't long before they gained wide recognition and acclaim among folk and Americana audiences. Together, these two gentlemen continue to create a body of work that includes numerous recordings and countless live performances across the country.

Yet the other path still beckoned. Berkley relates that "Berkley Hart music is all about acoustic guitars. I had songs that needed an electric sound." He half-jokingly confesses that "the good thing about the folk world is that it doesn't take all year to do all the gigs." This being the case, it gave him the freedom to explore this fork in the musical road. Sending out the call for musicians, he was gratified to receive answers from several notable locals. Marcia Claire, already known for her rocking bass lines and melodic vocals with the Coyote Problem, Cindy Lee Berryhill, and Barbara Nesbitt, stepped up and immediately fit right in. In fact, it was she who named the band. She laughs, "I came up with the name Citizen Band while I was coaching softball." A highly in-demand bassist, she has performed with many major players in the local scene. Mike Spurgat, lead guitarist from the blues rock jam band Deadline Friday as well as Nesbitt's band, also answered the call. While still active with his other groups, he notes that Citizen Band is "the busiest band I'm in." Thus far, for Spurgat, it's an ideal situation. "I don't feel as much pressure to write. I get great joy out of playing Jeff's music. It's nice to not have to be the focal songwriter. I like being able to add something to someone else's music." Also from the Deadline Friday/Barbara Nesbitt lineup comes drummer Bill Coomes, although he recalls it being more of a gradual process. He pointedly looks at Berkley, playfully declaring, "I turned you down the first time!" Berkley confirms this, recollecting that Coomes spent a bit of time hanging out at Citizen Band shows before eventually coming aboard. However, once this lineup was in place they all agree that "everything clicked." Claire earnestly states that "if I weren't in a band with these guys I'd hang out with them anyway. I don't think I ever laugh as much as when I'm around them." The band once included pedal steel guitar player John McBride, but he has since moved out of the area. Although he is welcome to sit in whenever he's in town, the group is now moving forward as a quartet.

Each band member brings something to the table that makes Citizen Band unique in its genre. While Berkley's acoustic folk roots are at the core of their sound, Claire points to rock bassists like Jack Bruce and John McVie as having been hugely influential. She also lists jazz artists Victor Wooten and Marcus Miller as inspirations. And, indeed, her solid grooves are tastefully punctuated with flashes of virtuosity. Spurgat's melodic lead guitar style evolved after years of listening to players like Government Mule's Warren Haynes, Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler, and John Scofield. Most important, he knows exactly when a song calls for him to cut loose as well as when to lay back. When asked which drummers inspire him, Coomes' answer is direct and simple: Led Zeppelin's John Bonham. It's not hard to hear the late rock legend's trademark heavy beat in his approach, although he does make it known that he listened to a lot of country music growing up. Berkley says all of these elements make Citizen Band's sound an interesting one. "Rock ‘n' roll people will change a song that you were just playing on an acoustic guitar." While he is modest about his own guitar playing ability, he is a versatile rhythm player who can play a mean lead when called for. He will occasionally trade guitar leads with Spurgat on stage, displaying his own dexterity and musical sensibility. His singing voice is engaging and warm, which at times can be evocative of great singers like Glen Frey, Tom Petty, and even Michael Stipe.

Speaking of singing, every member of the band is a great vocalist in their own right. Berkley calls it "a happenstance. Everybody can sing really well." Although he is clearly the frontman, each person in the band gets opportunities to step up to the microphone. Recently, Spurgat turned in an impressive vocal performance when he sang Ryan Adams' "Goodnight Rose," bringing something akin to Neil Young's simple and plaintive quality to the mix. Coomes closed out the show by unleashing a very credible Robert Plant-like wail from behind the drum kit when the band launched into the Led Zeppelin classic "Rock and Roll." The others will often take such opportunities to either concentrate on their instrumental performance or create an extra sonic layer with their backing vocals. Claire cites groups like the Eagles and the Little River Band as being important teachers of vocal harmony. As in all aspects of their music, the vocal arrangements are meticulous throughout. Berkley confirms this by saying, "There are two or three different textures that we can get with the various combinations of our voices." One of the most appealing examples of this occurs on their song "For Lillian," which brings to mind Buckingham-Nicks-era Fleetwood Mac.

Although they have played dates throughout the state and occasionally outside of it, they haven't yet mounted a full tour. Nevertheless, Citizen Band has done a good number of live shows in the area's best venues. Their calendar is filled with the names of just about every local establishment that hosts live music: The Belly Up, Winston's, Dublin Square, Brick by Brick, Anthology, and Humphrey's Backstage Lounge, to name just a few. They have done events like Earth Day, IndieFest, the Adams Avenue Street Fair, and the Kick Gas Festival. Not ones to miss an opportunity to play, they have also taken the stage at great party joints like Pacific Beach's 710 Beach Club and Cheers in Ramona where their brand of country rock is just what the doctor ordered. Even in a raucous nightclub setting, a significant number of revelers will pause to take note of what a great band they are being treated to. Recently, Citizen Band was given the chance to open for the Black Crowes at Humphrey's outdoor stage. Berkley has nothing but good things to say about the venue's management and staff. "Whenever they have a band that's touring without a warm-up act they'll call us and offer us an opportunity to play. Their staff was very sweet to us as was the Black Crowes' road crew. Things got kind of touchy backstage because they brought a lot of vintage gear with them. You had to be careful not to knock over a valuable old guitar or amplifier. But they gave us a good spot for us to set up our stuff." While they didn't get to mingle much with the Black Crowes themselves - the headliners showed up for a quick sound check and then left the stage - every member of Citizen Band agrees that this was a milestone gig. The crowd was very receptive, the amenities were outstanding, and the venue is one of the best in town. What more could a band ask for?

Berkley confesses that "the local market for our kind of music is vibrant but small. What we'd like to do is build a circle of fans around Texas and the Southwest." They made a very significant step toward this goal in March of this year when they performed at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas. Not only did they enjoy performing, they also took the time to soak up the annual event's vibe. Perhaps most memorable was an after-gig party that was attended by members of the bands Cracker, Stonehoney, and the Mother Truckers. "When we got there, there were guitars and a toy drum kit in the living room. This drum kit was like something you'd get at Toys R Us, and it turned out to be a real ‘party in a box.' When our turn came up it was about 4 a.m. It was so surreal, with all the alcohol and our eyes at half mast playing the AC/DC song ‘Whole Lotta Rosie' for a bunch of country rockers." Claire smiles knowingly, nodding as she adds, "Our clocks were completely on rock ‘n' roll time! None of us was going to be up before two the next afternoon." Berkley wistfully recollects, "It was tough to come home after that. We felt so accepted by people who make our kind of music on a national level." Their next foray out of the area will be in July when they are booked to play the Las Vegas Hard Rock Café on the Strip.

A Citizen Band show is the real deal. It's quite evident that the good-natured humor and musical craftsmanship that Berkley perfected in Berkley Hart has crossed over to this group intact. They are all very much at ease onstage, playfully bantering with the crowd as well as with each other. They want you to have a good time, so they start having one themselves and invite you to join in. Berkley dutifully exhorts the crowd to buy drinks at regular intervals. Yet when it's time to play, they are all strictly business. The entire band is well-rehearsed but their performance retains enough looseness to let the music bubble over with genuine fun and emotion. They make this look effortless because they put in a lot of hard work and discipline into their regular Thursday evening practice sessions. The chemistry they have while performing actually does exist offstage. Berkley says they are "a real band, not just a bunch of people playing together." At rehearsals their conversations are peppered with movie quotes. They count Ghostbusters, The Big Lebowski, Caddyshack, Conan the Barbarian, Braveheart, and This Is Spinal Tap among their favorites. They also proudly admit to knowing "at least the first 20 seconds of every rock song." While there is a lot of laughter and joking, they are all quite serious about their craft. Claire says, "The musicianship in this band is so good. We take our time on arrangements. We work it until we get it right. Nobody ever says ‘that's good enough.' Some people might think that country rock doesn't have to be dialed in, but that's just not true." Berkley agrees by saying, "Even when you're jamming, you have to practice in order to know when to come in." The payoff for their work ethic happens onstage. Whether playing an original song or a cover tune, Citizen Band injects its own personality, style, and energy into the music, effectively making every song their own. Concert goers will have many great opportunities to catch their live show in the coming months. They are scheduled to play every last Wednesday of the month from July through October at The Stage in downtown's Gaslamp District.

Their first CD, the amusingly titled Breaker, Breaker My Heart, is an energetic and eclectic collection of songs that demonstrates the band's ability to synthesize a multitude of influences into their own singular statement. Every now and then one can hear melodies, licks, or arrangements that bring to mind greats like Crosby Stills & Nash, the Byrds, the Traveling Wilburys, and R.E.M. The influence of artists like the Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Beatles also surfaces from time to time. It's a well-crafted album of highly listenable songs that goes light on the studio polish. Much of the energy and grit of their live shows is captured in the recording. Yet Berkley hopes to top it and has definite thoughts on how to go about doing it. "When Bill and Mike joined the band we went right into the studio. The band never had a chance to find its character. In the months that followed, our characters started to leak into the songs. Hopefully we'll start writing songs together instead of just showing up with the ones we've already got." The unflappable Spurgat is in complete agreement, stating, "That's the direction we want to go." Citing Aerosmith's "Dream On" as an example, Berkley continues, "We may just go in and see what happens in the studio. The greatest records ever made happened when bands just showed up in the morning, wrote songs, then recorded them after dinner. You know the excitement you feel when you just wrote a song? You want to play it over and over again. If you capture that on record , other people will feel it too." In addition to their original music they enjoy playing cover songs live and in the studio. Not surprisingly, their criteria in selecting them is very eclectic. Berkley says that such songs are chosen in order to "please ourselves. I like doing B-side covers. ‘Stop Draggin' My Heart Around' instead of ‘Free Fallin.' ‘Whole Lotta Rosie' instead of ‘You Shook Me All Night Long.' Sometimes I'll find an old folk or bluegrass song that could be set to electric guitar. It's a great way to introduce people to the poetry of a beautiful tune." And that's really the ultimate goal of any good band whose number one priority is its artistic vision. By staying true to their art and working their tails off, Citizen Band have mapped out their route and hit the road with the hammer down. They've got a long journey ahead that will surely include some very interesting detours, but their destination is clear and they know how to get there. It's not often that a band's drummer gets the last word in, but Coomes very succinctly summed up the good feelings and optimism felt by everyone: "I like this band because of where we're gonna be a year from now. We're getting to the point where we're about to raise the bar!"
- Mike Alvarez - San Diego Troubadour - July 2010

**** (out of four)

If Berkley Hart is Jeff Berkley's ode to '70s acoustic vocal duos, his and Calman Hart's updated take on Seals & Crofts and Cecilio & Kapono, then Citizen Band is the other half of his musical soul: the hard-charging country rocker.

Not that any of Berkley's projects are one-man shows, but he produced, engineered and mixed the CD and helped write all the songs, in addition to providing the lead vocals. His singing is outstanding here, and the vocal harmonies are nearly as good as those on Berkley Hart's albums. Still, it's a stellar lineup in addition to Berkley: lead guitarist Mike Spurgat and drummer Bill Coomes (both from San Diego's Deadline Friday), bassist Marcia Claire (Cindy Lee Berryhill) and pedal steel player John McBride. They've all established musical reputations before coming to Citizen Band, yet the members mesh wonderfully, creating something new and different from anything they've done before.

At times sounding like early Eagles ("Boomerang Love," "Love You to the Bone"), and at others ("Slide," "Now You're Gone") like the Jayhawks, "Breaker Breaker My Heart" consistently has more country than most anything that's come out of Nashville during the past two decades. That country twang gets coupled to some pretty hard-core rock, though, on tracks such as "Broken Man," where the band cuts loose on some mighty heavy rock and psychedelia ---- the sound is more James Gang than it is anything from the California country-rock movement.

The songs here are top-shelf, all 15 of them, with not a dog in the lot. Most are in a country-rock vein, but "Crush" has a kind of Elvis Costello melding of alternative and pop.

Listening to this album a second or third time through, the feeling you get isn't that the band is about country-rock or Americana ---- instead, the music here has the feel of a work of love, that the members of Citizen Band could have turned out an all-blues album or a collection of bubble-gum pop and been just as happy, created songs just as memorable.

By JIM TRAGESER - North County Times - July 2009