edibleRed

McLafferty Adds Color to edibleRed's Sound

Collette McLafferty is certain that her lone purpose is to front a band.
"It sounds so cheesy, but that's what I believe," McLafferty said while calling from Manhattan.

However, the leader of edibleRed wasn't sure. what her destiny was a decade ago. In January 1997, she was invited to hang with some New York musicians.

"It was just an informal thing," McLafferty said. "I played one of my songs with this guy, who picked up on the chorus of my song and sang along with it. He was so enthusiastic. He. said he would never forget the song."

McLafferty would never forget the experience. The person jamming with her was the acclaimed singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley.
"I didn't even know it was him until later and then he passed away less than six months after that," McLafferty said.

Buckley's life ended at around the time when McLafferty's career started. Much like her one-time jam mate, she has charisma and a big voice, and it is one of edibleRed's strengths. The pop-rock band, which has been part of the Manhattan circuit for seven years, released its first album, "Welcome to My Bad Behavior," on Tuesday.

"Some of the stuff is newer, and a few of the songs go back a while," McLafferty said. "It's a good representation of where we are now."

Cellist Dave Eggar, who has played with The Who, Nelly Furtado and Breaking Benjamin, helps flesh out the sound of the group, which also includes guitarist Sean McMechen, bassist Marty Osterer and drummer Tom Papadatos.

"We have something a little different with Dave," said McLafferty, whose band performs Sunday at The Saint in Asbury Park. "Rock bands might bring in a cellist for a song, but he's ours full time. It wasn't by design that he's with us. Five years ago, we were looking for a guitarist. He was just hanging around, and we needed that lead instrument. I asked Dave to help us out with that, and he never left after we got our guitarist. It's one of those total accidents that has worked out for our band."

"Sugar and Spring," the album's initial single, might sound familiar - it was used during an episode of Showtime's "The L Word."

"I got really giddy seeing the song on television," McLafferty said. "I hope I get to get giddy again like that soon."

EDiBLERED
8 p.m. Sunday • Tbe Saint, 601 main St.,
Asbuty Park • $10 • (732) 775-9144
- Ed Condran

edibleRed
Welcome To Their Bad Behavior

The first thing that hit me when I put this disc on was the great production. This CD wasn't made in someone's bedroom on a Fostex eight-track, rather it was produced by Nik Chinboukas, a sought after New York guy who has also done work with Chris Caffery and Melissa Giges on her Far Beyond The Pacific release. Also on board with production is Fred Munao, founder of edibieRed’s label, Select Records, and yes, the band logged their input as well. This disc is on par with anything that's bringing in record company dollars on the radio, iTunes and television anywhere in the music world today.

The next thing I noticed was the vocals of Collette McLafferty, an eclectic voice that reminds me of the great Tracy Bonham, Skye Edwards (former Morcheeba) and the full attitude of Kim Deal from The Breeders. Collette definitely turns your head with those pipes. She describes her sound as one of "a classically trained voice that slowly degenerated into a rock singer's.”

And the final thing I noticed was that the songs are all not only
diverse but composed in a fluid and easy sounding order. The record makes a lot of sense, it's not just a bunch of songs numbered from one to 12. Thought was put into this whole affair with the care of a parent sending their child off to its first day of school.

Alongside McLafferty is edible Red co-founding member and Grammy nominated drummer
Tom Papadatos. edible Red are also joined by cellist Dave Eggar, a well known musician known for his groundbreaking classical string quartet Flux. Eggar has toured with some of rock's hottest acts, from an acoustic European tour with Evanescence, to performing with The Who at Carnegie Hall, to playing on recordings by artists as diverse as Breaking Benjamin and Nelly Furtado.

Lead guitarist Sean McMechen brings edibleRed's harder edged rock roots to the surface. After years of performing in metal bands, McMechen graduated with degrees in fine arts as well as intense study of guitar before coming onboard to throw influences that range from Jimmy Page to Faith No More's Jim Martin all over the songs and their arrangements.

The tight, crunchy rhythm section skills of bassist Marty Osterer and drummer Tom Papadatos round out an interesting group of musicians. Osterer already has one Number One single under his belt as the session bassist for Murder Inc. Records. He was featured on the Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule smash "I'm Real." He has also laid down bass lines for LL Cool J and Kelly Price.

And these guys (and girl) haven't just had their careers handed to them on a silver platter. They are hard workers and between relentless touring, they also hustle some great gigs on radio and tv as well, like appearing on FUSE TV's IMX and Brooklyn Radio Online. McLafferty was also featured on an episode of Style Network's "Split Ends," where Collette got a brand new coif from a famous Los Angeles stylist. In February 2007, members of edible Red were special guests on an episode of the Dr. Keith Ablow show, where psychic twins predicted their imminent success. I need to ask that guy a couple of questions myself.

edibleRed's songs have been included on the oxygen Network's "Good GirIs Don't," and most recently the band's lead single "Sugar And Spring" was featured in an episode of Showtime's "The L Word."

Okay, so these guys ain't no garage band hoping to get some better gigs and maybe some gas money. They have a plan, and the sound and feel of this disc is definitely a step in the right direction. The diversity of the disc is appealing. The playing is top notch and as I've already mentioned, the production couldn’t be better.

The new wavy start-off track, "At Hello" has pop flavored choruses, selfishly delicious lyric and Cars styled band accents, and the cool Breeders vibe via cello and guitar intro on "Meaning Of Shady Part 2" shows another example of Collette's complex vocal stylings with Dale Bozzio influences drizzling down over the tune in a great way.

The song “Television” reaches out to warn us about the idiot box’s
mind numbing effect in its Skye Edwards groove, and the tongue in cheek sass of The Smithereens meet The Donnas on the radio hit "Sugar And Spring" just can’t miss. The arabesque instrumentation of "Purify" and the track closer "Better Days” tune of daily frustration showcases a group that deals in well thought out compositions.

You don't have to be a psychic to know this - from beginning to end, edibleRed’s future is clear despite their bad behavior, they are well on their way to good things. Go check them out online at ediblered.com
- John Pfeiffer

Edible Red

Apparently named in honor of their carrot-topped singer Collette, who back in suburban Chicago once got booted from a role in Annie for flunking math, Edible Red dribble their pop sort of like Sixpence None the Richer, give or take a teensy speck of Cyndi Lauper wackiness when Collette attempts to rap. - Eddy

"edible Red is bubbly, is red hot, is sweet, is cute is oh so darling yes! Full of whimsy and want, creative pop with a vulnerable twist. . . follow this one." - New York Waste

". . . performance by edible red was nothing less than mind blowing." - Clarkson University Review

"blondie-Beth Hart-PJ Harvey sort of psychedelic indie rock. . . " - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

"She does look delicious, but it is her vocals that are particularly tasty...You have a sound that is familar and fresh." - Pittsburgh Tribune

"Emotional vocals, piercing guitars... I highly recommend them!"

- Comedian Steven Wright

"All we can say about Edible Red's music is that we are stunned..."


- Time Out New York

The New York City-based band edibleRed's debut album, Welcome to My Bad Behavior, is so jam¬packed with originality and flair that repeat buttons around the world don't stand a chance.

With charismatic style similar to No Doubt and Garbage, this female-fronted band delivers sincere vocals and honest lyrics entwined with an eclectic, alternative, indie rock sound, making Welcome to My Bad Behavior as red-hot as front woman. Col¬lette McLafferty's hair.

From the Middle Eastern vibe on "Purify" to the unique cello/violin opening on "Paralyzed" to the pop rock spunk on "Sugar and Spring," edibleRed showcases a wide range of musical flavor.

"Meaning of Shady Part 2" proves to be the next fe¬male anthem with its powerful chorus: "Arrivederci, baby (You gotta go! Go!), You supersize the mean¬ing of shady (You gotta go! Go!) You lost one sexy lady (You gotta go! Go!) Arrivederci, baby,"

Both "Better Days" and the unique re-make of OutKast's "Hey Ya" capture a gentler side through breathy vocals, a dash of piano and plenty of soft¬strummed guitars .

The playful lyrics on "At Hello" are irresistibly catchy: "Here's a bit of reverse psychology. Mr., keep your hands off of my property. If you don't, I won't throw you down like an animal."

edibleRed is an appetizing addition to the alternative genre, and their debut, Welcome to My Bad Behav¬ior, delivers 12 tracks that are not only edible but mouthwatering delicious.

For more information about edibleRed, check out www.ediblered.com.
- Shauna Thompson