Getaway Car

With vocals that twinge on the Bon Jovi side, this band brings a modern alternative rock edge to the table with spectacular sound variations and lyrics that breed honesty.

In, "When You're Gone," lead singer Todd Wright's voice soars as he sings, "But I can see you don't care/Through your pretty little painful stare." This amazing track "Long Night" sounded a little Graham Colton Band-like to me, with simple lyrics that are killer, conveying deeper-rooted emotions.

I usually don't dig songs with other names of girls ("Madeline") because, well, that excludes "Kristen." But this track was rich and deep, an emotional outcry for love. I love when a band can put something so touching out there — even if it's about a gal with a strange name that reminds me of English girls in rainslickers.

Definitely a CD to pick up from a band that, in my opinion, has a bright future.

Favorite Tracks: All Time Low, Madeline
Rating: 5 stars
- DiscoveringArtists.com- 5 Stars!

Show Goes On for Local Band
By Erin E. Fogg
Observer Staff Writer

Last week was not Matt Miceli's first experience with mistaken identity.

The Herndon resident is guitarist for the band "Getaway Car," which will play at the 2005 Herndon Festival this weekend. Miceli said the town's official festival guide, released last week, featured a prominent photograph and a couple descriptive paragraphs about an act called Getaway Car. But it was the wrong band.
Miceli said a bandmate called him, exclaiming, "Dude, the other Getaway Car got us again!"
"We had a laugh about it," Miceli said. "No worries."

The mistake occurred when festival entertainment organizers were referred to the wrong Web site to access the band's promotional material. The bandmembers have been engaged in legal proceedings to determine whether they, or their same-named nemesis, will retain the Getaway Car identity.

In the meantime, Miceli, guitarist and lead singer Todd Wright and bassist Chris Reardon are looking forward to performing on the festival's Municipal Center stage on Saturday, June 4 at 2 p.m..
"We're psyched to do an outdoor, all-ages show," Miceli said.
"Herndon Festival is great because you can have multiple stages, there's a good vibe, you can people watch and make new fans," he added.

The band members are also excited to check out some of the other festival performers, especially Cecilia the Band on the Municipal Center stage and singer/songwriter Pete Schmidt on the Cafe stage.

Getaway Car came together about two years ago. Miceli played with Wright in The Eccentrics, which performed at Herndon's Friday Night Live concert series. They met Reardon while he played in Earth to Andy.

In December, Getaway Car released its first album, "All Your Little Pieces." They've played frequently at Jammin Java in Vienna and at Iota in Arlington, and have made the occasional trip to New York City, Philadelphia, Richmond and the Carolinas.
Miceli said he finds it difficult to pinpoint the band's music. He attempts to describe Getaway Car's sound as "guitar-driven, jangly pop-rock, not as slick as Matchbox 20 but not as heavy as the Foo Fighters."

The trio feels more connected to singer/songwriter-based acts, like Elvis Costello, Cheap Trick and the Beatles, he said.

"We're influenced by melody and intelligent lyrics," Miceli said. "Anything but Creed."

As far as lyrics go, "All Your Little Pieces" features two major themes, insomnia and heartbreak, he said. While Wright crafts many of the songs, all members contribute to the writing.
Songs from the debut record will be the main focus for the Herndon Festival performance.

Getaway Car is writing material for its second album, which it plans to record by late summer.

Visit www.drivethegetawaycar.com.
- The Observer News