Makebelieves

"We are not afraid to use single coil pickups". Guitarists Matt and Al of (Dirty Johnny and the) Makebelieves like to use Strats to do what most would only try with fat humbuckers: Heavy, '70s blues-based riffs and screaming, intertwining solos. However, there is no lack of width or depth or punch. Where does Dirty Johnny get that moonshine-meets-Brooklyn vocal growl? He distills it out of early ZZ-Top records. Can Chris play perfect drums to Rush and Yes? Yes, he just doesn't. He plays heavy and hard and fast - and tasty. Brian Quast of The Cherry Valence and drummer for Urge Overkill says "You actually want him to overplay. There's nothing out of place."

Okay, so that is a paraphrase. Quast said something like that, ask him. The Makebelieves had the good fortune to be recorded by friends Quast and Kerry Springs of The Greatest Hits in Raleigh, NC and the result is the new CD MMIV (SOMEONE THREW A TIGER OUT THE WINDOW).
Started in '02 by Matt and John in Athens, OHIO, known off and on as Dirty Johnny and the Makebelieves, the current lineup has been together since Blackoutfest 2003 in March of that year. Elders Chris and Al have been in several Athens-based bands for 15+ years. Chris played drums for the long lived Voodoo Birds and currently does drum duty for The Royales, an oldies R&B group recently voted Athens Best Band in an Athens News survey. Al has played in Planet Of Pants and is an extended member of ADR (Appalachian Death Ride).
Frequent shows in the Makebelieves college-town home have honed them into one of the most popular draws for fans of the fun, loud rock. The band has played with Drunkhorse, Cherry Valence, All Night, The Black Keys, Mr. Airplane Man, BadWizard, We March, and lots of other great bands few have heard. They have also made lots of friends on 3 two-week tours of the MidWest ranging from Madison to Sioux Falls to Little Rock to Raleigh to New York.