Off Peak Fare
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Off Peak Fare

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Band Pop Rock

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Press


"Pure Rock Fury.com"

“...Off Peak Fare offers up some incredibly soulful, emotional, and talented rock.” - purerockfury.com


""Summer Fling" rocks Patchogue"

"Off Peak Fare then came on with a set of their unique music that takes a voice similar to John Mayer and combines it with a powerful, atmospheric, fusion of guitar, drums, and electric keyboard. Later in the set, the band played an all-instrumental song that really showed off how their musicianship alone can hold up an entire song. The band demonstrated even more flexibility by ending with a Nine Inch Nails cover, showing that they can even take their music in a darker direction." - Long Island Advance


"'Double Time' review"

The five-song EP is the second release from a relatively young and eclectic band who recently celebrated their second anniversary. It's light with tight musicianship and the sound can be best described as acoustic rock with some flourishes of jazz. At times it's a bit more breezy and jam-oriented, like on the instrumental track "Away We Go." Keyboardist Sean Fitzpatrick often leads the jam, with bassist Jim Lollo and dRummer JD Gargano keeping it all locked together. Lead singer and guitarist Mike Martino has a gentle and smooth vocal delivery that glides over the music. The lyrics are fairly sophisticated affairs of the heart. The band is going into the studio this winter to complete their second full-length release, which should come out mid-2006. Visit www.offpeakfare.com for more information. - Inside Connection


"Newsday 'Cool @ Night-Local Live' 12/22/05"

"...Peak Times are around the corner for this L.I. Band..." - Newsday


"Goodtimes Review of Double Time"

"...this disc captures this tighter than tight unit at it's most cerebral."


"...Off Peak Fare's songwriters reveal unusually mature expressions of romantic angst, as if they're only interested in exposing their own experiences rather than chasing some radio-happy rock band dream. In that light, the band is doing exactly the right thing; eschewing the area's time tested "that's what the people want to hear" credo espoused by three decades of going-nowhere cover bands, writers Martino and Lollo wear their hearts on their sleeves in a stunningly original manner. Thats how you get signed to a major label, kids."

"...we can give no greater recommendation for exactly what our region needs right now: An excellent original band." - Good Times Magazine


"Southampton Press"

Off Peak Fare skillfully blends a mix of soulful grooves and eclectic percussive rhythms to create a portrait of musical art that demands attention. Each member of this group is a gifted virtuoso at his instrument. Mike Martino’s rich vocals, absorbing lyrics and scintillating melody lines are instantaneously memorable. JD Gargano deepens the band's texture with tight rhythms, while Jim Lollo shimmering brilliance on the bass adds catchy riffs that seemed melded to Gargano’s snappy drum beats. The foursome’s latest addition, keyboardist Sean Fitzpatrick is an enviable and rare asset to any jazz/rock foursome. This is a band to keep an eye on and an ear out for.
- Jennett Meriden Russell


Discography

"Big" - June 2006 (Corporate Giant Recordings)
"Double Time" - June 2005 (Self-Released).
"It's Your Circus" - June 2004 (Self-Released).
________________________________________
"I Would Be" from BIG (XMU- XM Radio Channel 43)
"Seismograph" from BIG (WEHM 92.9FM)
"Breaking Point" from DOUBLE TIME (WEHM 92.9FM)
"Leave" from IT'S YOUR CIRCUS (WEHM 92.9FM)
"Couldn't Make It Right," "Leave," "I Would Be" and "This Weak" from IT'S YOUR CIRCUS (WBAB 102.3FM)
full albums (Q-Waves Radio & WCRL- www.webcastradiolive.com)
various songs (WDCE, WECS, WUSB and Scrub Radio-www.scrubradio.com).

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

PORT JEFFERSON, NY- Billy Joel should stop singing about the lack of fish in the Long Island Sound and start preaching about the lack of refined musical acts back on land.

How does a Pop/Soul band emerge from the lifeless canyon created by Emo and Cover Bands that is known as the Long Island Music Scene? They go BIG, and they go big because they have to. The club scene here is barren. Original bands need not apply for weekend gigs. The locals have little faith in their hometown artists. The scene is a musical third world of sorts. There is, however, a very bright light at the end of the tunnel; Not only has OFF PEAK FARE (www.offpeakfare.com) survived in these conditions, they have flourished.

The result is this quartet of twenty-somethings, with a precociously heightened musical sense, and their commercial-radio-ready, hook-happy arsenal of songs. The unit is undeniably poised for longevity with their refreshing blend of Pop, Rock, Jazz and Soul along with their passion for creating intelligent music.

OPF creatively incorporates a two-lead vocal combination with the band’s primary songwriters: guitarist Mike Martino and bassist/guitarist James Lollo. Keyboardist Sean Fitzpatrick tastefully utilizes his amazing chops as the unit’s jazz-influenced primary soloist in addition to occasionally holding down the low-end, playing bass via Hammond Organ when Lollo switches to guitar. Finally, drummer JD Gargano provides consistent foundation with his distinctively colorful style while providing back up vocals.

A band known for having midget dancers on stage for their wildly entertaining and unpredictable live performances, Off Peak Fare has built up an extremely strong following in the New York area as a result of playing such legendary venues as The Knitting Factory, The Downtown, Lion’s Den, The Patchogue Theater, Stephen Talkhouse, and The Crazy Donkey, where they will return to share the stage with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic on September 13th. Among various Northeast show stops, OPF has traveled to Rhode Island as the supporting act for Columbia Recording artist Ari Hest, and as far north as Vermont with headlining performances at Mount Snow and Burlington’s renowned Nectars.

In the Summer of 2006, OPF was showcased at the Millennium Music Conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and has been selected to perform at the American Music Festival on Long Island in September. The Band also receives airplay on XM Satellite Radio’s XMU and Unsigned Band Channel.

In August of 2005, Buzzplay.com named Off Peak Fare one of the “Top 5 Best Unsigned bands in the Northeast” and were featured in an industry showcase at NYC’s Makor nightclub. In March of 2006, Sonicbids.com selected OPF and its “E-Press Kit” for the industry website’s main page “In The Spotlight” section, one of only four bands chosen.

With momentum surging, the final half of 2006 has Off Peak Fare on pace for it’s most successful year yet with an ever-growing demand for the burgeoning act’s tighter than tight live show in addition to soaring profits from CD/merchandise sales. OPF’s latest studio project, “Big”, is the band’s most creatively electrifying effort to date and is the unit’s 3rd album in as many years.