Parker House and Theory

Making the leap from a hugely popular college band to the Boston club circuit is never easy, but Emerson College's Parker House and Theory seems to be poised to do that in a big way.

The band which headlines the Middle East Downstairs tonight, has been one of the staples on the Emerson scene for the last couple of years, but thanks to a large grass-roots buzz, they have emerged as one ofBeantown's next generation of acts to watch thanks to their diverse musical approach and tight stage dynamic.

"We're really proud of what we've done and what our reputation is at Emerson, but we're just about to take the next step and so far its been encouraging," said lead vocalist Eric-jon Tasker, who graduated from Emerson two years ago. A former acting major, who has put his theatrical aspirations on hold to concentrate full time on the band, he said he hopes the band is able to do more then just bang out their music in Boston cubs every couple of weeks.

We hope to be able to create a community of like minded groups which may have also had some success on the college level and make it easier for all of us to find our place in the club scene, which is obviously so hard to crack in this area," Tasker said.

Lead guitarist Carlos Foglia, another acting major will graduate in two weeks, but the band's Emerson connection will still be in place as drummer Marcos Valles, bassist Colin Lewis and harmonica player Andy Wesby continue at the school. "Being a part of Emerson is crucial," says Foglia.

"We are the band that so many people come to for functions or we've gotten a great deal of film scoring or studio projects to work on. That's the benefit of being a working musician in a school of actors and filmmakers, and the like. At Berklee there's hundreds of band; at Emerson there's just a few and we happen to be among the most popular."

The group, which released its CD debut "Slide Down," earlier this year could casually be called a jam band in the tradition of .moe or Blues Traveler, but that would be unfairly pigeonholing them. The 11 songs are diverse and fiercely musical.

"Our goal right now is to follow in the tradition of other acts that have made major inroads through the grass-roots method," says Foglia. "We want to play in as many cities as possible, do as many shows as we can and play out as often as possible. That's how you get the music heard. It may sound corny, but my goal is to go out and make people smile."

By Ken Capobianco
Globe correspondent - The Boston Globe

Let's hear it for the boy. Or boys, rather. Kevin Bacon's got nothing on these guys. While the local lads of Parker House and Theory are not a Footloose-worshipping, Kevin Bacon tribute band, they certainly have what it takes to make you get up and dance. PHAT don't need to make a heartfelt plea at the town hall meeting proclaiming that dancing is not a sin. Nor do they need to convince the uptight, conservative minister that they're good enough to bang his daughter (they are), while simultaneously igniting a town's desire to dance their collective ass off. These guys rely on their bluestastic rock and soulicious jams to get you jumping. Their bursting melodies will make you bust out your best white-man-overbite moves. Everybody cut loose with them ... - The Weekly Dig

Review By Jessamyn Cuneo
Every time I see Parker House and Theory, they look like they're having more fun. This is a band that definitely has their priorities straight; from the first song to the last, they make sure everyone is enjoying their set- mostly by enjoying it themselves. Between the lead harmonica, played by Andy Wesby, and the drummer who also sings, Marcos, the band successfully creates a sound unlike any other local band.

Last Wednesday, the group hit up Bill's Bar with an hour-long set that had the place packed in minutes. If you heard them from the street, the sounds of the drifting harmonica, jazzy drums, the crooning singer and jamming guitar would probably first have you thinking that the place was a whiskey bar, straight from the muddy banks of Alabama. The laid-back, loving-life atmosphere set by the band is not exactly easy to find in this city. Hearing Parker House in Boston is like hearing Bjork in Tennessee; quite out of place, but that makes it very refreshing.

To describe the sound, let me set the scene: Eric-Jon, the lead vocalist, is partial to performing barefoot and hopping around stage like a tree-frog. His vocals can range from a high-pitched falsetto that will send the faint-of-heart to the back of the room, to teeny-bopper-friendly (think Dispatch or Incubus), and finally, he can pull out his clear-and-sincere voice, which gets all the ladies to scream in enthusiasm. Sometimes, drummer Marcos will sing back-up, or even take the lead vocals for a song, all without missing a beat on his set. He is one of the most talented multi-taskers to grace Boston's music scene, and even manages to smile throughout the entire high-pressure situation.

Charismatic Carlos, lead guitarist, will make sure to crack the audience up at least once per show. He adds a few funny facial gestures to his playing, and you're suddenly curious as to whether he does stand-up at the Hong Kong on his off days. Colin Lewis plays the bass, keeping the rhythm solid, while hanging in the back, head down, with a little smile that makes you want to get to know him better.

The group switches it up in many ways. "Ja Me Voy" is sung mainly in Spanish, and pulls on the ole' heart strings with the memorable chorus that ends with, "Too much time that I gave and I lost to you." The song "I Like Sex" is both amusing and lively, with the opening line, "I like sex, and I know you do too." You're almost guaranteed to see Eric-Jon jump around for that one. And the group just put out a new EP with the song "November" that cools things down quite nicely as a closing song. The group also does an amazing cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" as well as "So Lonely" by the Police. When a band can pull these songs off without any butchering, you know you've found some talent.

All these stage-presences and styles combine to turn any venue into an entertaining arena. Whether they're playing at the Paradise or Harper's Ferry, Bill's Bar or many east-coast colleges or universities, their positive energy radiates from the speakers and convinces you to dance even if you hate dancing. The last time I saw them, I brought a friend who's in the music business, and after hearing the first three songs and watching the crowd going wild, he turned to me and asked, "Who's their manager?" - Bostonlive.net

Myrtle Street in front of the Merrill Auditorium was blocked off Thursday night in preparation for a revolution – a musical one.

Roots-rock jam band O.A.R. (Of A Revolution) brought its revolutionary blend of rock, funk, reggae, jazz and power ballads to Portland for a rousing two-hour performance.

Boston-based Parker House and Theory opened with an impressive seven-song set that garnered a standing ovation from O.A.R.'s faithful throng. The five-piece band got the crowd's blood pumping with a fusion of rock, pop, funk and Latin rhythms that kicked off with a wailing harmonica solo from keyboardist Andy Wesby on "Get to Go," off the band's recent release, "Automatic Stranger."

Lanky vocalist Eric-jon Tasker's rich pop- and funk-infused vocals had the audience bopping in their seats.

The set featured strong harmonizing vocals from Tasker, Wesby and drummer Marcos Valles, who traded lead vocals with Tasker. Valles delighted the crowd by crooning in both Spanish and English on the Latin-influenced "Sube" (off "Live the Great Lavanchy"). The crowd was equally thrilled with the high-energy "Hey Hey" (off "Automatic Stranger"), which allowed guitarist Carlos Folgia to show off his scat vocal talents.

The screams and whistles were deafening as O.A.R. took the stage shortly before 9 p.m. The band eased into the set with a little slow reggae before launching full-force into the crowd favorite "That Was a Crazy Game of Poker" (off "The Wanderer").

Colored lights cut through the fog, forming patterns on the stage that illuminated hanging banners and stage rugs with the optical-illusion-like cover art from O.A.R.'s latest release, "All Sides." "We're trying to hypnotize you with the set," joked frontman Marc Roberge. But the band needed no hypnosis to mesmerize this audience.

Roberge (lead vocals, acoustic and electric rhythm guitar), Richard On (lead electric guitar, vocals), Chris Culos (drums, percussion), Jerry DePizzo (saxophone, guitar, percussion) and Benj Gershman (bass) formed O.A.R. more than a decade ago and have been touring almost nonstop since. The Maryland-based band is known for its extended jams, searing guitar and soul-stirring sax solos.

Older O.A.R. music focused on island and funk rhythms. The band began branching out on 2005's "Stories of a Stranger," mixing up the tempos and adding arena-rock anthems. Thursday's set included the hits "Wonderful Day," "Love and Memories" and "Lay Down," with a sensational synchronized drum solo by Culos, DePizzo and touring keyboard player Mike Paris.

The set included six songs from "All Sides," the band's sixth album. The infectious "This Town" got the audience singing along, and the ballads "The Fallout," "One Day" and "On My Way" brought out the power and passion in Roberge's vocals. "War Song," which was written after the band's USO tour of Kuwait and Iraq last year, packed an emotional wallop.

Longtime fans were treated to a healthy dose of past favorites that included "Dareh Mayod," "Revisited," "Road Outside Columbus" and "Untitled."

Roberge returned after a brief break for a solo acoustic performance of "Rhythm of Your Shoes." The band rejoined him for the catchy new song "Shattered" and brought down the house with "Delicate Few." The song featured a powerhouse duet between DePizzo on sax and Parker House and Theory's Wesby on harmonica.



April Boyle is a freelance writer from Casco. She can be contacted at:

aprilhboyle@yahoo.com - Portland Press Herald

Boston -- If you can't get into Parker House and Theory then there's something wrong with you. The guys all met at Emerson College and they continue to create some serious buzz in the music world. Parker House mixes a unique blend of rock, funk and maybe even a little Gloria Estefan thrown in there.

Check out Parker House and Theory as they performed two songs on the FOX25 Morning News:
- FOX25 Morning News

This week's local Q&A comes to you from Parker House & Theory on the day of their CD release for their new album, "Automatic Stranger." They're no strangers to the Boston scene, having formed the band at Emerson College, where they (Carlos on lead guitar, Eric-jon on vocals & guitar, Marcos on drums, Andy on harmonica & keys, and Colin on bass) found each other playing open mics and coffeehouses.

When asked about the highlights of their career, Carlos responded: "ask me that in a few weeks when we come back from tour with OAR and release our first full length album. As of now, maybe a mixture of winning our first Boston Music Award, on our first try, or playing the Tweeter Center with Jurassic 5, The Dropkick Murphys, 311, State Radio, G-love. Maybe selling out the Paradise main room a few times, maybe playing 150 shows a year all over. Maybe working with a 7x grammy award winning musical genius, maybe all of the above, and then some. Maybe getting to answer questions about music, that seems pretty simple but refreshing in this crazy world of ours."

And so, speaking of getting to answer questions about music, here are Carlos' answers to the same five questions Stranded In Stereo always asks:

Hailing from Boston makes us better than all those non-Boston bands because
"Hello everyone, We're Parker House and Theory, we're from Boston, MA" that is part of every show we have ever played for the last year and a half. It's something to be proud of, sometimes a bit too proud, (this tends to get a boo or 2 when in NYC or any other non-Red Sox Nation blip on the map). We actually have a band member from Staten Island, so we're careful not to rag on his beloved NY teams too much.

The Boston music scene is so interesting, and as much as I would like to say that being from Boston makes us better, I think I would phrase it just a tad bit different, hopefully without sounding like a politician.

Boston is a tough tough scene to crack. I remember when we first got started, Eric-jon and myself taking the T to the Paradise and walking right in to the box office, and proudly saying "Hey, we're in a band, how do we get to play the main room?" The lady behind the window looked at us incredulously, muttered "LiveNation," and put the blinds down.

Welcome to Boston.

We are a historically rich town and music is part of the culture here, it all blends. That's not to say that there isn't a permeating apathetic attitude due to the abundance of music, the vast pool to choose from sometimes makes people wade in the shallow end. But when you take that proverbial leap into the deep end, you find amazing unparalleled talent. We have played some of our best shows with friends from Boston all over the country and we share that common Boston bond. Pride aside, every time I come home I am ecstatic to call Boston my town, wouldn't have it any other way. We have since packed the Paradise 3 times.

Name at least three bands that are still around and touring that you’d love to be on a bill with, and think it fits well
Are the Police touring again?
I'd love to share the bill with Maroon 5, Robert Randolph, DMB, Mute Math, Stevie Wonder, Michael McDonald, Juanes, The Roots and Parliament Funkadelic to name a few.

Your favorite Boston venue to perform in is
Normally I would say the Paradise Rock Club, but check back with me after we play the Middle East Downstairs for the first time in 3 years. I'm stoked to come home.

Are there any genres that influence your music conceptually, rather than sonically? (In that you can’t hear from simply listening to the music, but from getting into the structure or mathematics of the song-writing, etc.)
For sure, we all (the 5 of us) come from very different musical backgrounds and it's in that small but juicy overlap that our music is created. I've never been one to listen to singer-songwriter type music, or anything that doesn't at one point or another have a thumping driving sound, but some of the guys enjoy that and have brought that into our mix, and the results have pleased me. Conceptually speaking, 2 of us are of Latin descent so it inevitably comes into play when rhythms are created. Jazz seeps into some of our chord changes, whether it's an homage or because we like the way it sounds, we always play with jazzy chords, inversions, voicings etc etc.. Harmony is something we are doing more and more of, and it's nice to listen to awesome harmonies, from all genres, and have that affect our choices. We won an award for best jam and funk band, yet we have never considered it part of our repertoire, just something that organically happened, like most of our sound.

Your favorite local bar to hit up when not doing the whole band deal is
The Sevens. 77 Charles St.(true inspiration for Cheers) No question. Been going there since college. Stop in and say hi to Lilly and Carlos during the days, they'll never forget your name.
- Stranded In Stereo Blogspot

There are certain components absolutely necessary for a memorable concert.

The creatures of the stage must become gods as they control your heart, thumping to the bass that reverberates from the speaker you strategically placed yourself near. Your Chuck Taylors hold a new layer of musical residue that you wish not to know the details of.

Your ears ring for at least an hour after the show and when you make eye contact with the guitarist, your fleeting instinct is to offer him your first-born. You close your eyes to feel the music envelop you, like a comforting blanket.

Parker House and Theory holds the potential for this elusive "memorable concert" with every one of their performances. The Boston-based band is fluid with energy and charisma, which becomes apparent the second the group takes the stage.

The five-piece band is composed of Emerson alumni Eric-jon Tasker on lead vocals and guitar, Carlos Foglia on lead guitar and vocals, Marcos Valles on drums, vocals and percussion, Andy Wesby on harmonica, keys, and vocals and Colin Lewis on bass.

The members of Parker House and Theory, who were all acting and film majors, have come a long way from their humble "Emerson band" label. In an interview with The Beacon, Foglia explained that PHT began playing the classic college venues, gigging everywhere from the Emerson Cabaret to Starbucks.

The group definitely has moved on from its college-band beginnings, catapulting its way onto the music scene and joining leading names on stage such as G. Love, Dropkick Murphys, Jurassic 5 and 311 this summer.

"I know we're doing the right thing," Foglia says. "The moment when you make eye contact with another member of the band, give a little smile, and think, 'we're actually doing this.' It's an accomplishment and a reality."

This September, PHT won its first Boston Music Award for Best Funk or Jam Band, recognizing the band's prominent talent in the music industry and foretelling possible success in the future. The band still has a way to go before achieving their dreams, though.

"My goal has not changed since day one; I want to play for thousands of people," Foglia says.

PHT's sound is getting harder to classify in an era of sell-outs and one-man shows, but all true reviews need at least three bands to give the reader a "musical vibe." PHT's music is a combination of Maroon 5's catchy lyrics, the harmonics and jazz influences of Blues Traveler and the ability to put on a kick-ass performance, a la The Cat Empire.

The band's two albums, Soon (2005) and The Great Lavanchy- Live (2007), are an intense array of musical delight, offering a journey into a new world with every song. "November," off of Soon, is a worthy example of the band's music. The song starts off with the side amps fired and steaming anticipation.

Within seconds, a building drum beat comes through, and then an articulate male voice crashes in. The bass beat carries the tune to a higher level as the intricate guitar segments explode with technique and originality. Suddenly, a sexy Spanish voice emerges over the rusty airwaves.

Live shows are full of Rocky Horror Picture Show-esque excitement, and the band knows how to work the crowd and keep fans coming back for more.

The humor of the band is evident as well. The bios on the band's Web site are written by each other. "He has the ability to heal un-healable illnesses with the natural goodness of his voice," Valles writes about Tasker.

On top of the group's phenomenal musical talent, there is an undeniable chemistry among the members, bound to make you smile and beg for a never-ending encore. A PHT show is an experience for the memory bank.
- The Berkeley Beacon

Things are picking up for Parker House and Theory. The Boston band toured a bit with O.A.R. and Jack's Mannequin in the spring of '08. Sure, those bands don't have much to do with one another, but Parker House seem to slide comfortably between genres and audiences. They can play it groovy, jammy, and even a bit indie rock too. All the stylistic turns are in service of the song, however.

If you like trivia, try this one out: Parker House was slated to go on tour with James Brown on December 27, 2006.... Brown died on December 26. You can't make that stuff up kids.

Parker House and Theory's second full length, "Automatic Stranger," has just been released.
visit Parker House & Theory's website
- Palestra.net

Parker House and Theory may have left the wrong impression by nabbing a 2006 Boston Music Award for best funk/ jam band/ live act. The only thing the polished, concisely tuneful quintet jams onstage is variety, but the group’s personality and versatility get lost on the slickly crafted new album Automatic Stranger.

“It’s hard to translate that personality because a lot of it is visual, with interpersonal relationships and things we do onstage that involve the audience,” singer/guitarist Eric-jon Tasker explains. “It’s hard to put that on a record.”

That hasn’t stopped Parker House and Theory (whose members decline to reveal the source of the cumbersome name) from becoming one of the city’s most popular acts, packing the Paradise and touring the Midwest with O.A.R. Not bad for five Emerson alumni who all studied film or acting.

“Instead of chasing one pipe dream, I jumped to another,” jokes lead guitarist Carlos Foglia, who initially launched an acoustic duo with Tasker in 1999. “I figured being an actor was too lucrative, so I’d try to be a musician.”

Band members play their roles well - and have expanded on them. Drummer Marcos Valles, keyboardist Andy Wesby (who also plays a zesty harmonica) and bassist Colin Lewis get free reign as singer/songwriters. Valles and Wesby shone in lead vocal turns at a recent Paradise show. Valles even played guitar in an unplugged turn with Tasker and Wesby, while a horn section seamlessly underscored other songs.

“People don’t realize how much we rehearse and put into this,” Foglia says. “We’re all perfectionists.”
- The Improper Bostonian

By Pat Walsh
It seems like pop/jam bands are a dime a dozen these days, with the likes of O.A.R. boasting the kind of mass appeal that used to be reserved only for elite jam bands like Phish. For those unfamiliar with this style, picture five or six slick-looking guys playing very appealing, refined songs with just enough instrumental flair to give them a speck of musical credibility. While the countless mediocre acts of this ilk may have won over every fraternity in the continental U.S., they have yet to win over yours truly. One band that just may just change that is Parker House and Theory (PHT).

This group of five acting and film students from the Boston area wants their fans to know them on a first-name basis - Andy (harmonica, keyboards), Carlos (guitar), Colin (bass), Eric-Jon (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Marcos (drums, vocals). They also want to keep making a splash on Beantown's music scene.

This is a band with incredible energy, especially when it comes to their eccentric staccato musical patterns and the powerful range of Eric-Jon's voice. Even their detractors have to admire their musical virtuosity. The band sounds best on tracks like the funky "j babe," where Andy enters into John Popper territory, allowing his harmonica to take center stage, while his trusty companions back him.

Unlike most bands of their type, PHT uses the guitar primarily as a rhythm instrument, an interesting change from the usual jam bands that seem to always feature guitar solos. The band seems to be much more concerned with creating tight transitions, strong vocal melodies, and bopping groves.

At times though, the band can be a little too fond of their staccato grooves. On the track "wow," for example, they travel too far into the hipster acoustic bar band typecast -- a la Dispatch -- for my tastes. Yet for every track like that, there are many more that affirms the band's talent and passion. On the Spanish ballad "ja me voy," they wade into very different musical waters, combining all of their strongest points into a very interesting musical pie.

The group is predominantly a hard working live act, relentlessly touring New England to satisfy hungry fan's vivacious appetites. Particularly touted shows include their gig on April 14 in the Avalon ballroom on Lansdowne St, and their show on the 28th at Harper's Ferry; the latter being an important CD release show.

What is particularly refreshing to see is the band's grass roots mindset and positive attitude. In a time, when new acts are largely studio creations, it is good to see a group doing things the old-fashioned way. This mindset extends to the bands goals, which are expressed best by Carlos. On their sleek website, the guitar player quips, "It may sound corny, but my goal is to go out and make people smile." This attitude is the driving force behind their growing fan base. - The Bentley Vanguard