People of Earth

People of Earth call suburban Pittsburgh home, but that's just geography. Truth is, this extraordinary jam band has found a warm, welcome mat in Erie for its fluid blend of Dead-style jams and percolating grooves. That's why it was a no-brainer to throw the first CD-release party for "Greater Good" at Docksider on Friday.
"We really feel at home in Erie,"said bassist Kevin Kopper. "It seems as though they've enjoyed our music from the outset. It's a great place to play and a great audience to play for. Most of us live closer to Pittsburgh, but we love to go into Erie to play. We feel at home there."
People of Earth haven't played Erie since last September in order to concentrate on finishing "Greater Good." Good idea. They've recorded an exuberant disc that oozes joy -- joy of playing, joy of living, joy of knowing you're in a band with lifelong friends who see things eye to eye and, just as importantly, hear them ear to ear.
"One thing that really has a major influence on our sound is we're from the same area, about the same age group. I grew up together with Chris [Compton, the drummer] since kindergarten," Kopper said. "We played T-ball together, and we're really good friends. What makes it great for us is we're all good friends, and you'll hear a brand new maturity this Friday."
By that, he means People of Earth slipped into overdrive over winter, sharpening their jams and already near-telepathic interplay. They spend every Sunday diligently practicing, often eight hours or more.
"We have marathon practices --all day and into the evening," Kopper said. "We rent a garage, which is nice. Five space heaters in it. We've got pictures of our gigs and flyers on the wall, which creates a comfortable atmosphere."
"We're regimented, but not in a bad way," Kopper said. "We have sections to focus on vocals and sections on jams and then on nuts and bolts and key changes. Sections to just explore.
"Every time we do that, we record it and burn it. I guarantee it's in our CD players every day. We're listening to it while traveling. We set up expectations for the following week, identify strengths and weaknesses and set goals. Now we have over 70 songs we can play."
Those strengths include vocal harmonies -- they blend in soothing, soaring ways -- and strong-as-Superman arrangements. Bringing it all home, though, is their exquisite interplay.
They make their intricately constructed songs sound ridiculously easy but fun, always playfully fun, particularly on the zippy "Overtime," the funk-fueled, horn-fortified "All in Good Time,"old-timey, piano-splashed "Good Day," and rolling, Dead-like "Round." Their songs move. They're limber as gymnasts.
Longtime People of Earth fans will recognize most tracks, including "Aspasia," the one nod to their improv heritage, clocking in at 15 minutes.
"We had tested out the majority of tunes," Kopper said. "All the tunes are a snapshot of the type of music we were playing this summer and the songs that were popular. That said, we will debut a number of tunes on Friday. We practiced considerably in this time, so our jamming and our vocals have improved. Every aspect of the game has improved."
This is how dedicated People of Earth is: Though Friday is St. Patrick's Day and though Kopper is of Irish descent, the band will refrain from green beer.
"We like to provide entertainment for the party, for the venue. We don't necessarily imbibe ourselves," Kopper said. "We recognize we're there to be good for the people watching, so we'll be careful."
- Erie Times (Published 2006)

Sounds like the start of your standard sci-fi flick:

People of Earth, we come in peace!

Then, blast! Pow! Zap! You're toast.

Luckily, the People of Earth that plays the Chaffee Gathering in Girard on Friday is far friendlier. You might even call them the toast of the jam-band crowd, considering how quickly they've invaded the scene.

Together for little more than a year, they've managed to crash the lineup at the area's bigger festivals.
Last weekend, they played two sets at the Great Blue Heron Music Festival in Sherman, N.Y. Later this month, People of Earth performs during the multi-day Grass Roots Festival of Music and Dance with Rickie Lee Jones, Meditations, Donna the Buffalo, and more in Trumansburg, N.Y.

In August, they open for Soulive at CelebrateErie.

"We've been real fortunate with a lot of promoters, letting us get onto bills," says Robb Goetz, People of Earth's guitarist. "We work really hard, and we believe in what we do. I like to think that's part of the reason."

Here's another: Their music is blissfully inspired. They take their cue, as do so many jam bands, from Phish and the Dead. But beyond that, People of Earth provides a harmonic convergence entirely its own through strong vocals, near-telepathic instrumental interplay, and cascading jams that build to shattering crescendos.

Doesn't hurt either that their tunes are relentlessly danceable.
"There are so many great jam bands out there. We focus on writing material with hooks," Goetz said. "We really thrive off improvisation and for-the-moment jamming. A good percentage of our show is improv, and it really keeps you on your toes. At the same time, the excitement and the thrill of that -- that's what fuels a lot of our performances."

The group's strong collective chemistry is no accident. Goetz and keyboard player Joe Hill met a few years ago when they attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

"The school set us up together to commute," Goetz said. "During that time together, we learned we both sing, and we met a couple of other groups of people who sang. We did some barbershop together."

When they decided to expand into a full-fledged group, they knew who to call --bassist Kevin Kopper and percussionist Chris Compton.
"We always knew this was the lineup we wanted. With Zelienople being as small as it is, you know who you want to play with," Goetz said.

All four members not only sing but write, bringing together their love of bluegrass, funk, jam bands, and harmonizing.

"Everyone is real open to new ideas," Goetz said. "We work together, writing songs. Being friends first, that helps out a lot. No one is a hired gun. We're all in it for the love of music. Everyone is able to play all these different styles, and we just work well off of each other, which is the key for improvisation."

People of Earth attracted attention early on with "Squeegee," a CD they recorded as a demo to land bookings. That worked so well they haven't had time to record a proper debut; they play out nearly every weekend. But Goetz said they plan to record in his home studio in September, after their busy festival season winds down.

Though based in the Pittsburgh area, People of Earth actually plays the Erie area -- including Jamestown, N.Y. -- more often than their hometown. Erie is one city that greeted them enthusiastically right from the get-go.
"Erie has been so good to us,"Goetz said. "Playing original music is tough in some places. But when we come to Erie, it seems like they're real open to it."

People of Earth, give us your killer originals, like "Overtime" and "Smoother than Usual"!



And they do. Blast! Pow! Zap!
- Erie Times (Published 2005)

Courtesy of www.thegroovelink.com

While there are some bands that dont like the label jam band, people of earth is definitely not one of them. There latest effort for The Greater Good is a musical masterpiece. As their music blends together superbly described as near telepathic interplay by the Erie Times. the band is based out of Pittsburgh Pa; this quartet combines creative instrumentation with genre-transcending arrangements and melodies with original and thought provoking lyrics. POE is known for separating themselves from the masses of jambands with powerful and hook driven songwriting, combining elements of funk, jazz, disco, bluegrass, and even some of that late sixties improvisation, along with a their explosive four part vocal harmonies, this band is building a faithful following, and finding success the old fashion way through hard work, dedication, determination and hours of practice theyve been known to practice 8-10 hours a day. winning over audiences everywhere they perform. In the past the band has played festivals in western NY, and Pa including the grassroots music festival, Great Blue Heron music festival, to name just a couple they have also shared the stage with some great acts like Dickey Betts, Rusted Root, Melvin seals. But with this new cd it wont be long until this band is a common name among jamband fans. Catch the people of earth in 2006 as they break out with this very exuberant disc that oozes joy, the joy of playing, living, and loving. Heres a few shows you might want to catch May 19-20th Spring Fest Connellsville, PA June 22-25th, The Gathering Pulaski, NY June 30th Docksider - Erie, PA July 7-9 The Great Blue Heron Music Festival Sherman, NY for an updated list of tour dates visit the bands website:

peopleofearthmusic.com
- The Groovelink - Published 2006