Peter McDermott

Peter McDermott / One Big Picture Show
https://www.petermcdermottmusic.com
RIYL: Boys Like Girls, Butch Walker, The Damnwells

Peter McDermott sounds like he’s having the time of his life. His liver, on the other hand… well, it only takes about half a listen through album opener/standout track “Life of the Party” to realize that particular organ may not be having so much fun.

That song in particular, however, is quite the anthem. A celebratory declaration that sounds like it would be the life of the party itself. But, during its four minutes of rousing, infectious pop/rock, I somehow found myself feeling increasingly sadder and sadder. And that’s probably the point – “hey, I’ve been through some shit, but I’m going to have the time of my life, no matter the cost, in spite of it all.” It’s an anthem for those who can’t find the strength or motivation to properly deal with certain things on their own. In that sense alone, the song is incredible. It’s not easy capturing such conflicting emotions in such a short amount of time, but McDermott really manages to pass that along to the listener in the midst of some mighty fine music.

Unfortunately, immediately thereafter is where the EP hits its low point. “Listen, Emily,” if I’m being honest, is quite bland. The song comes off as lazy in a sea of five other tracks that come off as anything but. It’s not a terrible song; it’s just forgettable and poorly placed.

As a whole, One Big Picture Show crosses over multiple genre lines without ever feeling strange. It evokes sensibilities from Boys Like Girls’ fantastic 2006 debut. The songs are catchy, sometimes a bit understated (which isn’t a bad thing in today’s overproduced world), and rife with plenty of specific narrative I just so happen to be a sucker for. McDermott certainly knows his way around a pop song, and there’s plenty in these six songs to prove that, whether it be the all-too-brief bridge in “Who’s Gonna Love You?” which gets so close to prog it’s actually impressive, or the undeniably sunny guitar lead in album closer “The Cure That I Need.” It’s a great first glimpse into an artist setting himself up to be the life of the party. Let’s just hope he takes better care of his liver along the way.

–TJ Foster - Digital Wheat Paste

Most industries operate in cycles. The kind of ‘what goes around comes around’ cycles that have gifted us with endless remakes and reboots across movies, fashion, and whatever other industry you can think of. Here in 2018, we are basically living in a mashup of some of the ‘greatest hits’ of decades. Peter McDermott’s latest effort, One Big Picture Show is one of the most 80s tinged indie rock releases of the year.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. When you think of music from the 80s, you can usually only imagine the kind of cheesy hair metal bands that your dad still blares in his car or the kind of boring, uninspired pop music that we can’t seem to shake. Well, Peter McDermott taps into a different aspect of 80s music. Sonically, this album sounds like The Cure by way of Huey Lewis. There is a distinct upbeat quality to his music, but the added synths and some lower-toned vocals definitely harken back to the age of goth-tinged pop rock.

Above all, this album does an amazing job of bringing you straight to the setting that New York-native Peter McDermott wants to take you. “Drinking Song” brings you right into a dive bar amid heartache, full of xylophone hits and harmonica-backed gang vocals while songs like “Life of the Party” puts you in the shoes of a person realizing that their current situation, while probably not the greatest, isn’t gonna slow them down from a weekend of binge drinking.

Overall, One Big Picture Show is a fun record without sacrificing its blatant honesty. It takes you back to a simpler era in music while reminding you of the down-to-earth attitude that has become increasingly popular in the recent years. Legitimately every song would be a perfect fit on any indie movie soundtrack, and we absolutely love that.

Standout Tracks: Life of the Party, Drinking Song
For fans of: The Cure, Huey Lewis and the News, SPORTS - Forgotten Underground.com

Peter McDermott: a young singer/drummer based in NY that embodies the spirit of the phrase “Long time watcher, first time performer;” grew up embedded in the Long Island music center for his young music life; bounced from one band to the next without a clear direction until his recent launch of his solo career. That’s about all you need know… but why not dive in deeper?

These experiences have allowed him to see the best and the worst that our little splotch of land just beyond NYC has to offer with our eternally churning whirlpool of strong punk, ska, pop and eclectic takes on fusion bands. The good and the bad.

Built into the core of Long island’s music scene is a surprising number of bad habits; the greatest band the world will never see because the singer moved to Canada a week after it formed and they all went their separate ways or quirky; lovable bands that refuse to follow any path of marketing, condemning themselves to a life of obscurity; brotherhoods forming and torn apart on the same day as akin to a Game of Thrones marathon makes the scene more akin to a theater of war than musical growth. Emerging from Long island after so many years, even at a younger age, still the desire to create and perform intact, with any sense of positivity, it sometimes more akin to a haggard hero at a movie’s end than that of a singer.

But you meet equally talented and passionate people who have made it through the same chaotic scene without losing their way and their support and skill help elevate a initial work, offering a foundation built on a camaraderie formed from persevering through similar struggles. McDermott has burned himself one fast trail of experience and built a small group of skilled musicians, including his brother to help bring the first two singles off his upcoming album, One Big Picture Show, a proper polish to them.

The duel songs come off as twin anchors to what the album wants to end and begin with; one poppy, upbeat call out to a lover with “Listen, Emily.” and “Whose Gonna Love You Now,” a morose, generalized anthem to past feelings a person still holds dear. Its surprisingly deep for an early song, especially from the first real project that Peter is attempting for his own career. Both songs share a throaty underscore of string, piano and drums, differed by their pace and rhythmic usage but kept together with a classic four-person sound that fills out in between each chorus. A lyrical mindset that’s comfortable being morose on its recollection as the words ponder over thoughts of love. I would love to see this self-aware writing style brought to bear on more variety of life’s topics and if there is a worry concerning the album’s development, it stems from a worry of an overuse on well-worn ground.

While discovering a new artist, the assumption that whatever “first” project a musician starts with will be this experimental attempt or, at best, a strong stepping point to be vaulted on the journey to something greater. In all honesty, this album has all the potential makings to be a strong, transitory work for McDermott to learn much from and then move onwards, but he showcases a surprising amount of awareness about the process and how much difficulty comes into song crafting and creation that I’m impatient to hear the finished work for something greater at the here and now.

Its impulsive, and not the smartest idea, to call an album’s success over the first two singles but I’ll admit that what he’s done so far has surpassed the cynical Long Islander in me with its skillful focus towards the world and loving another person within it, the hardships and reasons we continue to look afterwards. His eye towards the challenges of the music life and the difficulties awaiting him fills me with the hope that McDermott will be here next week and next year as well. There’s so much more coming for a music fan, one with an ear for pop and color, and youth tempered with a small smidgen of wisdom. A music lover looking for some local flavor to a new year of music.

I don’t know what the final product will be but I’m happy to wait for the result. The good and the bad. - Shutter 16 Magazine

Peter McDermott is a musician from New York who recently released One Big Picture Show. McDermott explains “One Big Picture Show is a collection of snapshots from my life.” That life that he sings is about as ubiquitous and familiar to young males raised in western civilization as you can get. I’m in my late 30’s and remember everything very clearly from the late teens and early 20’s which is approximately the age range he is referring to. The songs are about falling in and out of love, getting too drunk and just the feelings most people experience as they transition to becoming an adult.

​The songs are poppy/rock song with an Americana type vibe. McDermott establishes his sound with “Life of the Party” where he sings things that are perfectly acceptable and even cute when you are twenty such as passing out in a hotel lobby from being too drunk. This kind of thing is a lot less cute when you’re in your 30’s. The song is catchy and fun if predictable.

“Listen, Emily” is a well written song that is infectious. The chorus gets there fast and is a single worthy that gets stuck in your head the first time you hear it. “Drinking Song” is another super catchy song and arguably the highlight. “Stuck In Your Love” pulls off some good rocking while “Who's Gonna Love You?” is more nostalgic and reflective. The EP ends on an uplifting conclusion with “The Cure That I Need” which is also the most poppy, FM radio ready song.

McDermott is a really good musician. He can sing and play guitar but most importantly knows how to write a great hook. I wouldn’t call his music the least bit experimental and there is no sort of risk taking outside standard structure which I do think might be to his benefit at some point.

One Big Picture Show will obviously attract its intended audience of younger people. That being said it could also work for people my age and older who want to revisit the hurdles and realities of being young today which hasn't changed as much as we think over the years. - Divide and Conquer Music.com

Peter McDermott is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter out of Long Island, NY. Having played in many indie rock groups, he recently chose to venture out for his first solo project, One Big Picture Show. The EP is the perfect combination of indie rock, pop, and classic rock influences that culminate into a really good production.

The Vocals:

With this somewhat monotone voice, Peter’s singing isn’t always perfect. However, he creates this sound that is almost like a lullaby. It doesn’t push you away but almost pulls you right in. On “Drinking Song” and “Who’s Gonna Love You?”, we see this most. And even with these vocals, we still see a few dynamic aspects with his voice. “The Cure That I Need” has these almost pops of exploration from Peter as he looks to bring a slightly different sound to the last track of the EP. “Who’s Gonna Love You?” also includes some great background vocals that compliments his voice extremely well. The biggest thing that he brings to the table is his lyrical talent. Peter develops these great stories in each of his songs that make for great listens.

The Instrumentals:

This part of the project is very well done. Peter and his band do a good job creating these lively instrumentals pieces. What is most obvious is the influence of classic rock on many of the guitar riffs. “Who’s Gonna Love You?” features a great guitar solo towards the end of the song in which you can hear influence straight from Led Zeppelin or any of those classic rock legends. The instrumentals on the EP do a great job creating a strong indie rock sound.

The Production:

The fact that One Big Picture Show is only an EP is a disappointment. The class and charisma Peter brings to the project only makes you want to hear more. It would be interesting to see what he can do with the space of a full album. Transitions on the EP aren’t perfect, however, you never feel that there is a song that shouldn’t be where it is. Every song just fits with the vibe and sound Peter is bringing to the table.

The Essentials:

“Life of the Party” and “Who’s Gonna Love You?”

The Rating:

Peter does a great job not trying to be anyone else. He is himself in this EP and does a fantastic job bringing his sound across to listeners. I highly recommend checking him out, especially if you are into that indie rock sound. One Big Picture Show gets a:

7.2

This is an artist who Colossus is going to have to follow and see where he might go in the future.

-Heff - Colossus Music

Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

Peter McDermott - Vocals and Guitar
Matt McDermott - Drums, Bass and Backing Vocals
Tom Bauer - Guitar, Bass and Backing Vocals

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to working solo with Peter? How long have you been around with Peter or working on your own music, Peter?


Our first two singles came out last May, but Matt and I are brothers and we started playing out together in our rooms as kids. Tom was always friends with us when we were growing up and was one of the best musicians that we knew. So when I was doing this solo project, I naturally wanted to work with two guys who I was incredibly comfortable with and could just have fun creating a great group of songs.


Why Peter McDermott and not a band name?


I grew up playing in bands, but I always felt that there was an identity crisis with everyone of them. If we were this type of band, we couldn’t do this type of song cause it doesn’t fit or something like that. Now, I don’t really feel like we have that restriction cause it’s not a band’s name, but it’s my name and my image. So whatever band is playing with me can kinda have this liberty to play what we want, when we want, with who we want and it’s incredibly freeing. At the end of the day, “Peter McDermott” are the songs that I write with my friends and if we all wanna play or do something that a band couldn’t; why can’t we? That’s how we keep it fun!


What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?


A lot of One Big Picture Show is about love and how it can help or hurt. Whether it’s love for someone, love for the people around you, or love of even a good time and just how it makes you feel. Those come about very naturally because typically what happens is I’ll come in with an idea for a song. The majority of the time the idea is pretty bare bones so it’s basically just a couple chords and lyrics. Typically each one of us will create our own little part that will grow the song and add our own signature on the track. For example, the kinda drunken-choir in “Life of the Party” was Matt’s idea and it really makes the entire song, cause it just gives you that visual of that army of drunken wedding crashers.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

We all listen to a lot of different stuff, but I would say the music I have been getting into a lot lately has been the album Gone Now by Bleachers, as well as, After the Party by The Menzingers. I just feel those two releases have these deep recurring themes that narrate the same feelings, but in two very different ways. Also, they just both have such a great energy to them. I also have been working through the Eagles catalog cause I love their harmonies.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

I would say that I have always drawn inspiration from guys like Glen Hansard and Ryan Adams. Both of them had successful bands outside of their solo careers and kept that band element alive when they went solo. However, they had this separate identity from their bands. That’s what I wanted to accomplish with One Big Picture Show. To have that same attack of the music and full sound a band would have, but have my own identity to show people who I was.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

Doing lots of vocal exercises, drinking plenty of water, and just getting ready to give the best show we can for our audience that night

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

In a weird way, our most intimate shows have been the biggest highlights. We did a slew of coffee house, apartment, and house shows just Matt and I which was really cool. After playing all the songs as band and recording with all these additional sounds, it was really nice to get the songs back to their origin of just playing them acoustically for our friends and having that very natural connection with the audience. Those haven’t been our biggest shows, but they have definitely been the most rewarding.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

I would love to tour with the Zac Brown Band, O.A.R, or even Springsteen because they just have such a great audience and they really give it their all every night that they go out to perform. I think that would just force us to get even more into our live shows and perform at a level that really makes people happy. Their also a lot of venues we wanna play like Red Rocks or Terminal 5 in New York, because those places are just such staples. - killthemusic.net

On Air Interview

Start Time: 7:00, End Time: 20:15 - WEMF Radio