PUSH

… and now for something completely different…
I have been exchanging emails with Push’s lead singer Star for the better part of a month before catching this Bay Area band in my neck of the woods. I had been hearing a quite whisper about PUSH for the better part of three months from a few San Francisco connections, and figured CA Bands better see what all the talk was about. Although I had checked out the band’s website, I was ill prepared for the entertainment provided by PUSH as they took the stage at Ugly’s Saturday night. As for style, the band to me personally sounds like Marilyn Mason meets DOPE with a splash of the Murder Dolls for good measure. Music and entertainment is provided by vocalist Star, guitarist KA, bassist JC, drummer Steve and dancers (yes I said dancers) Jill and Julie.
I am not quite sure the Citrus Heights crowd at Ugly’s was prepared for the look of PUSH, as few in Sacramento handle men in patent leather skirts complete with fishnet stockings, but the band took little time in winning the crowd over with their music. Hey when it comes to letting the music do the talking, PUSH definitely rates high. JC and AK play off each other well on stage – good nonverbal communication during each song, without alienating the crowd. PUSH opened with a “Crank Shaft” and moved into “Shadow” a song that I thought had some well placed vocal hooks. Although industrial feeling – mainly because they did mix in some samples along with their live music – PUSH is a rock band. Towards the middle of their set, the band played a slower tempo song called “Balast” – which definitely gave the listener a solid understanding of their talents – both musically and lyrically. The timing change up, from a darkened low-end guitar and bass combo tying in the vocals, to a steady build up that ended with a bang at the altro of the song left me breathless. PUSH followed with “Queens X”, another masterpiece that had a musical combination only known by the band itself when it came to its timing. Bottom line, I was entertained – I liked the look and feel of this band from the moment they took the stage. The added bonus of two lovely dancers to entice the crowd with each song really takes their performance up a notch.
Overall, I liked what I saw both on and off stage. Each band member took time to speak to members of the audience after their performance – as well as support the other two bands on the bill, BENT and Fore Front. This is a “local” band with a good attitude about how they approach their show, which will take them far. Remember, music is entertainment – in my opinion what you play is only 50% of what goes on while a band is performing – entertaining the audience is an art that takes a while to master. Go see PUSH they are well on their way to mastering the art of entertainment. - CABANDS.COM

Ever gone to see a band and been unsure what to think? I had this dilemma with Push. I went in with an open mind. I had heard a bit of their recordings but I really needed to see them live to get a good feel for them. I’m at the show, and Push is about to come on. There's a buzz in the air, people are excited to see them. They are wearing Push shirts. They have a pretty good size following. This is a good sign. It was Star’s birthday. Someone grabbed the microphone and told him to sit in a chair in the middle of the room in front of the stage. The next thing I knew a belly dancer came out and danced for him for about 10 minutes. I didn’t know I was going to be getting that kind of show!
Push finally got onstage and started playing. They had amazing energy. Everyone there went wild. Star exudes charisma, and the rest of the band wasn’t half bad either. This isn’t the kind of show that I would normally find myself at, but I was having a great time! They had excellent stage presence. I was really digging on their costumes. It was kind of like a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture show. One of the members was wearing a pair of ripped up jean shorts with nothing but fishnets underneath. They also had dancers on stage. That’s not something you see everyday! After a few songs Star called everyone to the bar to join in with him on some birthday shots. Everyone sang happy birthday and they got back to the show. The still managed to play well even with a few shots in them!
Even though this isn’t the type of music I typically would listen to, these guys rocked! They played loud, they played fast and they played hard, and I had a great time! If you get the chance to check these guys out, you should jump on it. I was a little skeptical at first, but once I was there, it was a great time! Check them out at www.pushmusic.com. - CABANDS.COM