Pushing Zero

April 15th - May 14th, 2006
"With elements of classic grunge mixed with alternative and retro arena rock, Pushing Zero is truly 'pushing' the boundaries of rock-and-roll." - Northeast In-Tune Magazine

Thursday, April 13, 2006
by Zach Dionne

"Be hooked to the groups unique style, suprisingly high level of musicianship, and knack for great songwriting." - The Maine Campus

April 15th - May 14th, 2006
"With elements of classic grunge mixed with alternative and retro arena rock, Pushing Zero is truly 'pushing' the boundaries of rock-and-roll." - Northeast In-Tune Magazine

The Maine Campus
Home > Style
Bandspot with Pushing Zero
By: Abbey Greslick
Issue date: 11/21/05 Section: Style

Formed in 2003, Pushing Zero is inspired by "rock-and-roll and lots of it," according to front man George Skala. This group's name signifies "an inevitable moment where time is suspended, the realm of emotion exceeded, and the application of human intellect rendered useless," according to its Web site.

When asked how they've come so far as a band in only two years, Skala responded, "We work our asses off." There's plenty of proof Skala is right: They have awards for multiple songs at GarageBand.com, won a Demo Production Deal with Emmy Award winner Bill Chinnock and John Kunnick, won WCYY's Big Break Contest this past September, and have music all over the web. On Broadjam.com, "Don't Let Me Down" is doing especially well. They won first place in a Battle of The Bands competition in 2004 under the Professional Band category.

So what is their biggest accomplishment thus far? Skala said, "Finding each other. Without that, nothing else would matter." He came across as sincere during our interview, and this answer was no different. Although, as lead guitarist Adam Hauk points out, spending so much time with each other is a bit like "being married to three people."

Their chemistry as a band is striking. Despite being together for the past two years and spending as much time with each other as they do, they all seem perfectly comfortable and capable on stage and in their recordings. Every chord, every note and beat seems to be perfectly in place.

They have two EP's out: "Rite of Passage" and "The Chosen." On the more recent of the two, "Rite of Passage," is "Wage War." It's delicately crafted and cautious in parts, then converts to a guitar-smashing rock-and-roll chorus. "Long Way Down," on the same EP, is an equally strong song. It has a certain richness to it; catchy lyrics, the kind of sound backing it up that merits a mosh pit.

The best band they have opened for is Nashville-based, classic hard rock band The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies. The best shows happen, according to Skala, with the best audiences. Who, then, would be the ultimate band to open for, and where? Hauk and Skala agree: Audioslave, at Madison Square Garden. Audioslave is made up of ex-members of Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden; Pushing Zero is composed of musicians that have been playing in different bands, different places all their lives. Both bands make distinctive rock-and-roll and have the whole rocker image down.

Their live shows are great. Watching them perform, it's easy to compare them to bands that have been around for many years. Their dedication is universally found in one form or another in every successful band. Skala sings flawlessly; bassist Andrew Pelczar is at ease with his playing, he looks like he may have learned how to perform before he learned to walk; Jason Loeb effortlessly thrashes on the drums; and Hauk, who's played guitar since age four, has the same mix of confidence and talent that John Mayer has trademarked.

If you're into rock-and-roll, listen to some of their work online, but an even better idea: see them live! Pushing Zero will be at Ushuaia on Dec. 7. New shows are constantly added to their calendar, which you can find at the Web site (www.pushingzero.com). Also check them out on MySpace, Itunes, BroadJam, Pure Volume and Garageband.com.


- College Publisher Network

The Maine Campus
Home > Style
Bandspot with Pushing Zero
By: Abbey Greslick
Issue date: 11/21/05 Section: Style

Formed in 2003, Pushing Zero is inspired by "rock-and-roll and lots of it," according to front man George Skala. This group's name signifies "an inevitable moment where time is suspended, the realm of emotion exceeded, and the application of human intellect rendered useless," according to its Web site.

When asked how they've come so far as a band in only two years, Skala responded, "We work our asses off." There's plenty of proof Skala is right: They have awards for multiple songs at GarageBand.com, won a Demo Production Deal with Emmy Award winner Bill Chinnock and John Kunnick, won WCYY's Big Break Contest this past September, and have music all over the web. On Broadjam.com, "Don't Let Me Down" is doing especially well. They won first place in a Battle of The Bands competition in 2004 under the Professional Band category.

So what is their biggest accomplishment thus far? Skala said, "Finding each other. Without that, nothing else would matter." He came across as sincere during our interview, and this answer was no different. Although, as lead guitarist Adam Hauk points out, spending so much time with each other is a bit like "being married to three people."

Their chemistry as a band is striking. Despite being together for the past two years and spending as much time with each other as they do, they all seem perfectly comfortable and capable on stage and in their recordings. Every chord, every note and beat seems to be perfectly in place.

They have two EP's out: "Rite of Passage" and "The Chosen." On the more recent of the two, "Rite of Passage," is "Wage War." It's delicately crafted and cautious in parts, then converts to a guitar-smashing rock-and-roll chorus. "Long Way Down," on the same EP, is an equally strong song. It has a certain richness to it; catchy lyrics, the kind of sound backing it up that merits a mosh pit.

The best band they have opened for is Nashville-based, classic hard rock band The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies. The best shows happen, according to Skala, with the best audiences. Who, then, would be the ultimate band to open for, and where? Hauk and Skala agree: Audioslave, at Madison Square Garden. Audioslave is made up of ex-members of Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden; Pushing Zero is composed of musicians that have been playing in different bands, different places all their lives. Both bands make distinctive rock-and-roll and have the whole rocker image down.

Their live shows are great. Watching them perform, it's easy to compare them to bands that have been around for many years. Their dedication is universally found in one form or another in every successful band. Skala sings flawlessly; bassist Andrew Pelczar is at ease with his playing, he looks like he may have learned how to perform before he learned to walk; Jason Loeb effortlessly thrashes on the drums; and Hauk, who's played guitar since age four, has the same mix of confidence and talent that John Mayer has trademarked.

If you're into rock-and-roll, listen to some of their work online, but an even better idea: see them live! Pushing Zero will be at Ushuaia on Dec. 7. New shows are constantly added to their calendar, which you can find at the Web site (www.pushingzero.com). Also check them out on MySpace, Itunes, BroadJam, Pure Volume and Garageband.com.


- College Publisher Network

Pushing the Envelope
interview by murdoch
photo and cover by Jenn Kearns

George Skala, songwriter, vocalist, and frontman for the central Maine band Pushing Zero, is on a mission. “It’s like I want to stand naked before God and tell Him that I haven’t left a stone unturned.” Like Dylan Thomas, Skala refuses to go gentle into that good night; he has entirely too much to say and is committed to making sure that he and his bandmates are heard. “…Life is short and it’s my fear that I won’t be able to have done everything that I could have to impart this message that I have, these feelings that I have. I have this faith and this belief in what I’m doing, I really want to make an impact.”
Too much of what is being produced these days, too much of what purports to convey emotion, Skala insists, lacks intelligence, relevance and, perhaps most disturbing, conviction. Little by little Pushing Zero is doing their part to reverse that trend. All one needs do to believe in the sincerity of the message is hear this band. Few local performers these days can touch what they’re doing in terms of originality or strength of delivery.
Skala was heavily influenced by Seattle Grunge, “the last real American music scene: Cobain, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Screaming Trees,” spending every free moment during the early and mid-nineties frequenting the Seattle venues where these artists were playing, listening and playing himself. It was “a very rich and lively musical scene. Immense energy. And I just tapped into that.” Every free moment during that period when George wasn’t working or in the audience he was creating music. During graduate school after classes he’d write. And still today when he’s not communicating his message of holistic wellness through his chiropractic practice, he’s focused on the work of getting his music polished and heard.
The process of bringing the songs from idea to finished product is not an unusual one. Many bands rely on one member’s vision to create a seed and then through trial and error and experimentation grow that seed into something that has life and shape and impact. The Pushing Zero process is much the same, except that when Skala brings to the band an entry from his “living diary,” which is the way he describes his songs, he has the luxury of working with three exceptional collaborators, all extraordinary musicians themselves.
Bassist Andrew Pelczar and Skala have been working together the longest. Having lived in every corner of South America (his father is an international educator), Pelczar acquired an almost innate perspective on Latin rhythm and it comes through in his bass playing. His background in and love of rock and his education at prestigious Berklee School of Music have also contributed to a sound that both complements and enhances what George brings to the table. Drummer Jason Loeb, Skala describes as the “glue to the band, the anchor. A solid foundation. He’s a keystone, he’s a stone block.” Who better to trust with helping give breath to the bits of one’s life? And then there’s wunderkid Adam Hauk whom the rest of the band saw blowing away all competition at a battle of the bands. Adam has those intellectual chops that so many “fusion” players have, like Jeff Beck or Steve Vai. Adam is 16 (gulp!) and his technique is mind-boggling. Together these three, George says, “have the hardest part trying to get into my head and figure out where I’m coming from with this stuff.” But they seem to manage. Ably.
It’s a rare and enlightening thing when a person is so willing to share in such naked detail the depths of one’s psyche; George Skala is not only willing, but anxious to let everyone around him know how vulnerable he is. “I’m a fragile character but I’m not insecure,” he says. “The reason I’m vulnerable is that I’m willing to admit my vulnerability and most people are not. I’m not judging anybody but people aren’t willing to break down the walls to admit they’re wrong, to admit that they’re weak. I’m not going to complain about it, but I’m going to go there with conviction.”
Ultimately Pushing Zero’s audience is the beneficiary of Skala’s vulnerability. “ I overcome my emotional vulnerability by performing… If people get it they realize that [I’m] singing about something that everybody should admit but can’t.”
It’s that inability to open up and bare one’s soul that is a big part of what’s wrong with a lot of music today. George says, “I think mainstream music is confused and I think it struggles. There really isn’t a lot of conviction. I think it’s contrived. I think it lacks emotional truthfulness. and it struggles to make sense…The only thing that speaks to me as an artist is an avenue or a channel that comes from a real place that I can feel in the very pit of my being. And I don’t feel that when I listen to music today very often.”
As for the screaming angst of what Skala refers to as “cookie monster bands,” he feels we’re done with that. That kind - Face Magazine (11/01/04)

___________________________
Pushing Zero Caught in the Act:

Loud but Not Stupid

photo and review by Richard Sassaman

Pushing Zero
live in Bar Harbor 2004
Lompoc Café, May 7
Thirsty Whale, July 3, August 13, September 17
Carmen Verandah, October 23


Over the last five months, audiences in Down East Maine have been able to watch Pushing Zero get its act together—literally—as the quartet has developed into one of the state’s best bands. PZ first came to town in early May, in only their third public appearance, when guitarist Adam Hauk had been in the group less than 24 hours. Back then he probably could barely tell one song from another, but now in late October, Hauk has been fully integrated into the mix. On stage he plays fluid counterpoint solos during the slow tunes, and wails along with the fast stuff.
Of which there are plenty of both. With songs like “Living Hell” or “Our Crimes,” the band certainly enjoys screaming or pounding as hard as anyone, but PZ also has the skill to play slow, to play quietly, and their songs include intelligence not often found among such thrash.
PZ not only is dynamic, it offers up a wide range of dynamics—fast, slow, quiet, loud—and is a hard group to categorize (although not as difficult as lead singer George Skala’s former band, Kalliope). “Who did you like while growing up?” gets an interesting mix of influences listed by the four: Peter Gabriel. Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten. Van Halen. David Coverdale.
Drummer Jason Loeb and bassist Andrew Pelczar provide an international flavor, too, maybe not expected from a band based in the Searsport area. The latter, born in Panama, grew up in Brazil, Chile, Indonesia, and elsewhere; the former, before moving to Maine, enjoyed an extended stay in Senegal.
PZ could be any number of bands, actually. The group started as a trio (S-L-P), but on stage in October, when Skala wandered away briefly to change guitars, a different trio (H-L-P) played a classy little jazz number. PZ also could work as a duo (either S-L or S-P), and Skala even came to Bar Harbor this summer to play a few solo acoustic gigs, doing original material on the four-masted schooner Margaret Todd. “Every song of mine is born on the acoustic guitar,” says Skala, who provides almost all of them for PZ. But they don’t have to come out that way in concert.
Loeb believes that as long as you have strong songs, everything else falls into place. Skala, a true rock-and-roll doctor (of chiropractic), sat at the Whale this summer and talked about what more the band could do to stand out in the (over)crowded world of would-be music superstars. “What is it we need?” he wondered out loud.
It’s hard to say. PZ has got a solid rhythm section, a fine young guitarist, first-rate material, and a front man who’s both passionate and thoughtful. They’re very nice guys, they seem to get along together, and they’re both crazy enough to be in the music business, yet smart enough to go about it in a logical manner.
Maybe…when they get to the stadium shows, two (or three) female back-up singers would round things out nicely.
Yeah, stadium shows. That’s all Pushing Zero needs. Bigger audiences. - Face Magazine (2004)

Pushing the Envelope
interview by murdoch
photo and cover by Jenn Kearns

George Skala, songwriter, vocalist, and frontman for the central Maine band Pushing Zero, is on a mission. “It’s like I want to stand naked before God and tell Him that I haven’t left a stone unturned.” Like Dylan Thomas, Skala refuses to go gentle into that good night; he has entirely too much to say and is committed to making sure that he and his bandmates are heard. “…Life is short and it’s my fear that I won’t be able to have done everything that I could have to impart this message that I have, these feelings that I have. I have this faith and this belief in what I’m doing, I really want to make an impact.”
Too much of what is being produced these days, too much of what purports to convey emotion, Skala insists, lacks intelligence, relevance and, perhaps most disturbing, conviction. Little by little Pushing Zero is doing their part to reverse that trend. All one needs do to believe in the sincerity of the message is hear this band. Few local performers these days can touch what they’re doing in terms of originality or strength of delivery.
Skala was heavily influenced by Seattle Grunge, “the last real American music scene: Cobain, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Screaming Trees,” spending every free moment during the early and mid-nineties frequenting the Seattle venues where these artists were playing, listening and playing himself. It was “a very rich and lively musical scene. Immense energy. And I just tapped into that.” Every free moment during that period when George wasn’t working or in the audience he was creating music. During graduate school after classes he’d write. And still today when he’s not communicating his message of holistic wellness through his chiropractic practice, he’s focused on the work of getting his music polished and heard.
The process of bringing the songs from idea to finished product is not an unusual one. Many bands rely on one member’s vision to create a seed and then through trial and error and experimentation grow that seed into something that has life and shape and impact. The Pushing Zero process is much the same, except that when Skala brings to the band an entry from his “living diary,” which is the way he describes his songs, he has the luxury of working with three exceptional collaborators, all extraordinary musicians themselves.
Bassist Andrew Pelczar and Skala have been working together the longest. Having lived in every corner of South America (his father is an international educator), Pelczar acquired an almost innate perspective on Latin rhythm and it comes through in his bass playing. His background in and love of rock and his education at prestigious Berklee School of Music have also contributed to a sound that both complements and enhances what George brings to the table. Drummer Jason Loeb, Skala describes as the “glue to the band, the anchor. A solid foundation. He’s a keystone, he’s a stone block.” Who better to trust with helping give breath to the bits of one’s life? And then there’s wunderkid Adam Hauk whom the rest of the band saw blowing away all competition at a battle of the bands. Adam has those intellectual chops that so many “fusion” players have, like Jeff Beck or Steve Vai. Adam is 16 (gulp!) and his technique is mind-boggling. Together these three, George says, “have the hardest part trying to get into my head and figure out where I’m coming from with this stuff.” But they seem to manage. Ably.
It’s a rare and enlightening thing when a person is so willing to share in such naked detail the depths of one’s psyche; George Skala is not only willing, but anxious to let everyone around him know how vulnerable he is. “I’m a fragile character but I’m not insecure,” he says. “The reason I’m vulnerable is that I’m willing to admit my vulnerability and most people are not. I’m not judging anybody but people aren’t willing to break down the walls to admit they’re wrong, to admit that they’re weak. I’m not going to complain about it, but I’m going to go there with conviction.”
Ultimately Pushing Zero’s audience is the beneficiary of Skala’s vulnerability. “ I overcome my emotional vulnerability by performing… If people get it they realize that [I’m] singing about something that everybody should admit but can’t.”
It’s that inability to open up and bare one’s soul that is a big part of what’s wrong with a lot of music today. George says, “I think mainstream music is confused and I think it struggles. There really isn’t a lot of conviction. I think it’s contrived. I think it lacks emotional truthfulness. and it struggles to make sense…The only thing that speaks to me as an artist is an avenue or a channel that comes from a real place that I can feel in the very pit of my being. And I don’t feel that when I listen to music today very often.”
As for the screaming angst of what Skala refers to as “cookie monster bands,” he feels we’re done with that. That kind - Face Magazine (11/01/04)

What could possibly drive a successful chiropractor with his own practice to form a rock n' roll band and play the local circuit night after night? "The love of music, " answers George Skala, a local musician and neighborhood chiropractor. "I've always written music, it's part of my life. There is no way I could distance or separate myself from music, nor would I ever try to...It's just too worth it to me. Without music a part of me would die. Sure, it took me a lot of years to suceed as a chiropractor, but I could just as well be a waiter. My occupation has nothing to do with how much I love music."
That's right, when he's not cracking necks, massaging backs and realigning spines back into place, Skala is banging heads with his rock n' roll band, Pushing Zero. "I'll tell you what, the balance between my professional life and rock n' roll is rough," he admits, "but what makes it easier for me is my wife; she's very supportive and there are no words that explain the kind of support she gives me. If it wasn't for her I'm sure I couldn't be doing both of these things."
Having two careers is one thing, being successful at both is another, yet whatever Skala gets involved in somehow seems to shine. With a little over a year together as a band, Pushing Zero is already making waves within Maine's music scene. Singles from their debut EP, The Chosen, "Pain" and "Day Turns To Night," are being played on many local rock-radio stations, creating a positive buzz with fans as well as the industry. "We're gaining momentum, "gushed Skala. "Week by week I can see more familiar people at the shows and stuff. We also have a great street team in place, promoting and getting the word out. A couple of people feel what we do and share it and it goes from there."
With a throwback grungy, classic rock vibe blended with edgy guitars and tight lyrics, Pushing Zero is giving the scene a completely different sound from all the hardcore and thrash that dominates the local rock circuit and for many enthusiasts, Pushing Zero is a breath of fresh air.
Hailing from Machias, Searsport, and Stockton Springs, Maine, Pushing Zero are fast becoming a local favorite. The band formed in 2003 after Skala met Andrew Pelczar at Logo's Pub in Belfast, Maine during an open mic. "I saw immediately that Andrew had great chops and was great player,"Skala recalled. "He's a very accomplished bass player and did a lot of solo stuff. He was really great."
The two began working together that week and Skala connected with old time friend and drummer, Jason Loeb and offered him a spot in the band. "It really started out as a recording project," the singer explained, "but we knew that we had some really good material."
The three musicians began recording their EP, The Chosen, using various studio musicians and friends from other bands to fill in on the guitar parts. It was that core group that headed to "Mainely Tunes" in Machias, Maine to begin recording, "The Chosen" EP with band mentor and sound engineer, Peder Moe and producer Jonathan Wyman.
Even though the trio was happy with their recording, there was still something missing. It wasn't until this past May when Pushing Zero discovered a key element needed for their band and it was in the form of a sixteen-year-old guitar virtuoso named Adam Hauk. "The kid is a phenomenal talent, "raved Skala. "His musical style and his musicianship is far and beyond his years. With him on this project, we really go an afterburner kicked in."
So, now with the complete line-up in place, Pushing Zero are anticipating their next move and are prepping to leave for Pennsylvania to play the 2nd Annual Acoustic Revival, marking their first out-of-state performance. There, they hope to impress many of the scouts, promoters, management and label reps who may be in attendance. "By getting out of Maine, we may get better exposure to other levels of the industry and we're looking forward to that, "Skala said, "and there's a possibility that this may open some doors for us."
Until those doors do finally open, Skala will continue to balance his two lives no matter how hard it might be. "There will always be that clash," he says, "But I don't choos to separate anything. I always go 100 percent in everything that I do. My practice is very important to me. The care of my patients is very important to me and if it ever comes to a point where it is disruptive for one or the other I will have to make a decision. But, until that reflection point is met I will not be able to put either down. I'm gonna do both just as well and best I can."
For info and updates on Pushing Zero log on to: www.pushingzero.com. - Goodtimes Magazine (2004)

What could possibly drive a successful chiropractor with his own practice to form a rock n' roll band and play the local circuit night after night? "The love of music, " answers George Skala, a local musician and neighborhood chiropractor. "I've always written music, it's part of my life. There is no way I could distance or separate myself from music, nor would I ever try to...It's just too worth it to me. Without music a part of me would die. Sure, it took me a lot of years to suceed as a chiropractor, but I could just as well be a waiter. My occupation has nothing to do with how much I love music."
That's right, when he's not cracking necks, massaging backs and realigning spines back into place, Skala is banging heads with his rock n' roll band, Pushing Zero. "I'll tell you what, the balance between my professional life and rock n' roll is rough," he admits, "but what makes it easier for me is my wife; she's very supportive and there are no words that explain the kind of support she gives me. If it wasn't for her I'm sure I couldn't be doing both of these things."
Having two careers is one thing, being successful at both is another, yet whatever Skala gets involved in somehow seems to shine. With a little over a year together as a band, Pushing Zero is already making waves within Maine's music scene. Singles from their debut EP, The Chosen, "Pain" and "Day Turns To Night," are being played on many local rock-radio stations, creating a positive buzz with fans as well as the industry. "We're gaining momentum, "gushed Skala. "Week by week I can see more familiar people at the shows and stuff. We also have a great street team in place, promoting and getting the word out. A couple of people feel what we do and share it and it goes from there."
With a throwback grungy, classic rock vibe blended with edgy guitars and tight lyrics, Pushing Zero is giving the scene a completely different sound from all the hardcore and thrash that dominates the local rock circuit and for many enthusiasts, Pushing Zero is a breath of fresh air.
Hailing from Machias, Searsport, and Stockton Springs, Maine, Pushing Zero are fast becoming a local favorite. The band formed in 2003 after Skala met Andrew Pelczar at Logo's Pub in Belfast, Maine during an open mic. "I saw immediately that Andrew had great chops and was great player,"Skala recalled. "He's a very accomplished bass player and did a lot of solo stuff. He was really great."
The two began working together that week and Skala connected with old time friend and drummer, Jason Loeb and offered him a spot in the band. "It really started out as a recording project," the singer explained, "but we knew that we had some really good material."
The three musicians began recording their EP, The Chosen, using various studio musicians and friends from other bands to fill in on the guitar parts. It was that core group that headed to "Mainely Tunes" in Machias, Maine to begin recording, "The Chosen" EP with band mentor and sound engineer, Peder Moe and producer Jonathan Wyman.
Even though the trio was happy with their recording, there was still something missing. It wasn't until this past May when Pushing Zero discovered a key element needed for their band and it was in the form of a sixteen-year-old guitar virtuoso named Adam Hauk. "The kid is a phenomenal talent, "raved Skala. "His musical style and his musicianship is far and beyond his years. With him on this project, we really go an afterburner kicked in."
So, now with the complete line-up in place, Pushing Zero are anticipating their next move and are prepping to leave for Pennsylvania to play the 2nd Annual Acoustic Revival, marking their first out-of-state performance. There, they hope to impress many of the scouts, promoters, management and label reps who may be in attendance. "By getting out of Maine, we may get better exposure to other levels of the industry and we're looking forward to that, "Skala said, "and there's a possibility that this may open some doors for us."
Until those doors do finally open, Skala will continue to balance his two lives no matter how hard it might be. "There will always be that clash," he says, "But I don't choos to separate anything. I always go 100 percent in everything that I do. My practice is very important to me. The care of my patients is very important to me and if it ever comes to a point where it is disruptive for one or the other I will have to make a decision. But, until that reflection point is met I will not be able to put either down. I'm gonna do both just as well and best I can."
For info and updates on Pushing Zero log on to: www.pushingzero.com. - Goodtimes Magazine (2004)

1. When were Pushing Zero formed as a band and how did you all get to know each other in the first place and tell us about the members of the band?

PZ was formed in 2003 on the strength of George Skala’s singing and songwriting. George met Andrew Pelczar (bassist) at a local open mic in Belfast, Maine. Skala had worked with Jason Loeb (drummer), years ealier in a recording session at Mainely Tunes in Machias, Maine and introduced the new members at Jason’s house in Cape Split in May of 2003. The three of them met and became a band the first time they played together. They recorded their first EP, “The Chosen” with a couple guest guitar players and eventually found Adam Hauk at a local battle of the bands a year ago. Hauk’s talent was obvious and he joined the band immediately. Some info on individual members available on the Band page of our web site (http://www.pushingzero.com).


2. Who have been the bands main influence musical and where do the band get it's ideas for the lyrics, are they taken out of everyday and personal experience?

Because the backrounds of all the band members are so different, the list of influences is very broad and lengthy. We think this wide range of experience brings something to our music. The overall sound we put out owes itself very heavily to the great classic huge bands. But we also have members listening to everything from Jazz to Classical to Blues, World, Hip-hop. Really anything that is great in its genre can help a band learn to put together it’s own material. We use it all. At the end though, we are a broad range rock band and we stick to that center because it feels great and connects with our diverse audience.


3. The band have just put out it's latest effort, Rite Of Passage. How have the band developed musically from it's last E.P. release, The Chosen?

It is hard to overstate the difference between the first and second EPs in almost every facet. The first EP was literally the first thing Pushing Zero set out to do as a band. None of that material had been played live before it was recorded. We picked 5 songs for it from about 12 that we had worked up. It was recorded in a home studio and then mixed professionally. The second EP was 5 songs picked from around 30 new tunes. We recorded all of it with an incredibly talented engineer in a solid mid-level studio. We had done some songwriting work with an Emmy award winning songwriter who lives here in Maine. They had all been flushed out live. We feel that the new EP represents a major step for us professionally. It sounds pretty close to a major label release in quality. And that’s what we want. We want to play, write, record, perform, at the highest level we can - each rung of the ladder is important as we climb our way up in the music business. That has always been a goal. Do the absolute best work possible with whatever resources we have. If we had our own studio, we would have put out 3 full lengths already and there are some really interesting songs we would love to do. Even the jacket cover work is better. All you can do is keep improving and plugging away. At some point along that journey, we will catch a break with the right guy on the business side of music and we really believe the sky is the limit for this project with some great industry professionals involved. The second EP was a just a taste of what recording with serious professionals is like. We liked it. We want more. A lot more.


4. Has there been any interest from any record labels for the band from Japan and Europe and what about inside the States?

No.


5. Could the band tell us a little about the tracks featuring on the new EP and what's the bands personal favorite track to play live?

EP's are sort of a necessary evil of sorts for small independent bands like us. Every good band wants the same thing. They want to put out as much material as they can and we would love to make several full-length records. With over 50 songs that we have already, we certainly have the material for it. There just isn't money available to record that much material at the higher level we want to record at. So, we have taken the tack that we will make 5 song demos that we package for sale as EPs. As difficult as record companies have become, we still need their marketing expertise (and money) and their distribution. For both our EPs, we chose songs that we thought would have the greatest chance of interesting labels and other industry people into getting involved with our band. And that is not necessarily the songs we personally love the best. And everyone in the bands likes different songs more than others. So, the track list is a heavy combination of multiple factors. Satellite is a song that all of us seem to really enjoy. It has a very locked up groove and some cool facets that are special for us. It plays very well live and has been very well received by our fans. Long Way Down thumps. We re - Lionspride Music - Denmark (2005)

1. When were Pushing Zero formed as a band and how did you all get to know each other in the first place and tell us about the members of the band?

PZ was formed in 2003 on the strength of George Skala’s singing and songwriting. George met Andrew Pelczar (bassist) at a local open mic in Belfast, Maine. Skala had worked with Jason Loeb (drummer), years ealier in a recording session at Mainely Tunes in Machias, Maine and introduced the new members at Jason’s house in Cape Split in May of 2003. The three of them met and became a band the first time they played together. They recorded their first EP, “The Chosen” with a couple guest guitar players and eventually found Adam Hauk at a local battle of the bands a year ago. Hauk’s talent was obvious and he joined the band immediately. Some info on individual members available on the Band page of our web site (http://www.pushingzero.com).


2. Who have been the bands main influence musical and where do the band get it's ideas for the lyrics, are they taken out of everyday and personal experience?

Because the backrounds of all the band members are so different, the list of influences is very broad and lengthy. We think this wide range of experience brings something to our music. The overall sound we put out owes itself very heavily to the great classic huge bands. But we also have members listening to everything from Jazz to Classical to Blues, World, Hip-hop. Really anything that is great in its genre can help a band learn to put together it’s own material. We use it all. At the end though, we are a broad range rock band and we stick to that center because it feels great and connects with our diverse audience.


3. The band have just put out it's latest effort, Rite Of Passage. How have the band developed musically from it's last E.P. release, The Chosen?

It is hard to overstate the difference between the first and second EPs in almost every facet. The first EP was literally the first thing Pushing Zero set out to do as a band. None of that material had been played live before it was recorded. We picked 5 songs for it from about 12 that we had worked up. It was recorded in a home studio and then mixed professionally. The second EP was 5 songs picked from around 30 new tunes. We recorded all of it with an incredibly talented engineer in a solid mid-level studio. We had done some songwriting work with an Emmy award winning songwriter who lives here in Maine. They had all been flushed out live. We feel that the new EP represents a major step for us professionally. It sounds pretty close to a major label release in quality. And that’s what we want. We want to play, write, record, perform, at the highest level we can - each rung of the ladder is important as we climb our way up in the music business. That has always been a goal. Do the absolute best work possible with whatever resources we have. If we had our own studio, we would have put out 3 full lengths already and there are some really interesting songs we would love to do. Even the jacket cover work is better. All you can do is keep improving and plugging away. At some point along that journey, we will catch a break with the right guy on the business side of music and we really believe the sky is the limit for this project with some great industry professionals involved. The second EP was a just a taste of what recording with serious professionals is like. We liked it. We want more. A lot more.


4. Has there been any interest from any record labels for the band from Japan and Europe and what about inside the States?

No.


5. Could the band tell us a little about the tracks featuring on the new EP and what's the bands personal favorite track to play live?

EP's are sort of a necessary evil of sorts for small independent bands like us. Every good band wants the same thing. They want to put out as much material as they can and we would love to make several full-length records. With over 50 songs that we have already, we certainly have the material for it. There just isn't money available to record that much material at the higher level we want to record at. So, we have taken the tack that we will make 5 song demos that we package for sale as EPs. As difficult as record companies have become, we still need their marketing expertise (and money) and their distribution. For both our EPs, we chose songs that we thought would have the greatest chance of interesting labels and other industry people into getting involved with our band. And that is not necessarily the songs we personally love the best. And everyone in the bands likes different songs more than others. So, the track list is a heavy combination of multiple factors. Satellite is a song that all of us seem to really enjoy. It has a very locked up groove and some cool facets that are special for us. It plays very well live and has been very well received by our fans. Long Way Down thumps. We re - Lionspride Music - Denmark (2005)

Pushing Zero, whose disc is available through their finely polished Web site, www.pushingzero.com, have a solid marketing campaign in the works as well, and they’ve taken great care with the look and feel of their product. They deliver pretty much what you might expect: hyper-technical musicianship creating some heavy rock influenced by the grunge era.

"It’s a long way down when you’re in love" sings frontman George Skala (remember Bim Skala Bim? They played a New Year’s Eve gig at the old Basement in 1999? Anyway, no relation) on the opening "Long Way Down." That should give you a flavor of the lyrical content — pretty standard rock fare. And Skala’s delivery, though in the opener mirrored by the guitar riff nicely, moves around a lot. Sometimes you get high and breathy, sometimes Chris Cornell growling, sometimes just his normal singing voice (which is best, as on the beginning of "Don’t Let Me Down," where it’s crystal clear). The semi-political "Wage War" gets closest to intellectually engaging, but stays too subtle.

The musicianship, however, stays well above-average. The rhythm section is rock-solid, anchored by bassist Andrew Pelczar, and guitarist Adam Hauk gets off some kicking guitar licks all over the place, rapid and tight. Both "Long Way Down" and "Satellite" should satisfy metalhead guitar geeks nicely.

All in all, the five-song offering comes off a bit like Audioslave covering Black Crowes tunes, which isn’t all that bad an idea, really.

Sam Pfeifle can be reached at spfeifle@phx.com
- The Portland Phoenix, Sam Pfeifle

Pushing Zero, whose disc is available through their finely polished Web site, www.pushingzero.com, have a solid marketing campaign in the works as well, and they’ve taken great care with the look and feel of their product. They deliver pretty much what you might expect: hyper-technical musicianship creating some heavy rock influenced by the grunge era.

"It’s a long way down when you’re in love" sings frontman George Skala (remember Bim Skala Bim? They played a New Year’s Eve gig at the old Basement in 1999? Anyway, no relation) on the opening "Long Way Down." That should give you a flavor of the lyrical content — pretty standard rock fare. And Skala’s delivery, though in the opener mirrored by the guitar riff nicely, moves around a lot. Sometimes you get high and breathy, sometimes Chris Cornell growling, sometimes just his normal singing voice (which is best, as on the beginning of "Don’t Let Me Down," where it’s crystal clear). The semi-political "Wage War" gets closest to intellectually engaging, but stays too subtle.

The musicianship, however, stays well above-average. The rhythm section is rock-solid, anchored by bassist Andrew Pelczar, and guitarist Adam Hauk gets off some kicking guitar licks all over the place, rapid and tight. Both "Long Way Down" and "Satellite" should satisfy metalhead guitar geeks nicely.

All in all, the five-song offering comes off a bit like Audioslave covering Black Crowes tunes, which isn’t all that bad an idea, really.

Sam Pfeifle can be reached at spfeifle@phx.com
- The Portland Phoenix, Sam Pfeifle