S.A.T.O.R.I.

ERIN A. TARABINI - Special to the Buzz

This is Chico. You can't walk out the door on a Friday night without tripping over a band "on the rise." So how do you set your feet in the direction of one particular group when there is such a healthy number of other bands to choose from?

For Satori, a promising four-man group out of Oroville, it is the assurance of an omnifarious sound -- a sound that can't be held within the parameters of just one genre -- and the guarantee that you'll leave their show wanting more.

The Satori sound can generally be described as melodic punk with a slight pop presence, all delivered with dutiful attention to lyrical content.

"We play all different types of music -- punk, emo, pop, rock," said guitarist Jeff Lawrence, 24.

Lawrence is joined by band mates Nick Caspers, 22, bass; Ashley Rubanoff, 21, drums; and Tyler DeVoll, 22, guitar and vocals.

"We aren't too threatened by other local bands because we have a very multidimensional sound."

While all hailing from musical families, the boys didn't officially band together to form Satori until 2001. Caspers, Rubanoff and DeVoll, all schoolmates, had just begun to play together when they decided one night to invite Lawrence to "jam with us."

"He stayed," said Caspers.

Their musical career got off to a slow but steady start, playing mostly house parties and the occasional school gig. But soon word of mouth kicked in and they found themselves being approached with more and more offers.

"A friend's party would lead to other parties and shows," said DeVoll. "At first we started playing covers, with only a few of our original songs thrown in. People would come up to us and say they thought the radio was playing because we did such good covers. But pretty soon, people actually started preferring our original songs."

And once the demand for original music was present, the need to keep up with it soon followed.

"We wanted to be different, but still write stuff that most people would like," said Caspers. "(When we started) we were more about individual ideas when writing. But now it is more of a group effort, collaboration."

So, now you have original music, and four enthusiastic musicians, but what comes next? What does all of this translate to on stage?

"I think people are drawn to us because of our sound, but then stay because of our performance," DeVoll said. "We don't have to force it."

"We have an amazing energy on stage, especially when we are all just clicking," added Rubanoff.

"We have a very happy medium between showmanship and music," continued Lawrence. "And it is a total group effort every time."

"We have good stage presence," finished Caspers.

While a lot of their stage time has been spent sharing venues with the likes of (the now defunct) Indecisive Youth and the popular Red With Envy (a pairing which also lead them to excellent representation by DevilKatRock Productions), as well as a very memorable New Year's Eve showing with Floater.

The group now looks forward to traveling around a bit and getting the chance to meet and play with other good bands. They have currently planned a trip to Oregon in April, and then in the summer, once the school semester has ended, "We tour!"

Flexible work schedules and generous bosses make this all possible. However, they each agree that, when it comes right down to it, the music is the most important thing.

Said Rubanoff, "You have to do it all now, before you get older and decide to settle down, have a family."

And speaking of families -- these four are lucky enough to have parents and family members that support the cause, even to the point of coming out to hear them play

"They are right there with us," said DeVoll.

"They support us emotionally and sometimes financially," agreed Lawrence. "They see that we are working really hard."

Presently, Satori's focus is to put together a song list for their second album, tour and advertise, and -- perhaps most importantly -- find a suitable label.

"It would be nice to be able to tour and not have to worry about the bills," Lawrence explained.

This is one area that the help of DevilKatRock and its head honcho, Katie Perry, comes in handy.

"We had no idea about the business end," said Rubanoff. "(Katie) really nails that. Now we have a little more pull, can book more shows. We just get to play and know that everything else is taken care of."

All of this gives the members of Satori a chance to focus on other areas.

Said Lawrence, "We just want to build up our fan base, and keep playing good music."

DevilKatProductions presents Satori, along with Red With Envy, Lavish Green Friday at LaSalles, 229 Broadway in Chico. Cover charge is $6. Show time is approximately 9:30 p.m.


(c) 2005 Chico Enterprise-Record. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc.
- Chico Enterprise-Record

By Michele Bechard


LaSalles, Wed., Sept. 8

The crowd at LaSalles last Wednesday was small but energetic as three bands delivered an eclectic mix of styles.

Opening was Holiday in Spain, a trio from Sacramento that reminded me a lot of early Nirvana. Holiday had a big sound centered on heavy, bass-driven power chords, with lots of feedback. "East of Eden" was particularly good with its (unintentional?) tribute line to the late Cobain: "Take this needle out/ stick it in your vein." If that isn't grunge, what is?

Next was Chico's Bear Hunter, featuring locals Clint Bear, Nick Hunter and Maurice Spencer. My familiarity with some of their other projects (most notably as the excellent Angry Inch band for the Blue Room's production of Hedwig) set me up to anticipate a tight set.

Spencer led a fascinating set of songs using effects pedals and climbing vines of interwoven melody to create a gorgeous cacophony. The set ran the gamut, going from Lennon-esque acid trip rock, then unexpectedly taking off with metal riffs and ringing bell tones--all out of a couple of guitars and a drum set.

Chico's Satori was up next, and the crowd gave a hero's welcome to these four guys with the clean, fast, edgy, punk-rock sound.

Most of their stuff was their own, although they rocked a cover of Van Morrison's "Brown-Eyed Girl" and completely brought the house down with a faux-reluctant encore that was hilarious: The four started to leave the stage, then, goaded by their fans, did a quick game of musical chairs, switching instruments before proceeding to break into a fantastic cover of "Thing Called Love," by The Darkness, complete with pitch-perfect upper-register vocals.

Too bad more people didn't come out to take advantage of three hours of diverse, fun music, and for a measly five bucks.
- Chico News and Review

Featured Artist of the Day

S.A.T.O.R.I., short for Sounds and Tempo of Real Inspiration, have been rocking audiences throughout California and Oregon since forming in 2001. Currently based in San Diego, the foursome has created a melodic modern rock sound featuring some inspired guitar riffing.

Fans of Thirty Seconds to Mars, Senses Fail, and Panic at the Disco will find much to like listening to S.A.T.O.R.I. You can catch them tonight at the Viper Room in West Hollywood. They are also featured in this week's LA / Orange County Best of the Week epiCAST podcast.

http://www.epitunes.com/Podcasts/Los-Angeles-Orange-County-Live-Music-Guide/Los-Angeles-Orange-County-Live-Music-Guide-Best-of-the-Week-for-Feb-22nd-2007.mp3

www.epitunes.com/artist/satori - epitunes.com