Says She

By Shane Rogers
Avon Lake
A group of Avon Lakers and their college friend are attempting to knock the socks off of audiences as their rock band, Says She, navigates the tricky inland waters of the Cleveland music scene. With Molly Persarchik on vocals, Matt Rehker on guitar, Alana Bilancini on bass and David Shullenberger on drums, the female-fronted Says She plays a combination of pop, rock and blues that is “soul”-ly its own. “We all work very well together and our personalities just fit,” said Persarchik, referring to the band’s chemistry. “All of us have some sort of background with music theory. It’s good music,” Bilancini added. “It’s easy to add stuff.” Persarchik, Rehker and Shullenberger formed the band while at Miami University about two years ago, starting off doing mostly cover songs. They transitioned to writing original songs in August 2012 after Rehker moved back to the Cleveland area from Boston and Shullenberger moved up to Cleveland to pursue graduate studies. Bilancini was added to the band’s lineup just three weeks ago to fill the much-needed role of bassist. Persarchik, Rehker and Bilancini all attended Avon Lake High School and graduated in 2007, 2007 and 2008, respectively, but were only acquaintances until music brought them together. “All of the St. Joe’s (elementary school) kids don’t know anyone from high school,” Rehker said, generally describing the lack of recognition that Persarchik and Bilancini have of former classmates. “I always knew Matt as No. 7 on the (Avon Lake) football team,” said Bilancini in her best attempt at a Southern belle accent, while the others laughed and threw around the word “stalker.” The band appears to have no shortage of chemistry, on stage and off. As for the music, Says She’s chemistry is helping its members pave a slightly different path than a majority of the all-male bands on the scene. With a female singer and bassist, they are encountering battles they never imagined they’d have to fight. “There is something incredibly powerful about having a female vocalist and bass player and name that reflects that in a style of music that is, in my opinion, largely dominated by an inclination towards the masculine,” said Shullenberger through an e-mail because he couldn’t attend the interview. “As a girl you can’t just be average; you have to be good to get respect,” Bilancini said. Good appears to be an understatement as Says She continues to play in venues around the Cleveland and Lakewood area, most recently opening at Peabody’s in Cleveland for the band Ballyhoo. Its next show will be the Battle of the Bands at the Phantasy Nite Club in Cleveland Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. The band has come a long way from its first gig on Dec. 21 at Wilbert’s in Cleveland, where no one showed up, not even the other bands scheduled to play. Band members ended up playing their set for their families, a “guy from the city” and the “cranky bartender,” as Rehker described him. Although Says She may be starting off small, its passion, love for music, lightheartedness and support system have the potential to help it continue rising through the scene. “I would like it to be,” Persarchik said about making music a full-time gig. “I would like to make something out of it.” More information on Says She’s upcoming shows and general information can be found at http://m.reverbnation.com/artist/saysshe. - See more at: http://2presspapers.northcoastnow.com/avon-lake-grads-rock-out-says-she/#sthash.aa2jaJxX.dpuf - The Press