Music
Press
"The hard rock sound of S&M is unquestionably familiar. Their chunky guitar riffs, booming drums, and emotive vocals featured on their self-titled, three-song demo resemble much of what's already being played on rock radio. Yet amid the predictablity, it's hard to ignore the musicianship of this hardworking quartet, as there's not one misstep to be found. With their sound intact, expect to hear S&M being played alongside their mainstream predecessors sooner than later." - Max Herman - Illinois Entertainer Magazine
"This is a very competent band with a new solid three track demo...My fave out of these three is "Regret", real powerful and the best chorus of them all. I will keep my eye on this band for sure." - Kaj Roth - Melodic.net (Sweden)
"Vocalist Ryan Farrell has a pleasantly raspy singing voice that suits the music the group plays very well. Guitarist...lays the drop-D sludge guitar on thick just like all the other rock bands out there, but does it well with a good tone. S&M obviously are skilled on their instruments...It is readily apparent that S&M is a good band with a lot of musical skill...this is a band that could do very well." - Mike O'Cull - ChicagoGigs.com
"They're solid musicians for this genre, offering nice bass lines, mimicked harmonies, and even a slow song to please the crowd." - Althea Legaspi - Illinois Entertainer magazine
For more reviews, please see the "Review" section of S&M's official MySpace.com page at:
www.MySpace.com/SnMmusic - various
Discography
Singles: "Breaking Through", "Bleed", "Regret", and "The Way"
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Sometime during the six hour drinking binge with Alice in Chains' drummer Sean Kinney in a Louisville, KY rock club, where Jerry Cantrell just finished playing in support of his first solo album, Sean asked us for our demo. He liked us, and wanted to help us get signed, but we didn’t have a demo. We were only focused on being a tribute band at the time. This was probably the turning point. After 18 months of touring the country in the national Alice in Chains tribute band , Dirt, vocalist Ryan Farrell and bassist George Paris decided to form a new group that would incorporate their own original songs. In 2000, a hastily written and recorded EP called “How the Otherside Lives” was completed and distributed regionally with very positive reviews from radio, press, and every live audience that S&M played for.
Unfortunately, the momentum was short lived, as what happened next was reminiscent of something out of Spinal Tap. For one reason or another, the band went through four drummers and two guitar players over the course of the next four years. With it’s inconsistent line up, the band didn’t stand a chance of gaining any serious attention, and actually blew several production deals as a consequence of not having a complete group.
By the summer of 2004, disheartened by the endless search for the right teammates, and desperate to be productive again, George and Ryan decided they would have to split up in order to find bands to work with. Amazingly, while looking for a band in need of a bassist, George found two very talented musicians that actually needed a singer as well. George informed them that he had one, and they agreed to meet . In the basement of an above average home in an above average neighborhood, George and Ryan were very surprised to discover the perfect pair of musicians to collaborate with. Guitarist Tony Cecala and drum abuser, Dan Huff had been working together for several months, and had known each other for years, but they too were missing the other half of a good band. That night, everyone found exactly what they were looking for. Tony and Dan’s 311 meets Godsmack influence was a great addition to George and Ryan’s darker, more melodic and dynamic Stone Temple Pilots meets A Perfect Circle style. Together, with Ryan’s straight forward, no gimmicks hard rock vocals, this would be the ingredients for the unique sound of S&M.
Between deaths, births, marriages, motorcycle accidents (vocalist Ryan Farrell and the original S&M guitarist), career changes, and various personal issues, it truly is amazing that this entity is still alive, and in fact actually stronger than ever. Everyone in the band is finally on the same page, and is really enjoying the creative process that is culminating every day, and with their emotionally real, yet aggressive and catchy new songs and their genuine excitement to perform them live, this band has a real chance to make a big mark. Doesn’t everyone enjoy a little S&M…
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