Spoken Groove
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Spoken Groove

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Band Spoken Word Acoustic

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"“Spoken-groove duo visits WU”"

Peter Nevland, 29, and Paul Finley, 35, not only performed their unique duo routine April 30, but also slept in the dorm rooms of two fourth floor Loretto Hall residents.
"We slept in the lounge," said freshman Anna Plage, an international relations major who, along with her roommate, freshman Lauren Kirkwood, a film production major, relinquished her room to Nevland and Finley.
The two musicians, who currently hail from Austin, Texas, brought to the UC Sunnen Lounge a new genre of music that Nevland terms "spoken groove."
It is composed of many elements from across the musical field, Finley said, including Nevland's style of rap, slam poetry and rock. Finley's own "hot rod acoustic guitar" style, where he relentlessly plays his electric acoustic guitar at near-impossible speeds was also present.
"It has the aggression of rock, but with the seriousness of Peter's poetry," Finley said. "It's hard to describe, but once you see what we do, you get it."
The concert featured solo poetry by Nevland, guitar solos by Finley and duo pieces in which Nevland either rapped or performed slam poetry while Finley played his guitar in the background.
Although there was only a turnout of about a dozen students at the show, certain numbers called for audience participation, most notably a whimsical song titled "The Flobgob," about an imaginary creature. With the song itself full of nonsensical words, Nevland asked the crowd to shout back the phrase "wussle boom boom" during certain parts of the song.
Many of the 14 different pieces reflected the duo's Christian background.
Much of Nevland's poetry and lyrics were deeply personal, including expressing disgust with Americans' obsession with sex. He proudly proclaimed his virginal status, saying that sex should never be an empty
action.
Finley's compositions were also extremely personal at times, particularly his "Never a Lake of Fire," which wordlessly captures the struggle between God, Finley and the Devil for almost 10 minutes. This song, Nevland said, is "the most awesome rock 'n' roll song ever."
Nevland is a graduate from the University of Texas, earning his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1997, followed by a master's degree in the same field in 1999.
"I left my job as an engineer at Motorola in 2002 and started performing full-time," Nevland said.
Finley received a diploma in guitar performance in 1990 from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, where he also taught before meeting Nevland. The two played together for the first time in summer 2001, but with a full band, Nevland said. A year later, he and Finley began what Finley first envisioned as a solo tour, but evolved into a duo tour.
The two did between 120 and 130 shows last year, Nevland said, in venues like clubs, colleges, high schools, elementary schools and business meetings.
Plage and Kirkwood met the two-man band in their hometown of Morehead, Ky., and have maintained a close relationship with the two men. After Nevland and Finley suggested they play in the St. Louis area, the girls were quick to offer Webster University as the venue, Plage said.
Organizing the event, however, was difficult.
"We tried to contact a bunch of Christian clubs on campus because the band does a lot of Christian poetry, but they did not have the funds," Kirkwood said.
While the Student Activities Council agreed to sponsor the event, problems continued as Plage and Kirkwood had trouble booking a place on campus that they wanted, Kirkwood said.
"We originally wanted it at the music quad," Plage said. "It was less than a week before the date of the concert before everything was finalized."
It was eventually decided that the event would be held in the UC Sunnen Lounge.
"We did all we could," said Plage, who, together with Kirkwood, designed and photocopied fliers using their own money.
They hung the fliers around the dorms a week before the event.
Nevland and Finley were pleased with the turnout, though small, both Kirkwood and Plage said, who blame this on the recent dreary weather and having a date so close to finals week.
"Now we have an inroad here," Finley said. "We're very grassroots. You won't hear us on the radio or MTV. The only way we can have people know about us is if we go out and meet people, sometimes face to face."
"It was great to see the Morehead clan again," Finley said. "I'm just happy to be back in the Midwest. I miss it."
- The Journal – The News Source for Webster University, St. Louis, MO


"Spoken Groove"

When Peter Nevland quit his job as an engineer for a Major U.S. Corporation, we all thought he was a little bit nuts. We now have confirmation, but we envy his life. He's the best slam poet around and his buddy Paul Finley will take you to places not of this world with his guitar. - David Young, The Branding Blog (brandingblog.com)


"“Peter Nevland And Paul Finley”"

“It’s not a hernia, he’s just intense: Peter Nevland headlines Poetry Allowed on Tuesday.” “These two performers—they’re more than poets—have taken spoken word and the art of poetry slam to new heights.” - The Santa Fe Reporter, Santa Fe, NM


"“Guitar poetry fusion”"

Acoustic Spoken Groove, which is guitar-spoken groove duo out of Texas, will perform at Over-Coffee in Hinesville tonight.
Peter Nevland and Paul Finley have emerged from obscurity to become the folk apostles of the original, acoustic funk machine that combines guitar and poetry in what the Dallas Morning News called “an explosion of words.”
They take their act from nightclubs to elementary schools trying to inspire a creative flow in everyone they meet.
“It’s a wild trippin’ psycho funkedelic roller coaster ride that taps into the unexplored depths of the unknown,” according to HM Magazine.
- The Coastal Courier, Hinesville, GA


"“Peter Nevland”"

Peter Nevland”
Late Bloomer is the debut CD release from Austin TX spoken word beat Prophet Peter Nevland. It's a wild trippin' psycho funkedelic roller coaster ride that taps into the unexplored depths of the unknown. Combining a well measured blend of hip jazzy styles, coupled with the expected token 70's Starsky and Hutch laden chicka chicka porno style groovy guitar riffs, Nevland incorporates freestyle intelligent gospel inspired lyrics infused with his trademark blend of reality based tongue in cheek poetry humor. With such nifty song titles as "Rashi and Me," "Night Longings," "Ghost Questions," and combined with Nevland's unique style, this CD is sure to grab the attention of the listener. Not for the faint of heart! Check his rhymes out at cdbaby.com/cd/peternevland2
- HM Magazine


"“A tongue-and-groove thing”"

Peter Nevland squirmed around the stage as he spit out an explosion of words. “Get down to the funky sound, “ he said, lifting his arms one minute and kicking his legs the next. The 26-year-old, who grew up in Grand Prairie, performs what he calls “spoken groove,” something between a poem and a song.” Guitarist Paul Finley accompanied him at a recent show at a packed Insomnia coffee bar in Deep Ellum in Dallas.
When Mr. Nevland introduced the song “No One Told Me,” the Lamar High School graduate told the audience that he wasn’t always like this. The Austin-based engineer, who frequently does shows in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, didn’t develop his writing talent until the last few years. “No One Told Me” describes how Mr. Nevland grew up in Grand Prairie but didn’t fit in. He was rewarded for being good at math and science, so he eventually followed that career path. Mr. Nevland studied mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin and works for Motorola as an engineer.
But he felt something was missing. “I like my job, but it is somehow stifling, empty/Leaving me unfulfilled and searching, digging for something more, a chore,” he says in “No One Told Me.”
Mr. Nevland said he never considered writing until words started coming to him in college. “We didn’t live in a rotting neighborhood with twisted metal wires/Homeless-lit trashcan fires, crafty, drug-induced thieving liars. …We dwelt in the pleasantly bland space between two urban city hubs, “ he said at the Deep Ellum show. “We had Bible clubs, shared our family’s love/Sang rub-a-dub-dub in the bathtub before bubbly, bedtime stories… I am thankful for every one of those memories/But no one told me I could write.”
Over the years, he wrote off and on. Eventually, he said, he couldn’t stop. In recent years, Mr. Nevland has released two Cds, the solo Peter Nevland and Late Bloomer with the Neverland Band. He regularly performs solo and with the band, which includes his brother, David Nevland.
Much of his work revolves around his spirituality, but Mr. Nevland said he doesn’t consider himself a Christian artist. “I’d rather be known as an artist who’s an intense follower of Jesus,” said Mr. Nevland, who grew up attending Shady Grove Church in Grand Prairie.
Some of his biggest fans include his family. His parents, Merritt Lee and Donna Nevland, two sisters, nieces and nephews attended the recent Deep Ellum show. Janna Schulze, Mr. Nevland’s 12-year-old niece, said she loves her uncle’s work. “It’s funny, it’s got a good beat and it’s cool,” said Janna, who has all of Mr. Nevland’s CDs. Donna Nevland said the family goes to a lot of Mr. Nevland’s shows. “I really get into what he does,” she said. “It’s fabulous.”
The writing that started as such a small part of Mr. Nevland’s life is about to take over. Mr. Nevland plans to leave his job this fall and pursue a full-time performance and writing career. He also has done some voice-overs and acting work. “Things are just opening up,” he said. “It’s been like an explosion of more things than I can handle.”
After years of searching, Mr. Nevland has finally found his groove. “When I perform I’m like, ‘Man, this is what I’m made for,’” he said.

- The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX


Discography

“ When Legos Learn to Love“ 2006 Peter & Paul’s newest CD
“14 Windows” 2004 Paul’s 2nd instrumental CD
“Acoustic Spoken Groove” 2003 Peter & Paul’s 1st CD
“Birth of the Spoken Groove” 2003 The Peter Nevland Band
“Just My Mouth” 2003 Peter’s 2nd solo CD
“Late Bloomer” 2002 The Peter Nevland Band
“Peter Nevland” 2001 Peter’s 1st solo CD
“A.D.” 2001 Paul’s 1st instrumental CD

Photos

Bio

Spoken Groove. It’s the best way to describe the unfettered energy and rock ‘n’ roll innovation produced by Peter Nevland and virtuoso guitarist Paul Finley. “These two performers - they’re more than poets - have taken spoken word and the art of poetry slam to new heights,” raves the Santa Fe Reporter.

Since September, 2002, Acoustic Spoken Groove has completed countless tours across the U.S., Canada and England connecting with just about every audience imaginable. College students love the intelligent lyrics and original, explosive music. Teenagers go nuts for Peter’s funky white boy dancing and raw honesty about not fitting in. Little children love their innocently hilarious humor and crazy, wild fun. They had trouble escaping a mob of inner-city kids in Harlem who wanted them to stay forever. Adults and even senior citizens are blown away by the artistry and beauty of their stories.

It’s that kind of response that has allowed them to sell over $60,000 worth of cd’s & t-shirts and build a loyal following of fans with no musical contacts and barely a trickle of press attention. Peter had no idea what he was getting himself into when he left behind his engineering job at Motorola to team up with Paul, a struggling Catholic guitarist who calls his guitar Mary. So they started playing for any audience who would listen, giving them front row seats to stories filled with witty comedy, perseverance through struggle, and compassion for the outcasts of society. “After all, why do we need to have all the right qualifications to pursue our dreams?” Peter asks.

Make no mistake. Paul Finley has qualifications to play guitar. Its strings captured his heart the first time he touched them at age 12. At the age of 16, he began teaching, getting a diploma in Guitar Performance from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and joining his talents with the indie band, Mas Optica. He’s played with symphonies, comedy troupes, rock stars and buskers in his journey from Wisconsin to Austin. Combine that with Peter’s wide range of slam poetry, musical talent, dance moves and ability to touch the heart of any crowd, and you get two performers who’ve only begun to scratch the surface of their unstoppable artistic potential.