Superfrog

With more focus and clarity, Superfrog offers 13 sonically driven tracks from their 2010 release 'Call from the Moon'.


Call from the Moon, Superfrog’s latest release marks a huge leap from their previous album Year of the Frog. Andy Mendola and Wendy Crosier were replaced by Charles Cormier and Jeremy "Fuzz" Grob on guitars and Adam Vinciguerra on percussion. Original members Nate Proper, Shane Comer and Tony Diberto remain in the lineup. Their name, "Superfrog", comes from a Haruki Murikami short story called "Superfrog Saves Tokyo". The character is a giant man-like frog that makes tea and battles an underground worm.





Call from the Moon is a rhythm of jam fused melodies that sounds both unique and effortless, backed by alluring guitars, trumpet , a solid rhythm section and Proper’s tongue in cheek vocals. The songs sound purposefully whimsical and extraordinary, with buoyant tempos and entertaining melodies. As intriguing as these songs sound, you really get a full sense of the band members “out of the ordinary” personality. Unlike Year of the Frog, this albums momentum is more pronounced since the lyrics can be simultaneously absorbing along with all that’s going on in the background. Everything comes together and flows nicely.




The album features several stand out tracks such as Astronautical and the college radio favorite, Float. Minor Annoyance, Tequilador, Oyster River Landing (Reminiscent of some early Moe.) and two of my personal favorites on the album, the upbeat, carousing ska homage’s IOU1 and Wish all give this release solid momentum. There’s also a nice little surprise in the form of a hidden track that adequately closes out the album.




Call from the Moon offers grooving rhythm guitars and lighthearted vocals, along with strokes of the early 90’s ska movement - painting around the edges with steady accruing melodic confidence. It's no slight to say they've allowed themselves room for growth after Year of the Frog, and there's little reason to believe their name won't be at the top of the marquees on their long awaited tour across the East Coast and beyond.




- C. Robie


- Home Grown Music Network

I was pleasantly surprised when I received a package in the mail from the Portsmouth, NH-based band Superfrog. Not only had I been sent a copy of their latest release, Call from the Moon, but it was accompanied by a cover letter and very well-designed one-sheet. Call me old-fashioned, but I appreciate seeing a band put in the time and effort to distribute a physical press kit.

As for Call from the Moon, it was equally as impressive. I often find myself straying away from groups labeled “jam bands” because of their song lengths and superfluous instrumental solos. I love guitars, but seriously, who needs to hear a six-minute guitar or bass solo? My skepticism quickly dissipated as I listened to this record. I thought the band did an excellent job of showcasing their instrumental prowess without going overboard. They were able to produce tight, well-orchestrated songs while still demonstrating a mastery of their respective instruments.

In his cover letter, drummer Shane Cormer highlighted a few select tracks he felt were especially impressive on the album, and after listening to each of the songs, I find I am inclined to agree with his suggestions. I thought the second track, “Astronautical”, which was featured on Relix Magazine’s February/March 2010 CD sampler, was the best song on the record. I found the trumpet melodies to be quite infectious. The chorus really lifts the song up to another level, propelled by the entrance of perfectly placed back-up vocal harmonies and held down by an extremely tight rhythm section.

Based on what I heard from these songs, I would have to say that Superfrog has a great knack for crafting catchy and energetic choruses. “IOU1” is another track that demonstrates their propensity for great hooks. Their use of back-up vocals during the chorus of this song, coupled with a smooth trumpet line and “Fool-in-the-Rain-esque” drum groove, really gets this song stuck in your head.

Overall, I would have to say just one word can sum up Superfrog—professional. From the way they handle the distribution of their music to their creation of a brilliant blend of jam band-ska-rock, Superfrog has a sound that can certainly draw the interest of all kinds of different fans.--Daniel McMahon

- The Deli

Year of the Frog
by Superfrog

Fans who have seen one of Superfrog’s live shows, in which the youthful crew often rollicks through a slate of classic and contemporary rock covers, might be surprised to find that the indie band’s debut album consists entirely of original material. Bassist and singer Nate Proper wrote the lyrics to all but one of the disc’s 10 songs, with backup singer and percussionist Wendy Crosier pitching in words and lead vocals on “Wally Show.”

From the get-go “Year of the Frog” is rife with bouncy, funky rhythms that stand up with the best of the nation’s many aspiring jam bands. Proper, guitarist Andrew Mendola, drummer Shane Comer and horn player Tony DiBerto demonstrate a peppy rock ’n’ roll mentality that echoes influences like moe, Phish and Sublime. Equally obvious is the presence of producer Aaron Katz, a long-time local musician who helped out with the writing and arranging.

Based in South Berwick, Maine, Frog has been playing regular Seacoast gigs over the past year or so, gaining a foothold among area jam fiends. The group follows a fairly basic jam formula, but what it lacks in originality it makes up for with positive energy and enthusiasm. Another strength of the disc is Crosier’s vocal harmonizing, which nicely complements Proper’s vaguely Ben Harper-esque voice.

Probably the strongest track on the album is “Jalopy,” which features a moving guitar melody and well-executed vocals. But the band’s general attitude is summed up in the heavier title track, which touts the supremacy of the band’s namesake amphibian. “I’m a frog, you’re a man / but the tables have turned / and you had your chance / It’s the year of the frog,” Proper sings.

Superfrog will play an official CD release show at Bourbon’s in Portsmouth on Saturday, Nov. 15, beginning at 9 p.m. Frog also recently took first place in the jam band category of a national online contest hosted by OurStage. Visit www.superfrogmusic.com or www.myspace.com/officialsuperfrog.

-Matt Kanner - The Wire

By John Shore
December 04, 2008

The name may sound like the next action movie based on a comic book hero but Superfrog is actually a local band making waves in the music scene. If you haven't heard of them, they are a five-piece rock jam band with influences by Phish and the Grateful Dead but with a more modern sound.

Let's see if their Web site has any superpowers. The first thing I noticed about this site is that it is built with frames or windows within the page. Normally I don't like this because it's too much of a pain to scroll in more than one window at a time, especially if you have a small screen. However, I don't mind it here because Superfrog has used a frame at the bottom of their screen for a music player. This use of frames allows the player to stay open while you cruise other pages on the site. Nice.

Right away I was impressed with the photos on the site. They are good quality and there are lots of them. With photos, more is more. Remember that, people.

The design is not bad. They use icons at the top of the page for navigation that are easy to understand but they remind me of stock images that you might find in PowerPoint or some other Microsoft software application with cheesy office graphics.

The site is really packed with some great content. Not only is there a music player but there is a page to download additional mp3s. There is also a WSCA radio interview posted for your enjoyment.

Just when you think you've seen it all, go to the archive page and check out tons more pictures and videos from the band's past. And before you leave don't forget to purchase their CD, a shirt or sticker online. - Spotlight Magazine

The 6 piece groove-rock band from Portsmouth, NH will be making an appearance upstairs at the Middle East Club on Monday, November 9th as part of the clubs "New Band" showcase.

With four of the tracks from Superfrog's newest album finished, many different formats of radio stations across the region will be given EPs as a pre-release to help the band push it's exposure level to the limits. "Crossing genres can sometimes be a good thing" states Chad Fillion of Phlume Artist Management, the band's management company. "Often times 'toeing-the-line' of musical styles can help you cross formats unlike other musicians who are format specific. It's a unique experience to be able to be played on College radio, Rock radio and Adult Contemporary (stations) all at the same time."

Comprised of two lead singers, one on a 6-string bass and the other on guitar, partnered with a lead guitarist who also sings back up, Superfrog's front line is tight and spot-on with their vocal harmonies. Add backing vocals from their trumpeter, drummer and percussionist and the sonic experience enjoyed by fans is one that has created quite a buzz throughout the Northeast region. Crossing genres certainly is one of the band's fortes as they accomplish this effectively and energetically. They have been self labeled as a "Groove Rock" band, but Funk, Calypso, Jam, Rock and Pop are all present in the bands growing repertoire.

Recently the band opened for U-Melt at the Port City Music Hall in Portland Maine and released the entire evening's set on their newly redesigned web site; http://www.superfrogmusic.com. That performance joined 5 others on their site to entice fans and please critics alike. They were recently selected by Relix Magazine to feature their newest single "Astronautical" on one of the magazine's upcoming compilation CDs, scheduled to hit news stands in early February. The band capitalized on the opportunity of having an issue out before the release of the song and placed an advertisement in the highly acclaimed magazine for the December/January issue. The ad pushes their upcoming performance at Sullivan Hall in New York City on December 16th. They will be joined by Project Blue Book and Otis Grove for that show. The advertisement also announces to readers to watch for the upcoming track on the Relix compilation, and until then "enjoy free music online" and lists the band's web site.

With a strong regional presence this past year, Superfrog has chalked up more than a gig a week on average; sometimes up to 4 in a 7 day period. 2009's dedication to the live show makes it the biggest performance year for the band yet. This isn't too hard to do, however, seeing as the current line-up has only been together for under a year and the entire band itself has been in existence for just over 3. This year they toured the New England area with performances in MA, NH, ME, VT, as well as NY, all while recording and mixing the tracks for their new album. The intense schedule hasn't stopped them from pushing the envelope even further to claim their spot on the regional music scene though. They are planing on hitting the road in the early spring to tour into Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the DC/Baltimore region.

Superfrog is a very talented, energetic band who crosses the Jam-Funk-Rock boundaries seamlessly throughout their sets. Be sure to see them at one of their upcoming Boston area performances. Tickets for the November 9th performance are available through the Middle East box office and Ticket Master outlets. Learn more about the band and grab over 5 hours of free music from their web site at superfrogmusic.com. - B.B. Miller, Freelance Writer

With the addition of Adam on percussion, the impressive now 6-piece has ramped things up again; Increasing to a size that encroaches the walls and competes for space within the Maid's dancing/dining area. The tight quarters didn't stop or even slow them down however, as they opened with a tasty new styling on Get Back. The interesting vocal changes added a touch of newness to the familiar favorite. Moving swiftly out of the opener to tight vocal harmonies in Fire on the mtn, which was then followed by a "fantastical" Float, it was clear the night's performance was going to focus on the vocal work the band has obviously been working on. The vocal power in the band has grown ten fold as the band has increased in members. All 6 performers have vocal parts throughout the repertoire with a majority of the weight being carried in force by Proper and Grob.

A retooled Jalopy made a return in the first set with an intro that hearkened back to the early days of Frog when Wendy would share in the harmonies. As the mood lifted out of the slower serenade they picked it up with the brightest and bubbliest Armageddon tune I've ever heard, When It All Goes Down. Complete with a full band drum/percussion break that lead into a Super Mario 3 tickle. Then the song shifted into the Shane/Adam drum solo that fueled the remainder of the song. Superfrog's chops have been polished to a fine-tuned shine and this end of day’s anthem shows it.

After a trip on the Astronautical train, Nate moved over as Adam took the lead to cover Bad Fish. Though only his first performance with the band, the percussionist sang with added flair to the known SF cover. A shaky start on Wish was swiftly erased by the powerful presence of the congas and bongos in the very horn centered; Latin infused original which ended the first set.

With the newest original opening the second set, the band slowly gathered together joining their instruments one by one. The soft, mellow tune welcomed the patrons back from the set break. The mellow stepped aside, however, and quickly made room for the more upbeat Tequilador > Year of the Frog pair of originals. With updates and edits in the arrangement of the opening of YOTF, the song was much different from the recording on their album of the same name. When it comes to updating from their album though, not a single song has changed as much as Traveler. This is not a bad thing at all. The effects, production, harmonies and depth that unveils itself from the belly of this tripped out space beast might just be the damp dark magic that fuels the melting memories of our fungus days gone by. The sonic journey brought forth by this slow and relaxed, yet heavy and powerful tune is reminiscent of something Floyd may have left off of Saucer or Meddle. Cormier's slide work and peddle mastery combined with the driving Comer beat and off handed fills mixed with the walking bass line of Proper sound like a B side off of a Gilmore/Waters/Mason creation. After the impressive performance an almost equally stunning 20 minute Whipping Post closed out the set in full face melting fashion as only Superfrog could do. Superfrog will be at Sullivan Hall in NYC on Tuesday, May 12th. If you are going to be in the area do yourself a solid; go see this band and enjoy original music again. - Homegrown Music Network

http://www.wirenh.com/Music/Field_Recordings/Superfrog_at_The_Blue_Mermaid%2C_May_9_200805152919.html


Superfrog at The Blue Mermaid, May 9

Written by Matt Kanner
Thursday, 15 May 2008

In many respects, Superfrog is like a live, retro jukebox filled with records hand selected by stoner hippies of the late 1960s. During the band’s two sets at The Blue Mermaid in Portsmouth last Friday, the six members covered songs by Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin, to name but a few. The only thing that keeps Frog outside the realm of a “cover band” is a smattering of original tunes, which the group will soon convert into its first full-length album.


In a demonstration of its musical training, Superfrog tuned its instruments and loosened up with “So What,” off of Miles Davis’ classic “Kind of Blue.” Once the band members were satisfied with the sound, they kicked off the show with “Badfish,” the first of two Sublime covers of the night. Midway through the song, guitarists Andy Mendola and Jeremy “Fuzzy” Grob dueled playfully on their six-strings, the former on electric and the latter on acoustic. Meanwhile, bassist Nate Proper and drummer Shane Comer maintained the beat, while trumpeter Tony DiBurto ornamented the tune with his horn.


It was quickly evident that the musicians, most of whom are in their early 20s, strive to replicate the frolicking party atmosphere that Sublime imbued in the 1990s. While the band paid frequent tribute to its classic rock forefathers, it also tipped its cap to modern jam acts like moe. Interspersed between the covers were occasional originals that carried a similarly jammy, funk-rock sound.
In many respects, Superfrog is like a live, retro jukebox filled with records hand selected by stoner hippies of the late 1960s. During the band’s two sets at The Blue Mermaid in Portsmouth last Friday, the six members covered songs by Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin, to name but a few. The only thing that keeps Frog outside the realm of a “cover band” is a smattering of original tunes, which the group will soon convert into its first full-length album.


In a demonstration of its musical training, Superfrog tuned its instruments and loosened up with “So What,” off of Miles Davis’ classic “Kind of Blue.” Once the band members were satisfied with the sound, they kicked off the show with “Badfish,” the first of two Sublime covers of the night. Midway through the song, guitarists Andy Mendola and Jeremy “Fuzzy” Grob dueled playfully on their six-strings, the former on electric and the latter on acoustic. Meanwhile, bassist Nate Proper and drummer Shane Comer maintained the beat, while trumpeter Tony DiBurto ornamented the tune with his horn.


It was quickly evident that the musicians, most of whom are in their early 20s, strive to replicate the frolicking party atmosphere that Sublime imbued in the 1990s. While the band paid frequent tribute to its classic rock forefathers, it also tipped its cap to modern jam acts like moe. Interspersed between the covers were occasional originals that carried a similarly jammy, funk-rock sound.


Superfrog formed about two years ago in South Berwick, Maine, where Proper and Comer played in a high school band together. Equipped with an acoustic five-string and electric six-string bass, Proper serves as front man, showcasing a voice that is not far removed from Sublime’s Brad Nowell. Proper splits vocal duties with the able-voiced Wendy Crosier and the two often harmonize together, with both guitarists pitching in occasional vocals, as well.


Over the last year, the group has heavily increased its gigging schedule, playing shows throughout the greater Seacoast. The band completed an album for the RPM Challenge in February and is working with producer Aaron Katz (of Percy Hill) on a new CD. According to Proper, the studio sessions should be completed by the end of May. There is also a live recording in the works, consisting of several monthly shows played at Bourbon’s in Portsmouth. The band added a second guitarist last month in Grob, of the recently departed Funkfoot. Superfrog seems poised to occupy the local jam slot recently vacated by Grob’s former band.


The second song performed on Friday was an original with a breezy, psychedelic opening that paved the way for Crosier’s introduction. Like the rest of the band, it took Crosier a little while to capture the music’s spirit and reign in the audience, but she kicked her vocals up a notch for a slick cover of Airplane’s “Somebody to Love” and later killed the room with a growling rendition of Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart.”
Proper played the first set seated, thumping the five strings of his ivory-colored acoustic bass on his lap. After roping in the crowd with covers of Zeppelin’s “D’yer Mak’er” and the Dead’s “Fire on the Mountain,” Proper switched to his six-string in time for a fast-paced moe cover, followed by Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Mendola played an invigorated solo in the style of the late legend, prepping fans for Crosier’s channeling of Grace Slick on “Somebody to Love.”
After a short set break during which the musicians seemed unable to stray too far from their instruments, Frog dove into the second set with a hyped up ska version of Paul Simon’s “If You Be My Bodyguard.” Grob sat out most of the second set, while Proper rose to his feet to sing and play with renewed tenacity on Sublime’s “Santeria.” Next came “Piece of My Heart,” which may have been the single biggest crowd pleaser of the night. Another original followed, featuring a rapid fire high-hat rhythm from Comer, who played a drum set with one cymbal that looked like a shark had taken a bite out of it.
The next tune, a cover of Credence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son,” featured a simmering vocal exchange between Proper and Crosier. Mendola launched into a heavy metal intro to The Kink’s classic “You Really Got Me,” playing more in the style of Eddie Van Halen, who famously covered the song. Mendola later pulled off an admirable solo on Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower” to close the evening.
If you’re hungry for an evening of hippie rock, Superfrog has upcoming gigs at The Grog in Newburyport on Thursday, May 15, and at The Barley Pub in Dover on Saturday, June 7. Visit www.superfrogmusic.com.


- The Wire