The Chris Paterno Band

Philly’s The Chris Paterno Band’s self-titled EP releases this Friday and it is acoustic indie soul at its finest. Throughout the breezy six song collection, the band creates a live, party atmosphere and not just through the brief bit of crowd noise heard on “Pressure”. The Chris Paterno Band instead plays with a lively, loose energy that punctuates the album’s grooves with exhilarating moments of emotion that seem pure and organic, as if the result of some improvised jam session.

The Chris Paterno Band’s eight-member roster comes complete with a horn section and mandolin and this EP allows each musician and instrument to shine. Whether it’s the delicate piano and glitchy percussion of “Farther (We Grow)”, the harmonica and sweet strings on “Lover, When You Gonna Come?”, or the African vocal touches and lead vocal effects of “Sweet Thing”, The Chris Paterno Band combines a variety of production and musical styles to create a rich experience all its own. With their debut EP, The Chris Paterno Band don’t so much reinvent a genre as they do fashion their own unique one from the best parts of the last few decades of folk, rock, and pop, updating Philly soul for a whole new era.


The Chris Paterno Band’s debut EP The Chris Paterno Band will be released tomorrow and is available for pre-order now. You can follow Chris Paterno on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SoundCloud, and on their website at www.chrispaternomusic.com. - Impose Magazine

The six-piece, Philadelphia based, that was originally a one-piece, Chris Paterno Band, are gearing up for their self-titled EP, debuting Sept. 30. These guys are a very imminent presence in the Philadelphia community, who deeply care about the citizens, and giving back to their hometown. They want to shower their local fans with love by donating 20 percent of streaming revenue and overall sales to PROJECT HOME. This organization is a nonprofit that helps the homeless community. We chatted with Chris and the rest of the gentlemen of the band about their involvement with their community, Philadelphia Freedoms and much more. Along with this interview is the premiere of their single "Farther...(We Grow)," featured on their new EP, which was produced by 9-time Grammy-winning producer Joe Nicolo (Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper) at his home studio and Studio 4 in Conshohocken, PA.

Listen to "Farther...(We Grow)" here

AXS: How did you all get involved with the PROJECT HOME in Philadelphia?

Chris Paterno: My involvement with Project HOME really started in 2010, when I created a service program called Free Music Fridays (FMF). FMF gave free music lessons to children at the Honickman Learning Center, a Project HOME-affiliated after school/community center. In 2015, the same year the Chris Paterno Band was formed, FMF, sadly, ended operating. The band quickly jumped on the idea of giving back to our hometown through Project HOME. Currently, we give 10% of all of our streaming sales to Project HOME as well as up-to 20% of our EP sales. Project HOME is an amazing organization that does a great deal of good for the homeless and impoverished Philadelphian communities. Philadelphia is our home and we are pumped to raise awareness and some money for this awesome charity.

AXS: You guys write from everyday experience. Have you had a very difficult experience that was hard to write and sing about?

CP: Normally, songs come to me with little coaxing because I write from experience and raw emotion - it almost just pours out of me. But our tune, "Pressure," took a lot of work and time to write. Usually, my songs are about moments in my life - a break-up, a new love, tough days and celebrations - but "Pressure" is about the high expectations I hold for myself. That feeling has been with me from when I was very young, so it became normal - so normal that it was hard to define - like trying to define the color of the sky without using the word blue. I had to sit with my guitar, my lyric pad and my self for months before I found the words I wanted to say. It was a challenge, but one I feel that paid off. "Pressure" is definitely my favorite song to play live and one of my favorites on the EP.

AXS: What was it like to record your debut EP?

CP: Recording our debut EP was a ton of fun. Joe Nicolo, our producer, made the process easy and exciting. I was lucky enough to surround myself with some amazing people, including Joe, who has won 9 Grammys for his production skills, and Frank Rein, our trombonist and primary horn arranger. The rest of the guys in the band, Doug Parsons (drums), Mike Clark (trumpet), Greg Wilson (saxophone), Connor McElwee (guitar), Adam Monaco (mandolin) and Nate Sims and Mark Hightower (bass), are all incredibly talented and blew me away with some of the stuff they laid down on these tracks. When you get that many minds in the studio, there are a lot of interesting ideas that come out so it was really cool to see the works I wrote alone in my room come to life.

AXS: What was each of you guys' first concert, and which performance has been your favorite?

CP: My first real concert was with my high school band at World Café Live in Philadelphia. We were a featured act for their Philly Rising Open Mic. It was terrifying, but lots of fun.

Our first concert together as the Chris Paterno Band was the Philadelphia Freedoms' Bloc Party in July of 2015. We played in front of a crowd of 2000, it was nuts.

Hands down, my favorite concert was our show with Brothers & Sisters at MilkBoy this summer. The place was packed and we had a blast. I love playing MilkBoy - it's a great venue. We are gearing up to play there again Saturday, October 8th for our EP Release Party.

Doug Parsons: First performance ever, a friend's 9th grade pool party. Favorite CPB Show - Silk City this past summer - great kit and I just let it play without worrying about my part.

Connor McElwee: First performance ever, 5th grade band camp at Harcum College. Favorite CPB show - our first gig together at the Philadelphia Freedom's Bloc Party, playing with the legendary tennis duo, the Bryan Brothers.

Mike Clark: First performance ever - playing trumpet in the 4th grade. My favorite CPB show was the first show that got us all together - the Philadelphia Freedoms' Bloc Party at Villanova.

Frank Rein: First performance ever - Elementary school band concert. Favorite CPB performance: Milkboy July 7th, 2016. Everyone in the band and the crowd was equally feeling it!

Mark Hightower: First performance ever - sang a cover of the Bangles Manic Monday for $10 from my grandma. I was 8 years old. Favorite CPB performance - Our last Milkboy show in July!

AXS: What is each of your guilty music or entertainment pleasure? (Got as many as I could for ya!)

CP: I've got to go with the Biebs - the album "Purpose" was my jam for a while.

DP: Gwen Stefani and No Doubt

CM: Early 2000's emo bands

Greg Wilson: I occasionally watch anime... which I feel very guilty about.

MC: Trap music, especially when going out - it's great hype music

FR: "Guilty Pleasure" is inaccurate: the music that most people hate on that I can get into is Nickelback. It's like test tube Rock and Roll, like if CERN built a scientifically perfect rock band in a vacuum. Has no real soul, but that's not what I listen to it for.

MH: Guilty Pleasure -- Hamilton the musical. - AXS

The Chris Paterno Band are a seven -piece indie-pop-soul band from New York. They are releasing their self titled EP on 30th September and we were lucky enough to have a listen to it. The EP begins with ‘Unfaithful’ a peppy track with bouncy percussion and groovy beat that is sure to have you bopping along. The Chris Paterno Band waste no time in introducing their golden horn feature which lifts the track adding a refreshing and zesty texture. The raspy soulful vocals add warm tones to the track and a balmy feel. ‘Morning Light’ is a sweet delicate track with a creamy supple melody. Its an elegant ray of sunshine, fragile yet warm and soft. With tender vocals to start this track is relaxing with a sway-like catchy chorus, its perfect for sunny evenings. The horns are subtle and the beat has a tribal feel with the guitar taking strength and presenting us with a beautifully graceful accompaniment. The track builds becoming a little more intense vocally while still holding that dainty atmosphere. ‘Pressure’ follows with its groovy strut worthy sound. We reviewed this track earlier this year. Its swanky persona and swagger filled chorus makes this track a cool sassy example of the diversity of The Chris Paterno Band. ‘Lover, When You Gonna Come?’ presents itself with an air of country twang upon the honeyed lilt of harmonica from the start and throughout. The instrumentation paints a fantastic picture as they sound like a train chugging gently with the horns appearing as the toot toot. This track once again is aglow with bright tones and hopeful vibes. ‘Farther (…we grow)’ is a sensitive track with vocals filled with raw emotion and melancholy tones. The guitar features dramatic sombre strums with a light twinkle on piano. Its a tear- jerker that evokes feelings of sorrow and despair and self reflection. ‘Sweet Thing’ finishes this EP on a sweep of lavish percussion and rich textures with experimentation of auto tune on vocals and their signature luxurious horns. Its infectiously swayable and catchy, watch out for that deep bass vocal at the end.

This EP is a unique venture as The Chris Paterno Band present us with a rich lacquer of satisfying melodies and textures in their own unique style.
You can pre-order the EP at http://chrispaternomusic.com/ and the iTunes Store. 20% of sales will be donated to Project HOME and The Episcopal Academy’s Kennith R Balsley Memorial Fund.
Stream ‘Morning Light’ below - Indie Buddie

Earlier this month, we featured a single by the Chris Paterno Band that captivated my ears and made me extremely eager to hear more from them. Luckily, their new EP is set to be released tomorrow! And I am delighted to be able to share my thoughts with you on it, because it definitely holds up to the high expectations I had for it based off the single from it.

The energy of the EP is evident from the very first track on it. The sound that I fell in love with while reviewing “Lover, When You Gonna Come?” is evident throughout the tracks, even as the speed is varied in beautiful ways. A balance of fast and slow songs decorate the EP, but the energy that made the band pop out to me is clearly present at whatever speed the song plays.

The EP is filled with evocative songs that capture the imagination and take the listener on a journey. Each song has a unique twist on it that makes it pop from the others on the album. I definitely think that the Chris Paterno Band is a group that you should give a strong chance, because the EP they shared their name with is filled with positively gorgeous music. I look forward to hearing even more from them in the time to come. - Music Unlabeled

Definitely a winner. It may take a few listens for the singer/songwriter origins of the these songs to really kick-in when joined with all the instrumentation, but when it does you will be justly rewarded.

"Unfaithful" starts off this treat ,with the horn section punching through, full-on. The passionate vocal is in no way overshadowed by the ebb and flow from this well conceived combination of percussive drive and a subtle cluster of strings. The production for the album is sprinkled with some choice production elements--background party noise on "Pressure," and the discordant horn background on "Morning Light"--as a long night breaks to day. "Lover, When You Gonna Come" is of a piece with the rest of this classy EP. The harmonica sounds great, finding its perfect place in the mix.

This collection is distinguished by its passion melded with sterling execution. I’d recommend listening to it with headphones so you can be immersed in the flow; it really yields more through repeated listening. I’d love to hear this played in a great venue where you could hear the music fill the space.

Here's hoping this EP receives the repeated listenings that the work that went into it deserves. - Americana Daily

Following a stint in the Boston College marching band freshman year, Chris Paterno ‘15 sacrificed his drum-line days in favor of perfecting his act as a vocalist and guitarist. He found a community in BC’s Music Guild and Music Outreach programs, and eventually became vice president of the Music Guild. However, he also continued to propel his solo performance forward. His four years at BC culminated with finalist spots in both Sing It to the Heights and the Arts Fest Singer-Songwriter Competition.

In the wake of post-grad life, Paterno switched the focus of his musical career once more. An invitation to perform for 2,000 fans of the Philadelphia Freedoms in May 2015 offered an undeniable opportunity—but it also meant diverging from the solo path.

“I took the gig, but there was one caveat: it required a full band,” Paterno recalls. “I threw together a conglomerate of friends and then strangers to form a band, including my 9th grade English teacher... Some players came and went until we finally found the right mix of guys.”

Photo courtesy of The Chris Paterno Band / Facebook
Photo courtesy of The Chris Paterno Band / Facebook
Thus, somewhat incidentally, The Chris Paterno Band was formed. Paterno serves as the band’s lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist with Frank Rein on trombone, Mike Clark on trumpet, Greg Wilson on saxophone, Mark Hightower on bass, and Doug Parsons on drums.

Since their fateful performance last May, the group has been noticed by nine-time Grammy award-winning producer Joe Nicolo. Nicolo, who has worked with Billy Joel and The Fugees, signed The Chris Paterno band and invited the group to record their EP in his home studio.

“At first, it was difficult getting over the self-consciousness that comes with knowing the guy has recorded some of your favorite artists of all time,” Paterno says of the recording experience. “But Joe Nicolo really knows how to bring out the best in you and make you feel welcomed. He isn't afraid to tell it like it is, which really helped shape this project into a great product.”

Over a year of work has gone into the six-track, self-titled EP set to release Sept. 30. Paterno shared that a large part of the creative process occurred at BC, where his daily experiences and emotions easily translated into musical inspiration. With sweet familiarity in his voice, Chris Paterno lyrically questions trust in a lover, grapples with his ability to handle life’s pressures, and discovers promise in new opportunities. A relatable hit-you-straight-in-the-soul tracklist, to say the least.



As emotionally charged as promised, The Chris Paterno Band will remedy your troubles with its unique sound. The members describe their style as alternative-soul (“think John Mayer meets Stevie Wonder,” Paterno muses in our talk), but their upcoming release cannot be contained in one precise genre.

Horn flares in “Unfaithful” add a layer of heat that resembles a jazz ensemble while “Sweet Thing” sounds like a song off a Rusted Roots album with a clever twist of autotune. Acoustic guitar strums create a feel-good, bop-along rhythm underlying most tracks; however, incorporation of various musical elements and styles creates a pleasantly unpredictable listening experience.

Beyond a great listen, the EP benefits two charitable organizations to which Chris Paterno is closely tied: Project HOME and the Episcopal Academy Scholarship fund. Project HOME, which will receive 10% of profits, provides housing and services to homeless men and women in Philadelphia and provided a space for Paterno to offer free music lessons to disadvantaged youth back home. The Episcopal Academy, which will also receive 10% of profits, is where Paterno attended school from kindergarten to 12th grade and formed a bond with his 9th-grade-English-teacher-turned-drummer Doug Parsons. By donating a portion of the EP’s profits, the members of the The Chris Paterno Band hope to provide the same opportunities they had to the next generation of young performers.

Check out The Chris Paterno Band on Facebook for more details on their upcoming EP release. - The Gavel

Philadelphia-based seven-piece The Chris Paterno Band has a treat for us today with their brand new song “Lover, When You Gonna Come?” The track begins with wistful guitar and a harmonica that evokes open space and tough reflection. What unfolds is an upbeat and hopeful 4 minute frolic through poignant choruses and beautiful instrumentation. It’s a stunning track and we’re thrilled to premiere it below.

In Chris’ own words:

“Lover, When You Gonna Come?” is a hopeful tune. When I wrote this I was excited about my future, where I was headed and the possibility of meeting someone or something that I was going to fall in love with. At the same time, I wanted that great future now – I didn’t want to wait for it – and you can hear that darker undertone creep in to the choruses and second verse. I really love this tune because it gets rootsy and real. Plus I get to wail on my harmonica, which is always a lot of fun!”
Check out “Lover, When You Gonna Come?” below and be sure to connect online for more! - GroundSounds

Summer 2016 is definitely in full swing. Urbanites near and far step out of their homes to immediately sweat on the scorching city streets. Luckily, there is a cure for all of those sticky humid days. Is there a better way to cool off than with some good tunes? Ok, maybe a pool or ocean nearby, but c’mon. Philly natives The Chris Paterno Band, Chris Paterno, Connor McElwee, Mark Hightower, Greg Wilson, Mike Clark, Frank Rein, Doug Parsons and Adam Monaco, have unveiled today the addictive new song of the summer, Pressure. This is the perfect way to continue the summer right. Take a listen below:


Pressure is every big band’s dream as the horns are introduced right at the beginning. The smooth vocals chime in as a harmony and the ever present horns bellow through. Each occasional twang of the guitar is mellow and sweet for the ears. Listeners will be captivated. Other than the vocals, the horns really steal the show. It brings that blues big band to a indie mindset. While they keep that Philly blues alive, their blend of it all could easily be shared nationwide. Listeners will appreciate the flair and jam-blues within. They make sure to keep the beat moving forward in an smooth way.

The Chris Paterno Band had this to say about their latest work: “Pressure is about the ubiquitous feeling of stress, of what the hell am I going to do with my life and just praying that you can rise to the occasion. The horn lines and the drum groove pay homage to throwback legends, James Brown and his funky drummer Clyde Stubblefield, two men that defined the industry. Over top of that we put this chill-vibe guitar in the verse that says, ‘hey I’m cool, I’m ok, right?’ That leads into a powerful chorus where the two elements, intense horns, powerful drumming and the chill guitar combine.”

Chris Paterno himself states: “Pressure was by far the hardest song to write on our upcoming, self-titled, debut EP. I live in a world where I put the pressure on myself to be successful, so I really had to step back and get real with myself, choose my words wisely and make sure I’m saying what I really mean. I love the way it came out and would love to hear our listener’s thoughts.”

From 9-time Grammy-winning producer, Joe Nicolo, who signed the crew to his BlacBird Productions label shared his thoughts: “I love the way the Chris Paterno Band mixes the 70’s Horn sound (blood, sweat & tears) with rootsy folk. People will have a love/hate relationship with his voice, and I mean that as a true compliment. You want to sound unique. Saying that you don’t sound like anyone else is probably the biggest compliment I can give an artist.”

If this was not enough to soak in, go catch these guys live! Their persona from their music should really show and make more fans than ever. It is time for some good music. See below for tour dates:

7.21 – BOURBON AND BRANCH – PHILADELPHIA, PA

8.4 – THE GRAPE ROOM – MANAYUNK, PA

8.6 – AEGIR FITNESS FESTIVAL – WESTMINSTER, MD

8.8 – IOTA CLUB – WASHINGTON, DC

8.10 & 8.11 – PHILADELPHIA FREEDOMS BLOC PARTY – VILLANOVA, PA

8.24 – SILK CITY – PHILADELPHIA, PA

9.30 – BURLAP & BEAN (ACOUSTIC) – NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA - Punchland

How exactly does a solo project become a seven piece band, you ask? Well, when singer/songwriter Chris Paterno was asked by his hometown tennis team, the Philadelphia Freedoms, to play a pre-match block party, he knew he was going to need a full-bodied sound to reach thousands of riled up fans. So he recruited six talented pals: singer and guitar player Connor McElwee, their old high school English professor, drummer Doug Parsons, trumpet player Mike Clark, mandolin player Adam Monaco, bassist Nate Sims and trombonist Frank Rein. After the electric chemistry of that fateful afternoon, a band was born… even if it was just a little bit larger than Paterno had originally intended. Soon the group was signed BlacBird Productions, the label of Grammy winner Joe Nicolo, and at work on their self-titled debut EP, which is slated for release this August.
Today, Elmore is premiering “Morning Light,” a track from the group’s upcoming release. The song leads with the gentle strum of acoustic guitar, overlaid with a funky blast of horns that weave in and out flirtatiously throughout the song. Paterno has an expressive, well-worn rasp, similar to that of Marcus Mumford, that sells the sexy, soulful message of the track. “Nothing but love between these sheets,” he croons above a swirl of instrumentation from his multi-faceted, band, drums, horns and guitar playing off each other to mimic the frenzied passion of one last stolen kiss. “”Morning Light” is about the last moments with somebody special and it’s the raw, heart-felt love song off our debut,” the guys told Elmore. “The track embodies our softer side, while maintaining the basic elements that make up our sound – a percussive guitar, a grooving bass line, and some great horn arrangements.”

Fitting the theme of the song, the Chris Paterno Band wants to hear YOUR stories…

“We’d love to hear your stories about the last moments with your special somebody, share ’em with us here: facebook.com/chrispaternomusic“

Get involved on Facebook, listen to “Morning Light” below, and catch the guys on tour around Pennsylvania. - Elmore Magazine

Music: 7 Shows to See in Philly This Week
Billy Joel comforts at Citizens Bank Park while John Carpenter creeps us out at the Keswick.
BY RACHEL VIGODA | JULY 5, 2016 AT 11:38 AM

Carol Cleveland Sings play this week's Waterfront Sessions at Spruce Street Harbor Park.
Carol Cleveland Sings play Waterfront Sessions at Spruce Street Harbor Park this week.
Girlpool @ PhilaMOCA | Wednesday, July 6
Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad use only a guitar, a bass and their voices, singing simultaneously in an almost childish way that belies their grown up lyrics. Art punk band French Vanilla — like Girlpool, from Los Angeles — opens.

Brothers and Sisters @ MilkBoy | Thursday, July 7
Hannah McCarthy fronts Philly indie blues band Brothers and Sisters while her brother, Conor, provides guitar, along with CJ Nave playing keys, Bubba McShane on bass and Brendan Bird on drums. Fellow Philadelphians The Chris Paterno Band open.

Birdie Busch and Carol Cleveland Sings @ Spruce Street Harbor Park | Thursday, July 7
This week’s installment of the free Waterfront Sessions concert series features Philly-based Americana singer-songwriter Birdie Busch, who released a new album, Thunder Bridge, last month, and Carol Cleveland Sings, from Wilmington, playing what they call “psychedelic bedroom pop.”

Back to the Future with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra @ The Mann | Saturday, July 9
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra plays the score to Back to the Future live, while you think about the fact that this movie is more than 30 years old.

John Carpenter: Live Retrospective @ Keswick Theatre | Saturday, July 9
Director John Carpenter composed the scores for many of his films himself, including Halloween, Escape from New York and Assault on Precinct 13. He’ll be at the Keswick playing music from his movies and from his non-soundtrack albums, Lost Themes and Lost Themes II — which also have a cinematic feel.

Billy Joel @ Citizens Bank Park | Saturday, July 9
The piano man plays his many, many hits at the ballpark (resale tickets only). I’m including this one 100-percent sincerely.

Emily King @ Union Transfer | Monday, July 11
This show is next week, but Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Emily King’s quiet yet rich sound will give you something to look forward to on a Monday. She’s touring for her new album, The Switch, out this week.

Follow @RachelVigoda on twitter. - Philadelphia Magazine

Independent country folk band, The Novel Ideas, delivered quite the performance at Milkboy on Saturday night.

The Boston five-piece, comprised of Daniel Radin (guitar/vocals), Sarah Grella (vocals), Danny Hoshino (guitar/pedal steel/vocals), James Parkington (bass guitar/vocals), and Karl Grohmann (drums), headlined a show presented by Bandade- a newly formed non-profit organization dedicated to creating a community of musicians and fans alike in support of fighting cancer.

All photos by Lauren Rosier
All photos by Lauren Rosier
The quintet opened their 50-minute set with the first track, “I’m Not Waiting,” off their latest release, St. Paul Sessions. The live performance of this song was otherworldly. Never have I been affected by a single song the way I was with this one. The combination of the song’s lyrics and Grella’s flawless, emotional voice led me to all-over goosebumps and trembling so strongly, I tried hide it.

Despite a small crowd, the Novel Ideas received tons of love and a stellar crowd response as a result of delivering a heartfelt and captivating performance.

The band showcased their perfectly melded harmonies on “Mountain” and “Montana,” a song about one of Radin’s ex-girlfriends (and she didn’t realize it was about her). Songs like “Back And Forth” showcased the vocals of Danny Hoshino and the band’s country folk blend more than any other songs.

Both tracks highlight the band’s beautiful vocals and harmonies, as well as their songwriting skills from their emotional, raw lyrics. The way in which they’re able to weave different genres together delivers a sound that is strictly The Novel Ideas.

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Philadelphia seven-piece, the Chris Paterno Band, centered the night of music with a set of songs that tapped into a mix of folk, funk, and soul in tracks like “Pressure,” “Morning Light,” and their latest single, “Unfaithful.” Channeling the roots of American music, the band is able to pull together elements rock, soul, blues, and folk music into a sound that single-handedly stands on its own.

The band recently finished their debut EP and is focusing on several summer dates with a single release every month. For a band that only formed in 2015, and with this being only their third show together, the cohesiveness of their live performance was impressive. The grittiness of Paterno’s vocals paved the way for the band’s bluesy, folksy, and soulful sound.

The songs “represent us pretty well,” Chris Paterno admitted. “[‘Unfaithful’] is the cornerstone of the EP. It’s got the drive, it’s got raw emotion, and the horns are huge. I think every song has that theme throughout. We’ve got horns, and we’ve got passionate vocals, weird guitar stuff going on, but also there’s a song for everybody, we’ve got a really emotional song that we didn’t play with a lot of space. And then we got this cover that we took an artist and flipped it on its head. It sounds nothing like the artist, it’s an afro-pop tune, with autotune vocals that’s really, very out there.”

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Multi-instrumentalist Brian Fitzy opened the show with a short, yet impressive four-song set that showcased his many musical talents, from electric violin, bassist, to beatbox extraordinaire. “Sooner Or Later” is a pop-friendly, singer/songwriter track that pulls you in, while “Why Isn’t” features his truly incredible beat boxing abilities over top of classic musicianship. You’re not quite sure what to expect as Fitzy performs, but he completely wows you with his truly impressive capabilities that he displays during his live performance.

This was definitely a show that featured some of the best, up and coming musical talent; not only in the folk genre, but across genre lines. American roots music hasn’t disappeared. It’s strong, it has grown, and continues to evolve. - That Music Mag

The Chris Paterno Band are a seven -piece indie-pop-soul band from Philadelphia. The band pulls together elements of rock, soul, blues, and folk music to create their unique sound. They have released their new single, ‘Pressure’ which is the third release from their debut, self-titled EP due for release in late 2016.

‘Pressure’ is a groovy strut worthy track that exudes a stylish swanky persona while maintaining a cool smooth sensual tone that is captivating. The velvety vocals are coaxing for the verse then become more dynamic and soulful for the chorus. This track has a classy flamboyance to it with glimpses of cheeky sass. The horns add a rich luxurious texture to the track and give us a big band feel while the groovy rhythm adds a flexible quality. The guitar is soft and mellow and warms up the track adding a subtle glow of passion and spirit. ‘Pressure’ is a juicy multi textural track to sink your teeth into.
Stream ‘Pressure’ below - Indie Buddie

(New York, NY) Alternative-soul group, The Chris Paterno Band, announce the release of their brand new single, “Pressure,” via Punchland. “Pressure” marks the third release from their debut, self-titled EP slated for release in late 2016. The Chris Paterno Band was produced by 9-time Grammy-winning producer Joe Nicolo (Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Cindi Lauper) at his home studio and Studio 4 in Conshohocken, PA.


The Chris Paterno Band creates music that channels “the roots of American music, the band is able to pull together elements of rock, soul, blues, and folk music into a sound that single-handedly stands on its own” (Lauren Rosier, That Music Magazine). Punchland described “Pressure” as “every big band’s dream…The smooth vocals chime in as a harmony and the ever present horns bellow through. Each occasional twang of the guitar is mellow and sweet for the ears. Listeners will be captivated.” The Chris Paterno Bandis currently playing a handful of local shows, including their single release show Thursday, July 21 at Bourbon & Branch. Keep an eye out for new music from The Chris Paterno Band and check them out on tour!

UPCOMING DATES:

8.8 – Iota Club – Washington, DC

8.10 & 8.11 – Philadelphia Freedoms Bloc Party – Villanova, PA

8.24 – Silk City – Philadelphia, PA

9.30 – Burlap & Bean (Acoustic) – Newtown Square, PA - Uncanny Pop

Indie-folk rockers, The Chris Paterno Band, announce the release of their brand new single, “Lover, When You Gonna Come?”. The song marks the fourth release from their debut, self-titled EP slated for release September 30, 2016. The Chris Paterno Band was produced by 9-time Grammy-winning producer Joe Nicolo (Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Cindi Lauper) at his home studio and Studio 4 in Conshohocken, PA.

The Chris Paterno Band creates music that channels “the roots of American music, the band is able to pull together elements of rock, soul, blues, and folk music into a sound that single-handedly stands on its own" (Lauren Rosier, That Music Magazine). The Chris Paterno Band will be playing an acoustic show in support of their upcoming album on September 30th at Burlap and Bean in Philadelphia. Keep an eye out for new music from The Chris Paterno Band and check them out on live!

chrispaternomusic.com - Americana Daily

Talk about sexy! The Chris Paterno Band have created probably the sexiest song for the summer. Read these lyrics:

The lights are low
The night is coming to a close
And I’ve got to go
But I don’t want to leave now
I don’t want to leave now

Hold me tight to the morning light, when you see the sun
Hold me tight to the morning light, when you see the sun
Hold me tight to the morning light, when you see the sun
Hold me tight to the morning light, cause I’ll be gone

A goodbye kiss
Isn’t enough to sustain this waning bliss
‘Cause tomorrow its you I’ll miss
And I don’t want to leave now
I don’t want to leave now

Hold me tight to the morning light, when you see the sun
Hold me tight to the morning light, when you see the sun
Hold me tight to the morning light, when you see the sun
Hold me tight to the morning light, cause I’ll be gone

The night is young and so are we
I’ll be your Adam if you be my Eve
Nothing but love between these sheets
So come on baby take a bite of that apple tree
Oooooooooh, Oooooooh, Oooooooh

The lights are low
The night is coming to a close
And I’ve got to go
But I don’t want to leave now

Hold me tight to the morning light, when you see the sun
Hold me tight to the morning light, when you see the sun
Hold me tight to the morning light, when you see the sun
Hold me tight to the morning light, cause I’ll be gone

If these aren’t the most beautiful lyrics, showing love in its true passion. The Chris Paterno Band is comprised of singer/songwriter Chris Paterno; singer and guitar player Connor McElwee; their old high school English professor, drummer Doug Parsons; trumpet player Mike Clark; mandolin player Adam Monaco; bassist Nate Sims; and trombonist Frank Rein. Together they have crafted a sound that is like no other. Imagine Chicago combined with the soul of George Michael or Paul Carrack, and you got The Chris Paterno Band. Perfect for hot summer nights. - Audio Fuzz

By A.J. Arcaini

In June of 2015, Chris Paterno, a Philadelphia-area native, brought together a group of musicians looking to create a fresh sound that derives from numerous different styles of music. The seven piece indie-pop-soul band is preparing to release their first EP in the coming months, with an endorsement from an extremely prolific name heading production (No spoilers, find out who below). After playing their first live event last summer at a Freedoms home match just a few weeks after coming together for the first time, The Chris Paterno Band will return to the Freedoms stage with a fresh set of new material, ready to bring their integrated, raw style to Freedoms fans on Aug. 10-11. We were lucky enough to catch up with Chris to find out some more about the band, and what their future holds.

So, what have you guys been up to? What does the Chris Paterno Band have going on right now?

C- At the beginning of May we finished our debut EP, which is self-titled (The Chris Paterno Band), and we released our first single, Unfaithful, which is out now on our Soundcloud and should be up on Spotify soon. We’re getting ready to release a single each month until around the time of the Freedoms gig, which is when we will officially drop our EP. In the meantime, we have about four or five performances until the Freedom show, three of which are in Philadelphia. The closet is Connie’s Ric Rac on the 15th of June, were playing Milkboy in Philly on the 7th of July, then we have a really big show where we’re headlining Bourbon and Branch on the 21st of July, where were planning to drop our new track, Pressure, which is my favorite tune from the EP. Then were playing a couple shows in Maryland, and finally off to play the FreedomFest.

What artists/groups would you say are the biggest inspirations to your style of music?

C- We get this one a lot and we like to call our sound an alternative soul. So, if you think like John Mayer meets Stevie Wonder. Between those two guys, John Mayer is a really big influence on my guitar playing and songwriting, while Stevie Wonder brings the funk and the realness and the emotion, and I think we’re always trying to incorporate that. Also, a lot of people have recently been saying how we’re really tied to Philadelphia and that old Philadelphia Sound. That raw Philly emotion, the horn grooves and percussive, the driving rhythms, so artists like The Sound of Philadelphia, the O’Jays, and Patti LaBelle, they really put emotion and realness into their tunes. I think things that define us are the rawness of my voice and a genuine tone of what my lyrics have to say. I write my lyrics like my journal, so I really try to share all of me. Then we have these great horn players that add these amazing horn hooks that are a lot of fun to watch. Then the rhythm section, Doug Parsons and Mark Hightower, they really know how to lay down any type of groove. We have an eclectic mix, but we really hone in on emotion and a driving sound.

In an interview with Leading Us Absurd you shared that your first official gig was at the Pavilion, what will it be like getting to go back and play their again?

C- It was an awesome experience playing the Pavilion as a new band, I mean, it was pretty surreal. The whole first summer (2015) was really crazy, playing the block party when the Bryan Brothers were in town, the worlds best men’s doubles team possibly ever, and then the next show we played in front of 9-time Grammy winner Joe Nicolo, who ended up signing us to record our debut EP. So we were two for two with pretty sweet, lucky gigs. Now coming back, I think you can expect us to be a lot more polished. We’ll have a little more fun on stage since we wont be so nervous, and I think that back then we were really developing our identity, but now we kind of have our niche, our thing, so we’re really excited to share it with the Freedoms crowd and be back at the same place, with an established identity and being a couple steps further in our careers. We’re really excited to share that progress with everybody.

You mentioned Joe Nicolo, your producer. What was it like getting to work with a guy who’s worked with so many amazing artists?

C-It was pretty surreal, a very humbling experience. Joe knows how to treat musicians really well, and that’s a very delicate thing. Music is like my journal, but sometimes you’re right and sometimes your wrong. He really knew how to help us develop in a constructive way, so I think working with Joe pushed us to be way better musicians and better artists then we already were, which is awesome. Plus having his fingerprint on the EP is really special. He’s worked with Cypress Hill, Billy Joel, the Fugees, and more amazing artists, so he had amazing stories to tell and a lot of advice to share that he learned along the way. I think having him as a mentor was really helpful to the process, and we’re really excited to share with everybody what we got to work on together. I think it came out really well, so I hope people find it relatable and they find it something they can put on in the background and use as a soundtrack to their daily lives.

Thanks so much for you time, and we can’t wait to see you in August!

C-No problem, thanks for taking the time to talk to me!

Below are all the ways you can listen, follow and find out more about The Chris Paterno Band. Be sure to check them out!
Twitter: @CPaternoBand
Instagram: @ ChrisPaternoMusic
Snapchat: ChrisPaterno
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/chrispaternomusic
Website: http://chrispaternomusic.com - The Philadelphia Freedoms

Philadelphia’s The Chris Paterno Band is just beginning to hit their stride. The six-piece soul-influenced band stretches itself out on stage, creating a euphoric experience for the audience. Formed in 2015, the band will release their debut EP, The Chris Paterno Band in August. The band has gathered praise along the way, including The Gavel which proclaimed that their “music is more than just singing words and playing a guitar‐‐it’s a vivid, mind‐seizing experience”. Check out the exclusive Q&A below for some insights into the band’s origins and their plans for the summer.

Your music has quite a bit of a soul influence in it. Did any of Philadelphia’s musical history fit into your sound?

Definitely. I like to think that you can hear the Philly Soul roots in our music – The Sound of Philadelphia, The O’Jays, Patti Labelle. Acts like those knew how to evoke emotion, they knew how to be real and they knew how to get a little funky. We try to emulate those artists, while also bringing in some novel sounds/techniques to give our style a modern touch. Its hard not to be influenced by Philadelphia in general – the streets are always filled with characters and the Philly music scene is growing everyday. Its an amazing time to be a Philly musician. Working with a Philly legend like Joe Nicolo doesn’t hurt either!

The first official gig was the pre‐match bloc party at the Villanova Pavilion in front of…2000 people? And this was before the band was even official, correct?

Yes! It was a surreal moment playing in front of a crowd that large after only 4 practices with new musicians. But, I was able to bring in a lot of great talent and we really had fun with it. After that, we realized we weren’t too shabby so we decided to stick together and see what would happen. The next show we played (less than a month later), our mandolin player, Adam Monaco, brought Joe Nicolo. He offered us a deal to cut our debut EP right after our set. That was an amazing moment that I will never forget.

When did you realize that you guys might have a chemistry between you that you could really sink your teeth into?

I think we really started to groove in the early months of 2016. We brought in a few new members – Frank Rein (trombone) and Mark Hightower (bass) – that really filled out our sound. Frank writes these incredible horn lines that just take our sound to the next level and I really started to find my voice, mature as a writer and as an instrumentalist. We haven’t played a show in a while because we’ve been working hard in the studio, but I cannot wait to take the stage again and show everyone what we are working with. The guys in the group are killer.

Do you take a different approach to your live shows than you would with the studio?

Definitely. In the studio, we take things slowly and really think things through. On stage, we’re just goofy. I’m dancing around like a mad man, horns blaring, just having a fun time letting the music take over. Our horns (Mike Clark and Frank Rein) are trading solos with our mandolin player (Adam Monaco) and our bassist (Mark Hightower) and we are all locked into the now. We just let whatever we’re feeling take the stage. No two performances are ever the same and that’s what makes playing so fun.

Let’s talk a bit about your single, “Unfaithful”. What was the genesis of the song?

The chord progression for “Unfaithful” defines my playing style – percussive, and full of odd voicings. I wrote this song about a year and a half ago during a time where everything around me was falling apart – friendships were fading, a long relationship had recently ended, and my family life was struggling – I felt lost and angry. At the same time, I was looking around, observing the culture that is a college campus and seeing and hearing all these stories about infidelity and trust issues. I could see the connection between myself- feeling like so many bridges had been burnt down, losing faith in my friends, family and myself – and the term “Unfaithful.” The bridge repeats the phrase “All we built, burn it down.” That sentence really sums up that time of my life.


I see you have a few shows coming up. Any big plans for the Chris Paterno Band this summer besides the ones listed?

We’ve got a lot of shows, as you mentioned, that we are excited about including a few dates at MilkBoy Philly (5/28, 7/7) Connie’s Ric Rac in Philly (6/16) and a single-release show at Bourbon and Branch in Philly on 7/21. We’re also talking to a few festival organizers right now! More details on that to come. We’ve also got to release the rest of our self-titled debut EP, which we’re super-excited to share it. Its gotten great reviews from our moms so high expectations from the band. - Leading Us Absurd

Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

We’ve been great! Super busy preparing for our summer shows and finishing up our debut EP! Thanks so much for interviewing us, we’re honored!

Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Unfaithful”?

“Unfaithful” defines our style – strong horn lines, percussive, funky guitar and bass lines, interesting guitar voicings and raw, emotional vocals. This was the first song that we cut with Joe Nicolo, our producer, in the studio, and it just came to life.

Did any event in particular inspired you to write this song?

The chord progression of “Unfaithful” was modified from this old tune I (Chris Paterno) wrote in high school that I just never got out of my hands. I wrote what is now “Unfaithful” about a year and a half ago during a time when everything around me was falling apart – friendships were fading, a long relationship had recently ended, and my family life was struggling – I felt lost and angry. At the same time, I was looking around, observing the culture that is a college campus and seeing and hearing all these stories about infidelity and trust issues. I could see the connection between myself- feeling like so many bridges had been burnt down, losing faith in my friends, family and myself – and the term “Unfaithful.” The bridge repeats the phrase “All we built, burn it down.” That sentence really sums up that time of my life, which gave birth to this tune.

Any plans to release a video for the single?

We’re thinking about it, but we haven’t come to a consensus. What do you think? Should we?

The single comes off your new self-titled EP – why naming the record after the band?

This EP is our introduction and we want it to define our sound. Making it self-titled allows us to do that. There’s no question about it – The Chris Paterno Band is this EP and this EP is The Chris Paterno Band.

How was the recording and writing process?

It was absolutely awesome! As an aspiring musician, your dream is to someday win a Grammy so to work with a producer that’s won 9, was truly a humbling experience. Joe was a lot of fun to work with and he really helped us develop as musicians and in general. I (Chris Paterno) wrote all the tunes, besides one cover that’s featured on the EP, before going into the studio. The rest of the group (Connor McElwee, Adam Monaco, Doug Parson, Nate Sims, Mike Clark and Frank Rein) took ownership of the tracks and just went to town with some great ideas, great licks and amazing arrangements. We had a lot of late nights, but a lot of laughstoo. We can’t wait to share it with our fans, friends and families.

Does Philadelphia plays a role in your music?

Definitely. We like to think that you can hear the Philly Soul roots in our music – The Sound of Philadelphia, The O’Jays, Patti Labelle. Acts like those knew how to evoke emotion, they knew how to be real and they knew how to get a little funky. We try to emulate those artists, while also bringing in some novel sounds/techniques to give our style a modern touch. Its hard not to be influenced by Philadelphia in general – the streets are always filled with characters and the Philly music scene is growing everyday. Its an amazing time to be a Philly musician. Working with a Philly legend like Joe Nicolo doesn’t hurt either!

What was it like to work with Joe Nicolo and how did that relationship develop?

It was an amazing experience. Our mandolin player, Adam Monaco, had done some work with Joe prior to joining the band and he invited Joe out to our second show (ever!). Everybody instantly got a little more nervous when Adam said Joe was actually coming, but we kept it together and nailed the set. Right after our set, Joe asked us if we were interested in working with him. It was just surreal. Once we got into the studio, he was cracking jokes, making us feel at home and comfortable. In fact, we were literally at his house so it was hard not to feel at home. He also took us down to Studio 4 in Conshohocken, Pa for a session – platinum records everywhere. It was hard not to think we made it for just a second hahah. Joe’s like that – he builds you up in the most constructive way possible – teaching you as you grow and pushing you to go beyond yourself and beyond the music. Joe really took us under his wing and has been a great mentor. We are ready to show everyone what we are working with.

How much did he get to influence the album?

Joe definitely put his fingerprint on the EP. He actually sings some background vocals on the EP’s final track, Sweet Thing, too. From a producers standpoint, Joe and I (Chris) really got along and had similar visions. We’re both always trying to push our initial ideas a little bit further out of the box. Joe recently said of my voice – “People will have a love/hate relationship with his voice, and I mean that as a true compliment. You want to sound unique. Saying that you don’t sound like anyone else is probably the biggest compliment I can give an artist.” And I think he had a great deal to do with us being unique, by trusting us, giving us the opportunity and just hitting that record button with a little magic behind it. He really captured all of The Chris Paterno Band.

Where did you find the inspiration for the songs and lyrics?

The inspiration for the songs and lyrics comes from everyday life. Music is my journal. I write what I feel and I don’t hold back. Every track has a different theme, each encompassing an emotion, whether that’s disappointment and rage in “Unfaithful” or longing and love in “Morning Light,” that’s genunine and has deep meaning to me and my life. My hope is that these songs are relatable and people recognize they are getting all of me and all of the band when they hear us play – whether thats live or on this EP. These songs are the feelings and themes that define my life.

Any plans to hit the road?

Definitely! We’ve got a packed summer with lots of Philly shows coming up. We are also playing a few gigs outside of the city, and in Maryland. We are setting up a show in NYC as well that we are pumped about!

What else is happening next in The Chris Paterno Band’s world?

That’s a good question! We’re taking it day by day, show by show. We’re excited for what the future holds and have high hopes for our debut! Our moms love the EP so its pretty much guaranteed to be a hit haha. But for real, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud, and all that to get updates and be a part of the journey and the band! We love to chat with everyone – every head is its own world of knowledge. Come join in the fun!

Links for our media are below. Thank you so much for taking the time to write about us and share our music with your fan base! We appreciate it!! It’s this kind of stuff that really makes a difference.

soundcloud.com/chrispaternomusic

facebook.com/chrispaternomusic

@CPaternoMusic

Insta: ChrisPaternoMusic - Vents Magazine

What do you get when you take a healthy mix of soulful vocals, blustery horn hooks and groovy rhythms and put them into a lively local music blender? You get the daring, yet delightful sounds of The Chris Paterno Band, who are more than ready to take over the Philly music scene this summer because that’s exactly what they’re going to do.

Along with lead vocalist/guitarist Chris Paterno, the funkdafied group also consists of local musicians Connor McElwee on guitar, Mike Clark on bass, Nate Sims on auxiliary percussion and Frank Rein and Doug Parsons on their respective trumpet and trombone. Oh, and yes, there’s also Adam Monaco who brings his mandolin stylings along for this fun, funky music ride.



So, wherever you go see The Chris Paterno Band this summer, whether it be at Connie’s Ric Rac tonight, Milkboy on July 7th or the Philadelphia Freedom’s Block Party at Villa Nova on August 10th & 11th, you will not just be getting served by a little mandolin action, but with an extraordinary mix of the talents provided by these fine music gentlemen who are just getting their local groove party started.

I got the chance to sit down with Chris at Plenty Cafe earlier this week, and he was very kind in his words in spilling about life, love, Beyoncé and what the power of music means to him, especially after the tragic shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando this past Sunday.

Take a seat at the local music tea-table with Mr. Paterno below and always remember to keep spreading that local music love.

And for much more on The Chris Paterno Band, check this out.


While I hate to start a music tea out with sad news, but the tragedy in Orlando is certainly on everybody’s minds right now. How did you react when you first heard about it? I woke up and had some things to do, and I didn’t look at the news or anything. I went to the gym and saw [the story] when I was on the treadmill. And I just stopped what I was doing. At the end of the day, it’s people’s lives that we’re talking about and we need to discuss the destruction that just happened and keep moving forward to make a change. I’m really taken aback and absolutely shocked and saddened. Everybody needs to work together and get something done because it needs to stop.

That’s why I’m certainly thankful for music. I don’t know about you, but it’s certainly become a sanctuary, especially now more than ever. That’s what [it’s] about for me. It’s like a journal, actually. I sit down and I write how I feel and then I’m able to share it with anyone who will listen. If I can connect with someone emotionally and be in that same spot that is my music, be vulnerable with people, that to me is a success and I hope it comes across, especially live.

Who are some of your favorite artists to see live? It kinds of changes with times of my life, I actually just saw Beyoncé in concert. It was awesome. She’s just an amazing performer. Going back to Orlando and we said about people being vulnerable with music, every time she had a moment with the crowd she was always being empowering and kind. It was great to have that, I felt refreshed after [her] concert.

Any upcoming shows this summer you already have tickets for? Yeah! I’m going to Mayer Hawthorne at Union Transfer, I can’t wait for that one. I really like to just pick out shows and we go out, and we always go see the bands that are on a bill with us. You have to always support local music.

Speaking of local music, Philly’s certainly been shining through on the scene. What are some of the changes that you personally see? One of the biggest things is The Fillmore opening up and also The Foundry. They’ve become great venues for the middle gap of touring artists that aren’t nationally known. You’re starting to see that a lot more, which really bolsters the local music scene because you get to see a lot of local artists that playing alongside those middle tier touring artists, which is great.

A question that always stumps everyone I break mugs with is if you had to pick one album to listen to for the rest of your life, which one would it be? “Number Ones” by Stevie Wonder. I just bump that all the time at work on repeat…it’s just genius. I just love Stevie, he is a day-to-day inspiration. I actually saw him in concert at Wells Fargo last summer and he just blew my mind with how good he was. He just incorporates so many flavors in his music, He’s a musician’s musician and he also relates to the people and keeps it real, which we certainly need more of right now.

On a lovely side tea, Mr. Paterno and his merry band of local musicians are heavily involved with Project Home, a wonderful Philly based organization whose mission is to “empower adults, children, and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to alleviate the underlying causes of poverty, and to enable all of us to attain our fullest potential as individuals and as members of the broader society.”

There’s lots of big announcements with the band’s involvement with this project coming up soon (get ready for some merch!!), so be sure to check out Project Home’s website as well as The Chris Paterno Band home base right here.

Let’s keep on spreading - Philly Mixtape

“The first time I actually started sitting down and practicing my voice was this December.”

December? My eyebrows push surprised wrinkles onto my forehead like waves in a pond. I had heard Chris Paterno, A&S '15, play music at a recent open microphone event on campus, and based off that performance alone I would’ve never guessed his vocal training had only begun months earlier.

“I just put in a lot of time. I always sing in the car, and I guess that helps. I've always loved singing."

Even if he hadn’t always sung, he must have played guitar since he was a kid, as his first instrument. But my assumptions prove to be wrong again.

“When I was really young, my dad would tap on the steering wheel to the radio, to the Goo Goo Dolls. And I was like, ‘Oh my god, I want to be a drummer!’ So in fourth grade I started taking drum lessons.”

He goes on to discuss how he believed drums would be the instrument for him. The transition to playing guitar only came as a freshman in high school, partially for his band, partially because he loved the thought of it.

“I fell in love with writing songs.”

What about the harmonica then?

“The harmonica I picked up at the beginning of senior year of high school… The hardest thing is controlling your breath. You have to hold enough breath in to be able to sing the verse next.”



Moving on from his evidently vast musical talent, I ask Chris how he would describe his music to someone who hadn’t heard it before. He chuckles because he’s been trying to answer that question for various blogs recently.

“It’s like if Ed Sheeran and James Bay had a lovechild, and then that child had two involved uncles with John Mayer and Amos Lee… It’s pretty percussive. You’ll hear a lot of me slapping my guitar. Vocally, I like to write raw, emotional lyrics that just come out.”

I think back to his performance again, emotions showering out of his mouth, eyes closed in uncontrollable passion. Even then I could tell that, for Chris, music is more than just singing words and playing a guitar—it’s a vivid, mind-seizing experience.

We finally come to the topic of balancing school and music, and his answer only confirms his work ethic and dedication.

Shannon West / Gavel media
Shannon West / Gavel Media
“It’s pretty challenging—I’m Pre-Med. I do homework for my science classes… I practice about an hour to two a day, and spend another two to three hours on social media, just sending out emails to blogs. All my free time is consumed by music, and I think that’s a good thing.”

As I ask about his career plans, the spark in his eyes tells me he’s hoping for his music to take off.

“It’s definitely a pursuit of a professional career, either as a songwriter, or as a singer-songwriter.”

But I can tell that Chris isn’t the type of guy to wait on a prayer, to leave it up to chance—he’s ready to work for it.

“As long as my music is heard.” - The Gavel

Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, John Mayer, Ed Sheeran. Chris Paterno, BC ’15, hopes to follow in their footsteps through his new record deal with Joe Nicolo’s Blackbird Productions.

In early May, the Philadelphia Freedoms, the city’s tennis team, asked Paterno to play a set at their event at Villanova Pavilion with over 1,000 spectators. Paterno was forced to quickly throw together a band, now known as The Chris Paterno Band, and the group has remained together since that first show.

After a successful gig at Villanova, the band was asked to play again in Spring City, Penn. The band’s mandolin player, Adam Monaco, brought Nicolo to the show, whom he had been previously working with to record several tracks.

After hearing the band’s sound and original lyrics, Nicolo asked to meet with Paterno and officially signed him his label last week.

“Joe saw us play and really liked our set and our original music,” Paterno said. “He asked me to stop by the studio and the rest has just been contract negotiations and seeing what we wanted out of [the record deal].”

Nicolo, prior to creating Blackbird Productions, had owned and run Ruffhouse Records, which he sold to Sony Music in 2000 for $900 million. Nicolo also produces for Columbia Records and has worked with artists as famous as The Rolling Stones and The Police.

“He’ll keep pushing himself, instead of putting himself in the box and doing the same thing time and time again.”
-Sean Seaver, MCAS ’16

The Chris Paterno Band is beginning preparations to record in the studio and plans to come out with an album, consisting of six EP tracks and one bonus cover. Paterno and the eight-person band is recording with a full band consisting of acoustic guitar, vocals, percussion, keys, bass, trumpets, and trombones.

While searching for members of the band, Paterno recruited a couple of high school friends and auditioned some new musicians. The drummer, Doug Parsons, was actually Paterno’s high school English teacher before joining the group.

Paterno’s passion for music began at a young age. After watching his father bang on the steering wheel of the car, pretending to play the drums, Chris Paterno was inspired to take up percussion. He began on the drums, but when he got to high school, he also taught himself to play the acoustic guitar so he could begin to compose his own music. Paterno wrote his first song, “No Horns,” at age 16.

“[The song] is about dealing with hard times and the evaluation of the realization of responsibility,” Paterno said. “The hook of the chorus is centered around the line, ‘Oh the devil, he wears no horns.’”

While he doesn’t have a standardized process that he uses to write his original songs, Paterno said that he will usually write a track in one sitting, whether it spans 30 minutes or three hours. From there, he refines the song and adds in the different parts of the band to fill out the sound.

DSC_5828_online

He likes to write about daily experiences and feelings that most artists don’t like to talk about in their music, Paterno said.

While at BC, Paterno was a member of the marching band for one year, where he played the tenor drums. Paterno was most heavily involved with BC’s Music Guild, however, an outlet for student artists where they can perform at open mic events scheduled throughout the year. Paterno became vice president of the Music Guild his junior year.

“A lot of my success has been derived from the platforms of Music Guild,” Paterno said. “It allowed me to go out and play on a consistent basis, get over stage fright, and try out new songs. Those things really come a long way when you go out and perform a live show.”

Paterno also worked closely with Sean Seaver, MCAS ’16, to produce a couple of EPs using BC’s recording studios. Seaver and Paterno worked for over three months, producing and creating the new tracks that would eventually help Paterno sign with Blackbird Productions.


“Chris just strikes me as a kid that would want to push himself from one project to the next,” Seaver said. “He’ll probably want the next EP to sound different and he’ll keep pushing himself, instead of putting himself in the box and doing the same thing time and time again.”

In addition to his work with different music programs on campus, Paterno graduated pre-med, with a major in history and minors in biology, chemistry, and music. He claims that the skills and music theory that he learned through his music minor have helped him to compose songs and look for ways to create a new sound.

Despite the time constraints of his new record deal, Paterno is currently working full-time at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia as a clinical research assistant studying kidneys in the nephrology department. Paterno is taking a gap year to decide whether he wants to continue with his studies in medical school or really devote his career to music.

“From what I know of Chris, if he has the opportunity [to work in music], and this seems to be the opportunity, I feel like he would take that over med school 10 times out of 10,” Seaver said.

For the time being, Paterno hopes that Nicolo’s connections in the music industry will allow him to continue recording and playing live shows. He looks forward to travelling to Boston, Nashville, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., to play gigs in the coming months.

“The dream would be in five years time, I would sign with a larger label and keep performing and playing music,” Paterno said. “I’m not sure if that’s a huge reality, but because of this contract, I am definitely stepping in the right direction toward making that a possibility.” - Boston College Heights