Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
“Musically we want to be complex but we don’t want that to take over the soul of the music” - Tim Palmieri, guitar- The Breakfast
The jam band scene seems to be growing in leaps and bounds. After the overwhelming success of Umphrey’s McGee, other bands in this genre seem to be making a little bit of noise. East Haven CT’s The Breakfast (formerly Psychedelic Breakfast) may be a name to retain in the years to come. “Real Radio”, the band’s fourth release, has enough catchy tunes, pleasant vocal harmonies (which remind this reviewer of Echolyn’s quirkier moments) and flat out chops to make one sit up and take notice. All this talent is wrapped up in a deceptive package as the band uses fairly simple strong structures which give way to complex instrumental breaks where the synergy of the musicians shines.
The band shows us as many facets as a well cut diamond throughout the 11 tracks that make up this disc. “Vera Street” showcases the band’s radio potential as it’s a silky smooth ballad which could get regular rotation on lite rock radio stations and stand head and shoulders above the drivel currently force fed to the public. “Sleeping Beauty” has the band in a more Phish mode with it’s very complex yet accessible beat which moves the song in unpredictable directions. “Doughboy” is a straight ahead song with a solid groove. The omnipresent lead guitar in the latter half of the track competes with the vocals and eventually overtakes the listener’s attention. “Gravity” begins in a relatively straight forward and inauspicious manner before becoming a monster jam. It may be our first exposure to the fact that this band can flat out play and must be a killer number during their live sets. “Fairy” demonstrates a penchant for a more soulful approach and might be the band’s answer to the blues. Palmieri unleashes a very emotional and powerful guitar solo in the outro portion of the song. In contrast, “Score” has the band almost sounding like a funk ensemble with it’s groovy bass line. Guest musicians on baritone ,alto and tenor sax, as well as trumpet give this number another color and texture. Palmieri once again shines on guitar (this guy is surprisingly fluid and melodic). The grand-daddy of them all is the closer, “The Grand Scheme Of Things”. Clocking in at 12:26 , this instrumental juggernaut exemplifies the band’s cohesiveness. All members are given their turn in the spotlight. Giangreco gets to tear it up with his organ (you know what I mean…) while the one-two punch of Ron Spears (bass) and Adrian Tramontano (drums) remain equal to the task of laying down some complex and melodic rhythms. The song is even given the luxury of an over-the-top pompous ending, in a grandiose “progressive” manner. This track must bring the house down during concerts.
This record is truly a pleasant surprise. The band name, album title, and photos of the boys looking like something straight out of the New Wave movement of the early 80s(they look like a Romantics tribute band), had me apprehensively wondering what to expect. I find myself enjoying this record with every spin. The band has hit on the right mix of various styles without there being any plagiarism. One of the better records I’ve heard in 2005. - Sea of Tranquility
Discography
Real Radio (2005), Bona Fide (2003), Deuce (2001), Psychedelic Breakfast (1999)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Bring your appetite! THE BREAKFAST (formerly PSYCHEDELIC BREAKFAST) have arrived.
Fresh off their Jammy win for “Best New Groove” of 2004, THE BREAKFAST are poised to bring their singular brand of music to a much wider audience. THE BREAKFAST are set to release their long awaited new studio album and follow-up to last year's BONA FIDE in February 2005. The new album, titled REAL RADIO , features harder edged driving funk tunes and blazing musicianship from guitarist Tim Palmieri, bassist Ron Spears, Jordan Giangreco on keys and drummer Adrian Tramontano. Guest appearances on REAL RADIO include the Addison Groove horns, Jen Hartswick and guitarist Jeff Pevar.
The bands ability to send an audience into a frenzy at festivals like High Sierra, The Adirondack Mountain Music Fest, Berkshire Mountain Music Fest, and many more major festivals around the country as well as a guest appearance at BONNAROO #1, have set the stage for magical 2005.
THE BREAKFAST had seemed destined for great things from the moment the four self-taught musicians first came together in 1998 in their native East Haven, CT.
Their first two years as a band were spent honing THE BREAKFAST sound -- an aural cornucopia that combines the best elements of the artists the band members most admire: the groove-burning of P-Funk, the masterful precision of Mahavishnu Orchestra, the sonic reverie of Phish and the Grateful Dead, the adventurousness of Frank Zappa and the take-no-prisoners rock and funk of Led Zeppelin and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Things really started clicking for THE BREAKFAST in 2000, when four tracks from their self-titled, self-produced independent release album were featured on the MTV series, Undressed . In August of 2000 the band turned in a memorable 5 1/2-hour show at the 2000 Woodstock reunion on Yasgur's Farm.
That year also saw the group begin its career as road warriors. In 2000-2001, THE BREAKFAST played before enthusiastic audiences throughout New England, the mid-Atlantic region and the South. The group also has appeared at festivals and on stages with the likes of funk legend Bernie Worrell, The Disco Biscuits, Soulive, Steve Kimock, Seth Yacovone, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Leftover Salmon, Victor Wooten, Dark Star Orchestra, Umphrey's Mcgee, Particle, Robbie Kreiger of the Doors, Jeff Pevar, Max Creek and Country Joe to name but a few. At every stop, music lovers -- Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers alike -- have found THE BREAKFAST to be a group like none they have ever heard.
DEUCE was released nationally in 2001 and garnered rave reviews. In addition to the insistence by Revolving Door magazine that PSYCHEDELIC BREAKFAST "deserves a huge national audience," Relix was quoted as saying “Expect Big Things” and PB was featured in two separate issues in 2002. Jambase called PB “The future of Rock-n-Roll” and has been instrumental in the bands West Coast development. PB has received critical acclaim in publications like Drum Magazine , Entertainment Weekly , Relix, Playboy , Vintage Guitar Magazine and many others.
2002 and 2003 saw THE BREAKFAST develop increasingly strong markets in the West and Mid Atlantic regions. They toured the country 3 times in 2003 to promote their third release, BONA FIDE . The album is comprised of 11 tracks recorded live at a sold out Pearl St. nightclub in Northampton, MA in September 2002. The recording features a scorching version of the Allman Brothers classic “Hot `Lanta” which features good friend and VT native, Seth Yacovone on accompanying guitar.
Look for REAL RADIO by THE BREAKFAST in February 2005 released through HMG (Horizon Music Group) Recordings.
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