The Odd Bit

They haven’t been around the Halifax scene for very long but The Odd Bit are making it hard on the other rock ‘n roll bands in town to compete for top honours in the genre. Very few bands can claim they’re a rock ‘n roll band: The O.B. is one who can.
Dave Lidstone
With a sound similar to Silvertide, old-school Trews and a hint of Spin Doctors and Rival Sons, Andre Pettipas, younger brother Travis on bass, keyboardist/guitarist Adam Walters and drummer Ben Kelsey do straight up, no frills rock ‘n roll the way it should be done. Pedal to the floor, timely, boosted guitar solos; thumping, tasteful bass and thunderous drums loaded with John Bonham meets Matt Sorum flare. The kind of stuff you can shake a leg and a fist to…with a bit of a pop undertone…but not much.
The album was recorded over a span of five non-consecutive days and took a few months to fully complete due to time, money and member constraints. The recording was split between the NSCC and Archer studios in Dartmouth with Walters wearing the engineer’s hat along with co-pilots Ryan Dunn and Brett Sutherland. The band handled their own production responsibilities.
The first single and track from the four-song EP is accurately titled “First Impression.” The main riff could be found on any of the three Rival Sons’ records and the vocals sit perfectly in the mix along with the bass and drums. The lead guitar work and jungle jam drums are what pops in this tune and commit it to memory. The two time changes, from full to half, are flawless (the lyrics call it’s arrival: “Your first impression was just fine/ Gimme a second, a little half-time”) and adds a strong dynamic; however, it might have been more effective to only go to half-time the first of two times.
“Garden of Flowers” is full of attitude, and style. It boasts a guitar solo fit for any rock album in the 70s or 80s– the fuckin’ thing wails. The main riff has a bit of a “Downtown” by Neil Young vibe, but is faster and edgier…if you can imagine such a thing! Andre’s vocals are all his own but are reminiscent of Walt Lafty from Silvertide (a comparison that could apply to each track). It would have been nice to have some more back-up vocals, but all in all, a strong number two!
The third track is “Get Things Clear” and it picks up where “G.O.F” left off. This tune has a Guns ‘n Roses feel and is easily the best example of what the Odd Bit are capable of. Best song on the record—hands down. Choppy, wah-wah infused, dirty guitars. Solid rhythm on all fronts. And more dynamic playing as they switch tempos off and on. Kelsey owns this song; the drums are magically malicious; especially before they switch to a skank guitar rhythm. A rump-shaker in the finest sense (fuck twerking).
Finally “No Goodbyes” is the closing track on a record that is relentless in it’s delivery, the boys hit it and hit it hard for the duration of the album. A little more on the pop-side of the fence, but ”No Goodbyes” is still far from let-down to any of you devout rockers. The bass line is fantastic. Poppin’ and lockin’ it, Travis Pettipas proves he’s no slouch on the four-string and shines all over this song and the rest of the album. As the status quo, a switched-on solo before a groovy little breakdown provides some ebb and flow and closes out a solid debut for a band who’s only getting started.
It should be known that Walters, et al. did a bang-up job on the quality of the album. It’s not rare to hear a solid mix and master in this day and age, but a tip of the hat is well in order.
Go see for yourself at their FREE CD release party October 4, at Casino Nova Scotia. Show time is 9pm. - Guff Magazine

Hard rock band The Odd Bit doesn’t like to tiptoe around when on stage.

“We’ll be very blunt and honest and people dig that. If they don’t it’s their loss. Nothing can be perfect but it’s the roughness that can give you an edge,” says vocalist Andre Pettipas.

The five-piece band based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia, have played multiple shows across the Maritimes, bringing their ‘in your face’ attitude to each live show.

The band, which formed in 2009, has gone through multiple lineup changes, with Andre (vocals) and Travis Pettipas (bass), and Brett Sutherland (guitar) being longtime members, and Adam Walters (guitar and keys) and Ben Kelsey (drums) recently joining the band.



Pettipas says that the lineup changes allowed the band to take new creative liberties.

“There have been a few let’s say “versions” of The Odd Bit but the original lineup formed back in 2009. It was more or less a cover band then but now the focus is on original music!”

He says that the lineup changes helped overcome the challenge of finding committed members.

“Finding the right people who want the same goal is key. You can’t stop if you want to achieve something. We’ve been told that if you don’t think something isn’t sounding good then practice, you have to practice a crazy amount if you want your product to be something worth listening to.”


Lead vocalist Andre (right) and guitarist Brett Sutherland (left)
They say that their music has evolved since they first formed back in 2009.

“Our music has become more in your face since we first started I’d say. We like to write songs that are fast pace and catchy to keep the listeners attentive,” Pettipas says.

The band says their new lyrical content will please all fans of rock.

“Like a lot of rock n roll music there is a good amount of content about partying, sexual innuendos and drugs,” says Pettipas. “On another side of it a song could be written about a story or journey in a characters life.

The independent band says that ultimately, a living making music is all they could hope for.

“In all honesty I can speak for all of us when I say that we’d like to make a living off of playing music, whether it’s just getting along or millions that’s for the future to tell,” Pettipas says.

The new lineup will be touring soon across the Maritimes, with gigs lined up in January, February and March.

“We have big plans for 2013 and expect to make some headlines with the release of our E.P, which promises to be an emotional rollercoaster ride,” Pettipas says. “We thank everyone who listened to our stuff and had constructive criticism to help us grow!”

You can find music from The Odd Bit at

www.facebook.com/theoddbit

www.soundcloud.com/theoddbit - Liam McGuire

A driving, energetic performance mixed with powerful riffs and great hooks, put 'em all together and it's a formula for success. The Odd Bit has it in spades. Add to it the ease in which they take their audience along for the ride, well that's just another bonus. - Bob MacEachern - Bob MacEachern, 1015 The Hawk