The Pilgrims

The Pilgrims are three guys that live in the Sacramento area and who play music. This in itself is not unusual. Their innovation is that they play music at the same time! In this novel configuration, they have taken part in many of the infamous Geekfests and played shows throughout California. This "band" (as they call themselves) has been repeatedly featured and reviewed in the Sacramento News & Review, Alive & Kicking, and zines such as Flipside. Their song "Jar Jar Binks" hit the Comedy Top 10 chart at mp3.com. The main singer-songwriter guy is Ben Morss, winner of a 1999 SAMMIE (Sacramento Music Award) Critics’ Choice award for keyboard playing. He played piano and did some arranging on Cake’s recent platinum-selling album, "Prolonging the Magic." He has also played in the acclaimed acid-jazz group 11:11, who appeared at both the SXSW and NXNW festivals during his time with the band. Frighteningly, he also recently earned a PhD in the composition of classical music, making him an official doctor of rock. Drummer Herb Kelly previously played with multi-SAMMIE winners the Ultraviolets. His 1999 addition to the Pilgrims line-up catapulted the band from semi-oblivion to near-total obscurity, giving the band’s intricate pop songs the manic edge they so sorely needed. Bassist Robert Perry is the veteran of countless bands, including the Phygz and some band that some guy from Oleander used to play in or something. His surprisingly pretty background vocals make the band a little more palatable. The band has put out two records on Oakland’s almost unbearably prestigious SPAM Records. The Pilgrims are putting the ‘n’ back in rock ‘n’ roll!