TroubleMan

TroubleMan
What: Young (average age 22), not-so-dumb with appropriately droll monikers: Fish — bass/ vocals; Timmy — guitar/vocals; D — vocals/guitar; S. O’Lucky — drums. The band delivers a four-on-the-floor, four-chord wallop with aplomb.

Why you should give a damn: The boys go so far as to care about rock’s well-being! Go figure.

Debts/ spiritual forefathers: Sonic’s Rendezvous Band, Wildhearts and the Humpers, as well as the usual suspects such as Johnny Cash, New York Dolls, Modern Lovers, MC5, and the Stooges. All four of the members’ dads played in Detroit-area rock bands during the ’60s and ’70s.

The killer quote: “We didn’t invent shit,” quips Timmy. “If Sum 41 is a fuckin’ punk band, then we’re a gospel band.”

Releases: A self-titled, self-released 2003 full-length.

Predictions: With their ability for constructing hooky, punk-riotous rock ’n’ roll with staying power, the band should soon find major-label weasels doing yet another Detroit soft-shoe. —Ricky Phillips - Metro Times, Detroit

Troubleman's self-titled debut CD begins with a psychobilly number called "Irish Roullette" that wastes no time in rocking your face off. A rapid-fire snare attack is followed by some lethal guitar work that reminds me of southern-rock slingers LBS. They revisit that sound on the CD's final cut, entitled "10/30" (i.e. Devil's Night) with a chorus that finds the 'motor city burnin' tonight', but tracks two through 9 hint at other rock-combo derivations.

Identifying with all things raw and wild, the band assumes more of an early Clash sound on "Unchained Felony" (track two) and "All About Style" (track three) on which the sonic quality is deliberately and effectively scoured for garage-fan consumption. Continuing in that devolution, "Every Nite" revives The Stooges sound contrasting grungy guitars with live hand claps and The Ramones predilection for three-chord progressions and Johnny B. Goode licks. The Ramones paradigm is further explored in the more poppy "High School Baby" and an appropriate tribute to The Stooges ("Loose" circa 1970) appears on track eight - eery in its instrumental accuracy.

I get a jolt of de'ja-vu from "Something Wrong" (track 10 - I've heard this before in some other context). This gem is the boiled-down essence of their influences, including everything in the stew, but revealing a taste that is uniquely Troubleman.

This is balls-out, working-class, never let the energy slide rock n' fuckin' roll. - Michiganbands.com

MIDWAY INTO the first song, "Irish Roulette," I can tell this is a good band. I really enjoy this style of punk. The musicians in this band are remarkable. The CD was recorded last year at Woodshed and Ringside Studios. Each song is very original and keeps your interest to the end. This is a top-notch CD by another great Detroit band.

Excellent CD! - Jam Rag, Detroit

When no-frills rock group TroubleMan formed roughly two-and-a-half years ago, the band just planned to have fun and play music they love.
They started with the key ingredient for success: a sense of unity. The four members, two of whom are brothers (Derek and Sean Murtaph), attended high school together at Redford Union, and have been friends for years.
With their love for Detroit rock, such as the MC5 and the Stooges, and their strong bond, the band started recording their first CD in 2002 with respected studio man Tim Pak at Woodshed and also at Ringside Studios with Royce Nunly.
By 2003, TroubleMan raked in good shows, including out-of-town gigs and a spot on the Vans Warped Tour in Pontiac.
Now the outfit is working on a second release, this time with Sponge frontman Vinnie Dombrowski as producer. TroubleMan also hopes to get to play overseas this fall.
“We’re on an Australian Detroit-Rock compilation, and radio stations in Germany have played our music,” says guitarist Tim Evangelista. “We’re hopefully going to Europe at the end of this year.”

Name: TroubleMan.
Line up: Derek “D” Murtaph, vocals and guitar; Tim “Timmy Tann” Evangelista, guitar and vocals; Eric “Fish” Fisher, bass and vocals; Sean “O’Lucky” Murtaph, drums.

Sound: “We’re going for that dirty rock and roll sound,” Evangelista says. “We’ve got the catchy hooks, but without sounding too polished.”

- Detroit News