Groovin' to the Canopy Club
Chris Essig/Verge Reporter
Issue date: 4/6/07 Section: the Big Picture
Who: Groovatron
What: A schizophrenic improvisational band whose sum is a result of its six members' individual influences
Where: Canopy Club in Champaign
When: April 12. Doors at 8 p.m.
Price: Tickets are $6 in advance, $8 at the door
This Thursday, the Canopy Club in Champaign will once again usher in Groovatron, an improvisational rock band from Indiana.
The last time The Daily Eastern News talked to the band was over two years ago when the band played even closer to home at the Uptowner. Since then, the band has continued to play at local clubs and has remained very active in the festival circuit.
This year will mark the band's fifth appearance at Summer Camp, as well as another appearance at Wakarusa. At last year's festival, the band received the honor of being deemed the "Best Breakthrough Performance" by Jambase.com.
The band has also jammed with the likes of the String Cheese Incident, Umphrey's McGee, and moe., the latter of the three being one of guitarist Nick Ferrer's fondest memories.
"I couldn't talk to them," Ferrer said. "I was too star-struck."
But maybe the most impressive accolade of the last two years showed the devotion of one particular fan who felt that midway through a Groovatron jam was the perfect place to propose to his wife.
Some people propose in the mountains of Colorado or on the beaches of Florida, Ferrer said. This guy did it at a Groovatron show.
Ferrer was reluctant to declare the band has blown up and instead described the increase as "slowly, but surely." And while the band makes plenty of appearances locally, the same cannot be said nationally.
About five years ago the band toured relentlessly; almost 250 days a year, nationwide. Since then, the band has focused most of their efforts on the Midwest not only because of travel expenses, but to create better shows in front of bigger audiences, saxophonist Tony McCullough said.
"If we play 12 dates in California and don't come back for two years, nobody is going to remember us," Ferrer said.
A product with many components
Groovatron's style is a bit difficult to describe because, as Ferrer says, they "don't stick with one idea for too long."
"Why eat just chocolate ice cream for the rest of your life when you can try spumoni?" McCullough asked.
This led their manager to describe them as "schizophrenic rock," an attribute that stuck and usually draws comparisons to shock rockers like Frank Zappa or Ween.
McCullough said as a whole, the band has incorporated more electronica and jazz elements while still relying heavily on the funk. But they still "touch on everything," from rock and country to jazz and big band, they said.
This is largely due to their six members who each bring something independent to the table, and as a whole, listen to pretty much everything.
"Star Biscuit," for example, is a trance song with country interludes.
Or "Allegiance," a jazzy, almost soulful tune with a metal climax and chorus.
Or "MacGyver," with bassist Tony Qualls slapping over the chanting of an "ahhh" until the band speeds up like a late-80s punk band.
"If one person has an idea, they can run with it," Ferrer said. "But there are five other ideas as well."
Which means you may not always be in the spotlight.
"Sometimes you just need to stop playing and let somebody else go off, let somebody else breathe," McCullough said.
But selflessness doesn't mean that a compromise will come easy.
"It takes forever to write a song," Ferrer said
"Outcome SOS," for instance, took ten months to record with the band practicing every day Monday through Thursday for three to four hours.
Tension is not uncommon in the studio, but Ferrer is confident that the product they put out is their best.
"We're not friends, we're brothers," he said.
Visual appeal
The band has also focused on creating a visual presence to add to their zany musical style. At Wakarusa, the band was dressed up in women's clothing and, at a variety of shows last year the band dressed up in Hawaiian clothing and threw out beach balls to the audience. In fact, Groovatron's picture on the Canopy Club Web site is of them playing a real-life version of whack-a-mole termed "whack-a-man."
Ferrer said their visual presence is an attempt to make an experience for the crowd, comparing them to a toned-down version of The Flaming Lips.
The jam world
On top of their festival appearances, the band improvises, putting them in the very lofty genre of the "jam band."
Ferrer admits it has its negative connotations and many think its all about playing 20-something minute songs with no vocals.
While there is nothing wrong with "getting lost in a jam," it has to be going somewhere, have some sort of vision, McCullough said.
You can't just noodle the same thing for five songs, he said.
Being a part of the jam world does have its advantages as well; it is more of a community, Ferrer explains. Bands are more willing to help each other out and are not in constant competition.
And the band enjoys playing at festivals because they are in front of people that may not check them out otherwise…and they get free beer, McCullough said.
In short, it is a "double-edged sword," Ferrer said.
New album
Groovatron's multiple personalities add up to an unusual combination, particularly lyrically.
Songs like "Pie Flap" are just as off-the-wall as the title while "Satan Drinks Cheap Liquor," which features rants from its members on the origins of April Fool's Day.
So fans may be surprised to find out Groovatron's new album is going to be all instrumental.
McCullough said it's just their way of throwing the audience another curveball, but it won't be too far of a stretch for the band with many of the tracks ADD-ridden, like their current material.
And some of the album is current material, with a few of the tracks already in the band's repertoire including "Star Biscuits" and "17x's." Of the estimated eight tracks on the album, McCullough said about three of them will be recognizable by fans.
As a whole, Ferrer described the album as "spacious," with a certain airiness to it.
"It's like being in a huge sports arena with nobody there," Ferrer said, explaining that there is a lot going on but it doesn't sound congested.
The band is closing up on the recording of the album which was recorded at a friend's studio virtually for free.
Both McCullough and Ferrer said they are hoping to release the album by May though a definite release date has not been established.
The album is yet to be titled.
The band also has plans on releasing an album that is more song-based, an album that will have more "first verse, chorus, bridge" songs, McCullough said.
He added that the album will be less schizophrenic and a few of the songs will be based on serious topics, one of which is about McCullough's cousin who went crazy. He, however, denied that this is a new direction the band is taking.
"We're still a bunch of assholes," he said.
Tickets for Thursday's show are $6 in advance and $8 at the door. They can be purchased by clicking here or by calling 1-800-ETIX. Doors open at 8 p.m.
What: A schizophrenic improvisational band whose sum is a result of its six members' individual influences
Where: Canopy Club in Champaign
When: April 12. Doors at 8 p.m.
Price: Tickets are $6 in advance, $8 at the door
This Thursday, the Canopy Club in Champaign will once again usher in Groovatron, an improvisational rock band from Indiana.
The last time The Daily Eastern News talked to the band was over two years ago when the band played even closer to home at the Uptowner. Since then, the band has continued to play at local clubs and has remained very active in the festival circuit.
This year will mark the band's fifth appearance at Summer Camp, as well as another appearance at Wakarusa. At last year's festival, the band received the honor of being deemed the "Best Breakthrough Performance" by Jambase.com.
The band has also jammed with the likes of the String Cheese Incident, Umphrey's McGee, and moe., the latter of the three being one of guitarist Nick Ferrer's fondest memories.
"I couldn't talk to them," Ferrer said. "I was too star-struck."
But maybe the most impressive accolade of the last two years showed the devotion of one particular fan who felt that midway through a Groovatron jam was the perfect place to propose to his wife.
Some people propose in the mountains of Colorado or on the beaches of Florida, Ferrer said. This guy did it at a Groovatron show.
Ferrer was reluctant to declare the band has blown up and instead described the increase as "slowly, but surely." And while the band makes plenty of appearances locally, the same cannot be said nationally.
About five years ago the band toured relentlessly; almost 250 days a year, nationwide. Since then, the band has focused most of their efforts on the Midwest not only because of travel expenses, but to create better shows in front of bigger audiences, saxophonist Tony McCullough said.
"If we play 12 dates in California and don't come back for two years, nobody is going to remember us," Ferrer said.
A product with many components
Groovatron's style is a bit difficult to describe because, as Ferrer says, they "don't stick with one idea for too long."
"Why eat just chocolate ice cream for the rest of your life when you can try spumoni?" McCullough asked.
This led their manager to describe them as "schizophrenic rock," an attribute that stuck and usually draws comparisons to shock rockers like Frank Zappa or Ween.
McCullough said as a whole, the band has incorporated more electronica and jazz elements while still relying heavily on the funk. But they still "touch on everything," from rock and country to jazz and big band, they said.
This is largely due to their six members who each bring something independent to the table, and as a whole, listen to pretty much everything.
"Star Biscuit," for example, is a trance song with country interludes.
Or "Allegiance," a jazzy, almost soulful tune with a metal climax and chorus.
Or "MacGyver," with bassist Tony Qualls slapping over the chanting of an "ahhh" until the band speeds up like a late-80s punk band.
"If one person has an idea, they can run with it," Ferrer said. "But there are five other ideas as well."
Which means you may not always be in the spotlight.
"Sometimes you just need to stop playing and let somebody else go off, let somebody else breathe," McCullough said.
But selflessness doesn't mean that a compromise will come easy.
"It takes forever to write a song," Ferrer said
"Outcome SOS," for instance, took ten months to record with the band practicing every day Monday through Thursday for three to four hours.
Tension is not uncommon in the studio, but Ferrer is confident that the product they put out is their best.
"We're not friends, we're brothers," he said.
Visual appeal
The band has also focused on creating a visual presence to add to their zany musical style. At Wakarusa, the band was dressed up in women's clothing and, at a variety of shows last year the band dressed up in Hawaiian clothing and threw out beach balls to the audience. In fact, Groovatron's picture on the Canopy Club Web site is of them playing a real-life version of whack-a-mole termed "whack-a-man."
Ferrer said their visual presence is an attempt to make an experience for the crowd, comparing them to a toned-down version of The Flaming Lips.
The jam world
On top of their festival appearances, the band improvises, putting them in the very lofty genre of the "jam band."
Ferrer admits it has its negative connotations and many think its all about playing 20-something minute songs with no vocals.
While there is nothing wrong with "getting lost in a jam," it has to be going somewhere, have some sort of vision, McCullough said.
You can't just noodle the same thing for five songs, he said.
Being a part of the jam world does have its advantages as well; it is more of a community, Ferrer explains. Bands are more willing to help each other out and are not in constant competition.
And the band enjoys playing at festivals because they are in front of people that may not check them out otherwise…and they get free beer, McCullough said.
In short, it is a "double-edged sword," Ferrer said.
New album
Groovatron's multiple personalities add up to an unusual combination, particularly lyrically.
Songs like "Pie Flap" are just as off-the-wall as the title while "Satan Drinks Cheap Liquor," which features rants from its members on the origins of April Fool's Day.
So fans may be surprised to find out Groovatron's new album is going to be all instrumental.
McCullough said it's just their way of throwing the audience another curveball, but it won't be too far of a stretch for the band with many of the tracks ADD-ridden, like their current material.
And some of the album is current material, with a few of the tracks already in the band's repertoire including "Star Biscuits" and "17x's." Of the estimated eight tracks on the album, McCullough said about three of them will be recognizable by fans.
As a whole, Ferrer described the album as "spacious," with a certain airiness to it.
"It's like being in a huge sports arena with nobody there," Ferrer said, explaining that there is a lot going on but it doesn't sound congested.
The band is closing up on the recording of the album which was recorded at a friend's studio virtually for free.
Both McCullough and Ferrer said they are hoping to release the album by May though a definite release date has not been established.
The album is yet to be titled.
The band also has plans on releasing an album that is more song-based, an album that will have more "first verse, chorus, bridge" songs, McCullough said.
He added that the album will be less schizophrenic and a few of the songs will be based on serious topics, one of which is about McCullough's cousin who went crazy. He, however, denied that this is a new direction the band is taking.
"We're still a bunch of assholes," he said.
Tickets for Thursday's show are $6 in advance and $8 at the door. They can be purchased by clicking here or by calling 1-800-ETIX. Doors open at 8 p.m.
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