Bands A Plenty the Adventures of PT Walkley by Lea Geronimo

I am very skeptical these days regarding today''s music. As a person who has enjoyed, sold, written about and managed music, I find that there are too many bands out there that lack a special sound that separates them from all the rest. I keep waiting for the next great movement in music, specifically in rock. As for the song writing, many songwriters are pigeon- holed into the typical acoustic sound that does not allow for a band to get together and really represent. But, my appetite has finally been satiated with the music of a wonderfully talented local musician by the name of P.T. Walkley. P.T is the perfect example of today''s great musician, the ultimate multi-tasker whose credits include commercials jingles, several songs on the The Groomsmen soundtrack, which stars and is directed by Edward Burns. As a matter of a fact, he recently became the composer for several scores for Edward Burns'' current films. As if he wasn''t busy enough, he is also the lead singer and guitarist for two bands, The Blue Jackets and Track Rabbit.

If you are on the search for the next great band, your quest is finally
coming to an end. I am a very big fan of Walkley''s bands, both hailing from
Long Island NY. I recently caught a performance of The Blue Jackets at
Crash Mansion on Manhattan''s Lower East side. When I walked through
the door, I realized I had been here before. Usually this space is a club with
the typical DJ set-up, beautiful people. I wondered how it would handle this
very different crowd. Well, I looked around and saw the beautiful people
and this time I noticed the intimate stage. And there they were. Let me tell
you, these guys rocked and proved "Who needs a DJ!" Not only was this
true, but this is also one of the songs they played that night, from their
album called "Shadows of the City". Ironically, when I heard this song it
made me go beyond head-bopping and I danced, during the whole
performance. It was so refreshing to see a band that has so many songs
with hooks and believe me, once you checked them out, you''ll think that
you have heard them before. Their song "Four Cheers" is just one of those
songs. When I heard it for the first time, I thought I was listening to a song
that was on the radio for at least a few years. It''s catchy and fun and
makes you think about a man who recognizes how much the love of his
sweetie means without any of that mushy stuff. Not that there is anything
wrong with mushy, but sometimes love is rock and roll. The thing that
makes this band so very special
is that they aren''t just a rock band. They aren''t a typical punk band either.
Instead, they have that high-speed smack of a punk band from the Lower
East Side mixed in with a hard rock edge like in their song, "Way Back
Home." When I hear them play, and I have gone to see them more than
once, I can''t help but sing and dance to their groove. The Blue Jackets not
only have a welcoming sound driven by powerful guitar and heart-
pounding drums, it also has P.T. Walkley. Not only he is the mastermind
behind the music and lyrics; his voice is the perfect lead for this band.
Which brings me to my next favorite new band, PT Walkley and the
Adventures of Track Rabbit. I was able to catch them a couple of months
back at Lit in the East Village. Lit is a bar that has a space downstairs
reminiscent of what the Batcave would look like if it had no special
gadgets but instead was set up to be a den of dance. That night the
batcave had everything it needed to get the crowd to rock out. Songs like
"Overwhelming", really allowed Walkley to show us how his voice and
guitar playing is going to get him and his band(s) to the big time. This song
reminds me of the many young men and women who have decided to sign
away their names and lives to fight for war. This self-titled album has a
sound that reminds me of the Beatles with an additional layer hard-hitting
edge. "Movies" gives a sample of tasty guitar tidbits throughout and then
takes you into the psychedelic mood similar to the fabulous four. Track
Rabbit songs have a multitude of layers that entice the listener to want
more. In the song, "Up the Walls" there is an incredible mood enhancing
capability that energizes you as you listen. It is the perfect opening song
on their
upcoming self-titled album.
The next time you are reading your favorite source for live music and are
trying to see what you are going to check out this week, please go see
these bands. I haven''t had this much fun listening to a new band in a long
time. Soon, both of their albums will be available and you''ll also be able to
download songs from both Track Rabbit and Blue Jacket on iTunes. If you
happened to be at the Dublin Film Festival this past week, you probably
caught The Blue Jackets in their international debut. And if you are in the
NYC, don''t forget to catch them at the Artistilove.com launch party on
March 19, 2007 at the Bowery Poetry Club.
P.T. Walkley is a name you should remember, everything he has his hands
on is a natural success. I hope you take my advice and look out for these
future legends of rock!

Lea Geronimo is a staff writer for The Blue Review Magazine