Featured Artists Archive
Breakin Benjamin - Article by "AJ"
 “Rain, rain go away come again another day…..” no it’s not the nursery rhyme. It’s a song from Breaking Benjamin titled Rain. It is catchy in an unusual way that will definitely get you singing along with it.
This band from Pennsylvania, US has been in the mainstream rock scene from late 2000. Its four-man line up includes the vocalist/guitarist Ben Burnley, guitarist Aaron Fink, bassist Mark James Klepaski and drummer Chad Szeliga (who replaced their former drummer Jeremy Hummel). The band has already released three albums. All of which have stayed on the billboard charts for weeks. Their latest album Phobia debuted at the number 2 spot on the Billboard chart and is still on the charts.
Having been influenced by bands like Live, Bush, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, Korn and Tool, their style is post-grunge that is provocative and forceful. Yet there is a lingering melody in most of their songs. They have a lot in common with Creed, Third Eye Blind, Default, Cinema8 and other post-grunge bands with the exception that they tend to be a bit intense. Most of their songs have erratic pedal effects, tempering rhythms and squelched power chords.
Breaking Benjamin released their first album Saturate in August 2002. In 2004, We Are Not Alone won praises with songs like Rain and Sooner or Later. Their latest album Phobia was released in August 2006. The song The Diary of Jane debuted at 2 on the charts. The other song to look out for is So Cold. In the words of Burnley, “…listen closely and you will hear the song move up a half step every verse and chorus. As a vocalist, that’s really challenging because it forces me to sing in a different key every time. It’s definitely unusual ...”
The band has also been busy touring with Evanescence, Evans Blue, Dropping Daylight, 3Door Down, Godsmack, Saliva and others since 2002. Their producer is Ulrich Wild, a producer/engineer who has worked with Powerman 5000, Stabbing Westward, White Zombie, Static-X, Pantera, Slipknot, and quite a few others. Their songs have been included as soundtracks in movies like Hellboy, American Pie Present Band Camp, and Wrong Turn; in TV series like Smallville and in the video game, Halo 2. If you are into alternative-metal you are in for a treat! Be sure to check BB!
Trivia: The name Breaking Benjamin comes from the lead vocalist Benjamin Burnley’s early solo experience. Burnley was covering a Nirvana song during the opening night at a club when he dropped the microphone to the ground, breaking it. The person who owned the mic came onstage and said, “Thanks to Benjamin for breaking my fuckin’ mic”
Eric Clapton and J.J. Cale
 Okay, Eric Clapton needs no introduction, but Cale and Clapton is a completely different entity.. or is it? This joint effort is like a coming together of long lost twins.. Their new album The Road to Escondido features mostly a Cale vibe with the Clapton licks, laid-back bluesy rock... one sweet deal. Full album review will be featured shortly.
KT Tunstall
 KT who?.. is probably your first reaction. ..yes that's what I thought when I heard the name. But this thirty year old Scottish singer song-writer is making noises all over the US after making friends and influencing music lovers in the UK.
Her new album "Eye to the Telescope" is rocking, folksy, country, bluesy, introspective all at the same time. You can hear traces of Dido, Jewel but the sound is definitely her own.
The album is fueled by the successful single "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree".. an absolute gem of a song that will haunt your brain from the time you hear the first few bars.guaranteed..It talks about a lost love, but with so much attitude... accompanied by pounding drums and a simple, but resounding acoustic guitar rhythm..and little else. For those who want more, there's more goodies on the album. Check out the samples.. Roling Stone Linkwith videos
Exodus
Exodus could be called "The most experienced band in Cochin, and they're probably the best. The band has a talented line-up featuring four great vocalists, of course, some with other duties as well:). After about 15 years of wowing fans in Cochin and elsewhere, the band is about to release their solo album. Check out their website at www.exodustheband.com. We also are featuring a review and gallery of their recent performance in Calicut, in our Event Spotlight Section. More Exodus features on Making Waves.. check out Exodus Feature Page
George "Kool" Peter
My first George Peter experience was at Talentime .. Cochin Univesity’s talent competition.. in 93.. or maybe 94, when I was one of the “judges” for the rock competition. Well it was Kerala in the 90’s, a time when most bands that played in the competition were true amateurs.
But this one had two talented bands, which is more than one can ask for. One was an over-the-top act known as “Dreadlocks” who were loud and wild, playing such covers as “Enter Sandman” by Metallica to great effect. The other band was more low-key.. but definitely smooth. I was very much impressed by the guy who did double duty on the vocals and base, his hair under control in a neat little pony tail.
The bass playing was what caught the eye, the way he effortlessly used the “slap” technique, still kind of a novelty in the area. I gave them highest grade and was expecting them to easily win.. However to my dismay, it was Dreadlocks that carried the day. Little did I know that the young bass player would make great strides since then, going on to be the lead vocals for 13 AD, one of the greatest rock bands India has ever produced and also chart successes in movies, lyric writing and composing. Well, the only thing I can say to the other Talentime judges that voted for Dreadlocks.. “I Told You So !!”:)
Feature by Moody Blue
More George Peter coverage on MW.. George Peter concert in Calicut
George Peter Concert at GCC Bangalore |
