Peter Lavender: Press

Singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Peter Lavender is a talented guy who goes unnoticed more often than not. All you need to do is hear his music once and you’ll be hooked. It’s intelligent, catchy, original and, above all, danceable. If a Lavender tune can’t get you out on the dance floor, then my friend, you have NO soul!
On his new album, Never Now, Peter Lavender handles 90% of the instrumentation and 100% of the vocals (and there’s plenty of vocal bouncing going on). Layer upon lush layer of instrumentation and vocals thicken this tasty gumbo to perfection. Engineer/musician Bob Nash of Wonka Sound not only mans the mixing board for Never Now but also contributes stalwart drumming and sterling guitar tracks to the proceedings.
Do yourself a favor, if you’ve never heard of Peter Lavender, seek him out. He’ll make a believer out of you.

If you ask us, Peter Lavender should have kept the title of his new CD Rust Dust and Horse Manure (the Anatomy of a Break Up). For shock value alone this mysterious, painful and (we suspect) smelly album would have provoked askance looks.

Instead the Lowell crooner went with the safer Never Now. This dreamy, surf rock ode to the '70s is Lavender's first release in 15 years. Find out the method behind this eclectic, mad mix at Lowell's newest Irish bar Mickey's tomorrow night. Joining the colorful crooner is a cast of local tune men Bob Nash (Melvern Taylor Band), Carl Johnson (Jen Kearney band) and Scott Riccuiti (Huck).

Channeling the smooth sounds of Todd Rundgren and raunchy punch of Badfinger, Lavender should come out smelling like, well lavender.

As he puts it, these are the "happiest sounding sad songs I've written."

You have a winner on your hands Peter. I listened to the CD 3x and all of the songs are great, none of them sound like 'fillers' and all of them are catchy. *****

From the opening Counting Crow-ish styling’s of “When the Truths What You Need” to the final emo pop notes of “Out of Our Hands” Peter Lavender's new album, Never Now, takes the listener on a musical ride down every road of Lavender’s art, ability and influence.

The arrangements and progressions on many of the tracks may sound upbeat but it’s the passionate blue eyed soul of Lavender's vocals and beautiful truth of the lyrics that hold our attention as we listen just a little bit closer the next time.

Those that came before him can clearly be heard on every track, from bands like Bad Finger and the Eagles to the aforementioned Adam Duritz of Counting Crows. But regardless of the obvious, Never Now is certainly an original piece of work. And something worth listening to…………

Singer-songwriter-guitarist Peter Lavender displays a janglin’ Americana feel to the songs on his new album Back to Normal. The opening track “Some Day Soon” is an excellent tune and deserves airplay on FNX, AAF and college stations throughout the region. “Baited” featuring double lead vocals, is also a fine number that highlights Lavender’s superb vocal tracking that’s reminiscent of Neil Young’s extraordinary early work. The Eagles inspired “Get Outta Dodge” shows off Lavender’s great guitar picking as well as his talents for composition and arranging. “Johnny’s Wedding Day” is as American as apple pie and Chevrolets as Lavender recalls the events of the day with remarkable candor and clarity.
Lavender plays all the instruments on this outstanding album with the exception of drummer David Frisiello adding drums to “Some Day Soon” and Bill Colangeli playing keyboards on “Baited”. You may have never heard of Peter Lavender on the local music scene but with an album filled with music this strong, it won’t be long before Lavender becomes a well known figure on the scene. Good stuff!

An amazing mix of musical diversity...Lavender's musical architecture is as pointed as his lyrical content.

PEEETAHHhhh!

because i'm so generously complimented these days for standing next to one of the brightest musical talents in the fair city of lowell, let's have some things perfectly clear: no, i'm not that good, but thanks for the kind words. yes, peter IS that good, and you're just seeing the barest reflections of it.

the songs are his, the arrangements are his, and the inspiration is his--i'm just the lucky guy who gets to stand nearby and let some of that musical brilliance shine, dully, but as brightly as i can manage, through him.

peter lavender.

the first album, back to normal, is the one with "get outta dodge" and, of course, "back to normal". (back to normal, baby. whatever that is). the second album, never now, is the one with "mushroom hill", and such things as you can't hear enough these days because i haven't yet been taught how to play them. (check out "out of our hands" and then see if you resist throwing your peter cetera crap out the window). the rest of the beauty you hear is all from a treasure trove of all that passes between people to which we so rarely give voice, but peter does so effortlessly, called unreliable. no, it's not available in stores. (yet!). it's available, however, in beautiful portions wherever and whenever peter plays out in the great city of lowell (and elsewhere) these days. "baby what you tryin' to do" got the big raves last night, but "how many times" is just as much fun from where i'm standing, and, for sheer crowd pleasing, you can't forget "dwelling on tomorrow". (mostly because you can't forget "dwelling on tomorrow"--it's a pop hit anthem of the very best kind). "just my luck" got cut from the set last night to make room for the AWESOME lineup of wonderful that filled out the rest of the "i want my life back" benefit bill, but consider yourself tipped off to listen for it when next you can, too.

somebody is soon to get a recording device close enough to some of these things to let them go viral. until then, just follow me. peter's playing again at the "will rock for food" benefit concert for new entry sustainable farming and the merrimack valley food bank, (didn't think i'd get the plug in there, did you!), on sunday, august 29th, 2010, downtown at brian's ivy hall. you'll get the hits. the deep cuts. and all the new stuff. i do not steer wrong. (oh! and you'll also get to hear peter with REAL musicians like carl johnson, arte kenyon, and, who knows, maybe bob nash, but that'll be only if he makes it back from new hampshire in time. ;-)

you really gotta be there!