Lowertown Trio
Sunday, 12. February 2006, 23:57:22
A while back I came across a band on MySpace called The Lowertown Trio. I was looking for local bands, and you can't get much more local than Lowertown. Lowertown is the section of Lockport along the Erie Canal that when I was growing up was considered like a low-rent district. Today, it's a historical area, and pretty upscale for the most part. At least as upscale as Lockport gets 
But I was intrigued by the band's music. They had a total of three tracks to sample online, but they were great. They are a Rockabilly/Punk cross - Psychobilly. Don't be put off by the idea, I've heard a few bands of this style and they are always a great time, high energy and entertaining. Classic Rock 'N Roll and Rockabilly on steroids with a fast beat.
So I jumped at the chance to go to one of their local shows and meet them. I was under the impression that they were a young, local garage band type group just getting started. I couldn't have been more wrong.
Yes, they were fairly young, but not without experience. I found out that the drummer, Chris Van Cleve, had played with The Quakes, a band of some success, having been around since the 80's and touring both Europe and Japan from time to time. The history of that band on their website is quite a good read and really gives an insight into the changes a band goes through over the years. It's not all glamor and riches for the average band. In fact, they tell of having to sell their equipment for plane fare back home and getting deported over work permits.
So, The Lowertown Trio is not new to the music scene. Two brothers, Chris and Jason VanCleve along with bass player Ryan Hurley, form the band.
I went to their show on February 11 at the Niagara Hotel in Lockport. I couldn't go wrong, it's within walking distance from my home. It has a bad reputation as a bar, but I've been there before and had no problems. It's an old building, the first floor of an old hotel that might still be used as apartment rentals, but not someplace most people would want to live in. But the bar is okay. It's got a dark, rough-hewn wood decor decorated with old - some collectable - signs. It's roomy. A game room with two pool tables and dart games is found after going through a long roomy bar. In the back of the game room, in what I'm told was once a bowling alley, is the stage where bands play.
But they played to a decent sized crowd, maybe twenty-five people or so. And they were good. A lot of covers, often songs you wouldn't expect covered in their style. They had a few original songs as well, a couple I recognized from their web page, others that I didn't. They show a lot of promise and I hope they keep writing more. Their song, "Internet Junkie" one of the ones on their MySpace page, is really catchy and I get a kick out of anyone singing about something like that!
They are playing with another similar band, The Blue Rocket Trio at the Mohawk Place soon. It sounds like a great show, so check them out. I'm not sure I can make it that night, but the Lowertown Trio has more dates coming up in Lockport at Big Ugly's coming up as well. Check their web page or my calendar for dates.
But I was intrigued by the band's music. They had a total of three tracks to sample online, but they were great. They are a Rockabilly/Punk cross - Psychobilly. Don't be put off by the idea, I've heard a few bands of this style and they are always a great time, high energy and entertaining. Classic Rock 'N Roll and Rockabilly on steroids with a fast beat.
So I jumped at the chance to go to one of their local shows and meet them. I was under the impression that they were a young, local garage band type group just getting started. I couldn't have been more wrong.
Yes, they were fairly young, but not without experience. I found out that the drummer, Chris Van Cleve, had played with The Quakes, a band of some success, having been around since the 80's and touring both Europe and Japan from time to time. The history of that band on their website is quite a good read and really gives an insight into the changes a band goes through over the years. It's not all glamor and riches for the average band. In fact, they tell of having to sell their equipment for plane fare back home and getting deported over work permits.
So, The Lowertown Trio is not new to the music scene. Two brothers, Chris and Jason VanCleve along with bass player Ryan Hurley, form the band.
I went to their show on February 11 at the Niagara Hotel in Lockport. I couldn't go wrong, it's within walking distance from my home. It has a bad reputation as a bar, but I've been there before and had no problems. It's an old building, the first floor of an old hotel that might still be used as apartment rentals, but not someplace most people would want to live in. But the bar is okay. It's got a dark, rough-hewn wood decor decorated with old - some collectable - signs. It's roomy. A game room with two pool tables and dart games is found after going through a long roomy bar. In the back of the game room, in what I'm told was once a bowling alley, is the stage where bands play.
But they played to a decent sized crowd, maybe twenty-five people or so. And they were good. A lot of covers, often songs you wouldn't expect covered in their style. They had a few original songs as well, a couple I recognized from their web page, others that I didn't. They show a lot of promise and I hope they keep writing more. Their song, "Internet Junkie" one of the ones on their MySpace page, is really catchy and I get a kick out of anyone singing about something like that!
They are playing with another similar band, The Blue Rocket Trio at the Mohawk Place soon. It sounds like a great show, so check them out. I'm not sure I can make it that night, but the Lowertown Trio has more dates coming up in Lockport at Big Ugly's coming up as well. Check their web page or my calendar for dates.
WIDGETIZE