Tampa Calling

Like Joe Hawley (of Tally Hall), I’m also fond of the classic yet progressive rock ‘n’ roll band, The Parlor Mob (Pictured).

Their album And You Were A Crow was released March ‘08, the band’s first under the moniker “The Parlor Mob.” This New Jersey five-piece may share a record label with Nickleback (Roadrunner Records), but please don’t hold that against them. They are not creating song after hokey song that all sound the same. They are genuinely expressing themselves and enjoying every minute. Guitarist Dave Rosen explains their performance style quite well:

“At no point are we going through the motions. We don’t concentrate on making things sound like the record. It’s free-form for us. We consider ourselves a live band. People are going to get all of our energy.”

Distinguishable energy is boldly felt throughout the crowd at their live show. Bassist Nick Villapiano’s constant wide grin is contagious. Shoulder length or longer hair flings around the stage as guitarist Paul Richie and vocalist Mark Melicia bang their heads in time. The spectacle encourages your own noggin to do the same. When I looked around at the 8,000 or so observers at Lollapalooza, it was clear everyone in attendance was on the same happy page. My blissful feeling may have been heightened due to my achievement of aging another year. The unblemished vibes on stage must have been raised because it was Dave’s birthday, too.

Here’s a video of some footage I found on Youtube to help you understand. Aly and I must have only been standing a few feet behind this person because it is exactly how I remember it.

The Merry Andrews got drummer Sam Bey on the phone for an interview on Episode 22 (listen here). We talked about their experience at the festival and how their name means business. They are indeed a mob and are to be taken seriously. Sam is lucky to have this job because he says he is not very good at anything else and does not want to be a stripper. He clarifies the band is influenced by all good music and a lot of that happens to come from the 60’s/70’s eras.

New music is highly present in their lives as well, specifically the likes of Nicole Atkins and The Gay Blades, among many other talented musicians. They are apart of an artist community called The Good Crust in which they all support and collaborate with each other.

Within the slew of scantily clad drunks (not many attractive ones), beads and boob flashing at Tampa’s Guavaween this past October, I met with The Parlor Mob. They opened for Puddle of Mud. I missed the young men’s set this time but drank warm-ish Natural Ice (or some similarly cheap domestic beer) with them and tried to block out the god-awful noise coming from the main stage we were sitting behind. I met the infamous Frank, an old friend of the band that inspired their first name, What About Frank?. He is now a school teacher, lives in our neighborhood and is a skilled joke teller.

New World Brewery is where you can see the band play live February 12. Be sure to come out and wear your hair loose.

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