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Perpetual Groove At Legends April 5th

3•29•2007

Perpetual Groove At Legends April 5th Athens Group Releases LIVELOVEDIE Perpetual Groove, a Georgia-based band that has evolved from trance-rock to arena-rock, will perform at Legends in Boone on Thursday, April 5th. By Jeff Eason Folks who have listened to the spacey jam-rock band Perpetual Groove for the past few years may be surprised to learn that they have become a rock band. The quartet has jettisoned much of its laid-back attitude for its latest album, LIVELOVEDIE. Perpetual Groove will perform at the Legends Music Hall on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone on Thursday, April 5th. Door open at 9 p.m. LIVELOVEDIE marks a departure for the band, as does its new touring philosophy that keeps it closer to its home in the Southeast. The band started over four years ago in Savannah but has recently moved to Athens, Georgia to be part of that college town’s burgeoning live music scene. “We’ve taken a break from the really long hauls,” said Perpetual Groove keyboardist Matt McDonald. “We’re usually touring about four days at a time now, mostly through the Southeast, based out of our home in Athens (Georgia).” With a heavier sound than previous P-Groove albums, LIVELOVEDIE eschews spacey electronics in favor of crunchy guitars and lots of big beats. The new album will force the band’s fans to find a new label for what was once described as a “trance-rock” group. “I think it is our best album so far,” said McDonald. “It certainly has been received well by our audiences. It’s a little more rock and roll, a little edgier, than the previous albums.” McDonald noted that the album contains no musical guests outside the Perpetual Groove quartet but that the fact that it was recorded in the laid back atmosphere of Tree Sound Studio in Atlanta shaped the recording process. “This was the first time that we had the opportunity to write songs in the studio,” said McDonald. “I think that immediacy comes through in the album.” “We are really excited to bring these new songs to our fans,” added Brock Butler, singer and guitarist for the band. “We’re the same band you have come to know and love, but like any good artist, we change. Where we are in our lives changes, so what we write about changes. Our songwriting has improved leaps and bounds since our last record.” The new album features a cosmic blend of jazz-rock, new-psychedelia and progressive rock. Like another Bonnaroo Festival band, Umphrey’s McGee, Perpetual Groove just keeps getting better with age. McDonald added that the band has put aside its usual heavy touring schedule this year in order to concentrate on returning to the recording studio. The band plans to record through the early part of the summer and release a new disc in July. “The material is already there,” said McDonald. “We just have to focus on how we want to record it and present it.” Tickets & Times Advance student tickets for Perpetual Groove’s show at Legends are $8 and are available at the student information desk in the Plemmons Student Union. Guest and at-the-door tickets are $12. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the music starts around 10 p.m. This show is a BYOB show for guests 21 and older with proper ID. That means attendees 21 and older can bring up to a six-pack of their favorite beer or wine into the venue. For more information, call the ASU Department of Student Programs at (828) 262-3032

Original Article: http://www.mountaintimes.com/mtweekly/2007/0329/perpetual_groove.php3

Live music still lives in Greenville

3•29•2007

P Groove to perform at Pantana Bob's Live music still lives in Greenville Liz Fulton, Senior Writer As one of the last beacons of pure musical talent to perform in Greenville, Perpetual Groove will take the stage at Pantana Bob's tonight. P Groove is a jam band, but unlike many of their contemporaries, words and meaning is infused within their extensive yet highly enjoyable jams. Fans describe their music as "trance arena rock" due to their experimentations in live 5.1-concert surround sound, an intense retina blinding light show and a willingness to keep the connection strong between band and fans. Founded in Savannah, Ga., within the creative walls of the Savannah College of Art and Design, bassist Adam Perry and guitarist Brock Butler met during their freshmen orientation. Throughout their tenure at SCAD, the two formed Perpetual Groove with two other schoolmates who departed the band shortly after graduation. Since 2001 when drummer Albert Suttle and keys player Matt McDonald joined the gang, P Groove transitioned from a local act enjoying the venues Georgia has to offer into a powerhouse touring machine playing at least 150 shows a year. Their third studio album, LiveLoveDie was released three weeks ago co-produced by the band and Robert Hannon (Outkast - Speakerboxx/The Love Below). LiveLoveDie is more grown up than their past releases, with members of the band bringing something directly to its conception. Many of the songs were written while in the studio resulting in a collective contribution of four very talented and individual musicians. In a recent interview published on JamBands.com, Butler expressed Perpetual Groove's emotional ties to their music. "A lot of our songs, especially the ones with lyrics, start off as more of a singer-songwriter approach. Even the stuff that doesn't have lyrics, we may use electronic effects, but there is still that human element." First-time visitors and hard-core followers will not be disappointed with their live show this Thursday. Besides playing a vast array of songs from their music library, the band has also begun to cover more regularly the high-energy recordings of Wu-Tang Clan and Rage Against the Machine. "That is something for the kids," said Butler. "It's a way to let people know everything isn't so serious." All kidding aside, Perpetual Groove is a band that honestly believes in the power of music and its ability to connect with everyone and everything. "The first time I saw them at Red Rooster, they just played and played with no breaks in between songs. It seemed like they were having the best time," said junior communication major Sami Allen. "I have never felt such energy between a band and the crowd during a show." With the release of LiveLoveDie, Perpetual Groove took many painstaking steps to ensure that there was zero negative impact on the environment from its production to its packaging. In association with Tree Sound Studios, Sustainable Waves and Green Mountain Energy Company, the album was the first ever to be produced with zero net carbon emissions. All of the packaging was 100 percent recyclable and renewable energy credits were used throughout the recording. Stop by PB's this Thursday for an evening full of good vibes and meaningful music. The show starts at 10 p.m. with tickets $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Come see why High Times magazine called them a highlight of the Langerado Music Festival. This writer can be contacted at .

Original Article: http://media.www.theeastcarolinian.com/media/storage/paper915/news/2007/03/29/Pulse/P.Groove.To.Perform.At.Pantana.Bobs-2810576.shtml