There is something to be said about a band that works as hard as The Traditional. Since bursting into the emo/indie/punk world last Halloween, the band has been furiously writing and releasing songs, and most importantly, touring... and I'm not just talking a four-day long weekend through the Northeastern US. This month they are taking off on a full US tour with Split-mates Of Fortune and Fame. The Traditional aren't chasing a half-realized dream, they're working hard towards what they want. It's only a matter of time before they make it happen.
It could be a result of hard work, but my guess is the Traditional owes a lot of their success to frontman Anthony Musior's delivery. There's something magnetic about the way Musior carries himself; I'm never sure if he's just trying to escape from some old life-in-the-suburbs image, or if he's sincerely a straight-shooting, battle-toughened, pissed-off, heartbroken man. Whatever the reason, The Traditional's songs continue to get heavier, sadder, and more poignant with time. If there is one thing that always holds true with these guys, it's that every song is a no-frills, straightforward attack. They write rock songs - each part has a deliberate purpose, whether it be a well-placed solo or just a simple progression of power chords. If we're being realistic, Musior & co. have much more in common with Brand New than Guns n' Roses, but there is something intangibly "blue collar" about their music, and they sure aren't padding their songs with layer upon layer of ambience and faux-noise pretentiousness. Beyond any metaphors Musior might use, there's never any hidden meaning, they're just saying what has to be said.
Along with Pentimento, I Can See Mountains, and the rest of the GCR crew, The Traditional have become a vital part of Buffalo's emo/indie/punk "brat pack." Once again, engineer Jay Zubricky is at the helm, and the results are exactly what you'd expect. Album opener "The Perks of Being Alive" bristles with impossible guitar licks and harmonized squealies from lead guitarist Mike Bienias. Maybe I've been listening to the wrong bands, but it's rare to hear a contemporary rock band rip a sick guitar solo like that. This is a great song in itself - but again, the thing that really defines The Traditional is Musior's personalized delivery. It's what separates The Traditional from their peers - his voice has a very particular drawl that doesn't always sound as tough as the lyrics he's singing, but I never hesitate to believe in what he has to say. Musior is The Traditional's anchor - without him, the songs might almost be too straightforward.
"You and Your Friends vs. Me and the Shittys (You've Got A Lot of Nerve)" is what I'd consider a prototypical Traditional jam. People always talk about "swagger" when it comes to rock music; The Traditional seem to have taken that literally. This song swings back and forth underneath Musior's angry poetry, buffered by even angrier backup vocals. I've never been in a fist fight, but this might as well be the soundtrack (and I'd never personally mess with a group of people that call themselves "The Shittys" anyways)... Musior's screams never fall flat, even all the way to the climax where the band breaks down into a powerful, sludgy riff. Even without any words to set the scene, the anger here is palpable - drummer Jon Coric must have thrashed that drum kit as he was recording. The coup de grace here is that disgusting (but subtle) bass distortion. Well done.
Syracuse's Of Fortune and Fame close out the EP, starting out with the infectious "You Blew It!" This song is definitely the most upbeat offer on the split, and it contrasts nicely with the more straightforward rock of The Traditonal. OFAF trades in dark emo for sharply written, technical pop punk - think New Found Glory or Four Year Strong. One thing I like about the latter half of the split is how truly in-sync this band is with each other. The songs as a whole are great, but to be specific, the transitions in their half of the CD are incredibly dynamic and creative. Of Fortune and Fame isn't just painting by numbers here.
I have to say it again - for coming from genres that normally eschew the use of solos, the guitar work on this CD is stellar. "No, You Didn't" has one of my favorite moments on this CD - an incredible harmonized guitar solo... And for that matter, I absolutely have to mention the key change in this song. OFAF exist in a genre that doesn't necessarily require great musicians - but everything here is just so incredibly on point. Even the vocals and their backups are harmonized so well. The fact that Of Fortune and Fame are so technically proficient goes a long way towards their accessibility, especially beyond the comforts of their own genre.
You can catch both of these bands (and Cedar Kites) at The Traditional's Beer Blast on October 26th. As you can imagine, it's going to be an insanely good time (you might even run into some of The Shittys). All proceeds from the show go towards getting these guys across the US and back.
Proud of you for following your dream - great music!