Closer To The Real

***** About: CLOSER TO THE REAL BAND BIO: Former member of "PAIN FACTOR", Randy Markham, and member of "MAD AT SAM", Larry Hatchett and Jasson Burt have joined together to create "CLOSER TO THE REAL". A crushing new attack of sound out of Oakland CA. hitting the Bay Area scene. * Sounds Like: Aggressive Alternative Hard Rock * Record Label: Unsigned BAND MEMBERS: * RANDY MARKHAM - Lead Vocals, Guitar * LARRY HATCHETT - Lead Vocals, Guitar * HANK ALVA - Bass, Vocals * JASSON BURT - Drums INFLUENCES: Foo Fighters, Stone Temple Pilots, Kid Rock, Black Sabbath, Orgy, Led Zeppelin, David Lee Roth, Our first CD Review at Earbuzz.com which is selling our music. Go there and buy our stuff over the net at: http: www.earbuzz.com/closertothereal A metallic bronze bass string pumps the first few moments of "Closer to the Real"'s self titled 6-track record in "She's a Little Different" and we were sucked in. Guitars are upfront and full of presence and chugging beauty - played in unison and panned left and right. Dissonant chord progressions half step their way to a blend between dark metal, punk, and Scorps-ish Zoo movements in the opening track, "Shes a Little Different". The entire recording, done in Apple's GarageBand program, is a testament to the tools of the day and the end result is an album that has the passion of metal with the alternative attitude of Nirvana. Vocals are hypnotically mixed back a bit - and the equalization is absent of high end which adds a darkness to the music. Track 3, "Cousin Jed", starts out with a distorted harmonica, and moves into the strongest rock groover on the record. The story goes 'let me tell you 'bout my cousin Jed, at a young age he was dropped on his head, it's all good when the family gets together. .Jed loves his truck. .he's the Marlboro Man, with a big brim cap and his Coors in his hand, that's my cousin Jed'. Closer to the Real blends a hiphop delivery with pure metal that is a refreshing blend that takes us back to the walk this way days. Nice. In track 4, "Snap Shots", the band moves as one in musical passages that are tight and inventive. The tune pays respect to the snap shots we take in our heads won't forget. The final track, "Let it End", opens with a cymbal, that metallic bronze bass line perfection, and moaning meandering swelling guitars. The substantial metal groove of the guitars is compelling as the left/right tightness of their recording occasionally departs independently of the other into harmonies and spaces. The tune is about the end of a dead relationship - but we were hardly requesting the same of the sixth track on the CD as it is one of the more haunting and interesting tracks on the record. We look forward to more.

Former member of "PAIN FACTOR", Randy Markham, and member of "MAD AT SAM", Larry Hatchett and Jasson Burt have joined together to create "CLOSER TO THE REAL". A crushing new attack of sound out of Oakland CA. hitting the Bay Area scene.

Yes, we do play live, all over the Bay Area and beyond. We absolutely enjoy every experience performing at all are shows. Ask anyone that has seen us play live and they will tell you. Some of the venues in the Bay Area that we frequently perform at are: TIME OUT, Concord; TOOT'S TAVERN, Crockett; ROOSTERS ROADHOUSE, Alameda; BOURBON STREET, Concord; & OAKLAND METRO, Oakland.

We are 4 musicians that groove together to create a new style of music that everybody will ROCK too. We have played plenty of shows to a lot of people and each will tell you that they remembered the show that they saw. We have added Jasson Burt to the line up and have a great groove with the new back bone of the group. See you all soon at the venues with our KICK ASS music that will make the HOT chicks booty move.