by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
As far as the musicians in Blistur are concerned, they are an original band that doesn’t mind playing cover material mixed in with their own music. A gig is a gig, and this trio of experienced players has plans of recording their new album, Greatest Hits Vol II in Atlanta with the producer of the Goo Goo Dolls, Sevendust, and the Beastie Boys. Meanwhile, the lads keep busy playing gigs with cover and originals mixed into their repertoire.
The band was formed in November of 2005 by veteran players Chris Killam on guitar and lead vocals, Neal Gupton on drums and vocals, and Bart Hammond on bass and vocals. To local music biz insiders, these musicians are well known for their past projects. But, for Chris Killam this is his dream band that speaks with one voice–Blistur– a kick butt modern rock band that can groove in any style or genre.
For me, going to the Sun Dog is always a pleasure. It’s a hip live music venue that serves great food and specializes fast bar service. Since Blistur was a new name to me, I visited the Sun Dog last Thursday night to checkout this band. I wasn’t disappointed. These guys rock, whether their playing selected covers or their hooky originals. Call it the rock firm of Gupton, Kellam, and Hammond-- a noble endeavor, delivering tightly played infectious grooves to any audience.
Being a trio, the players have to play at the peak of their abilities to make it work. That’s why I like trios–it showcases the band members musicianship and the music is stripped down to its lowest common denominator. And, the lads of Blistur live up to that promise by delivering well balanced kicking rock with their own trademark sound and style. This is a major accomplishment in today’s world of copy cat bands that are not experienced enough musicians to develop their own sound.
Individually, each member of Blister has a long musical history. Chris Killam joined his father’s band at age 12. He attended Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. At 13, Chris met bassist & singer Bart Hammond and the two began writing songs and playing in school rock bands. Since then, Killam and Hammond have been in dozens of bands and played in a variety of different situations, which led them to this major project, Blistur.
Neal Upton has played drums his entire life-- from a wee lad to playing in many different genres and various bands from combos to large ensembles. Neal’s influences are diverse, from Buddy Rich to Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland, John Bonham, and Dave Wecki and many more. But during his long tenure as a professional drummer, Neal has developed his own style in the groove driven tradition.
Bassist and vocalist, Bart Hammond has been playing bass, writing songs, and singing lead since he was 11 years old, joining forces with Chris Killam all through middle and high school, then on to other important projects. All three of these musicians never wanted to do anything else but play music, and they have been lucky to make their living playing gigs. It’s a testament to their dedication that the three members of Blister concentrate on improving their sound and moving up into a higher plane of musical consciousness.
The band’s originals are intelligently conceived catchy ditties that fit in with their cover repertoire, that is, their original songs are written as hit rock songs waiting to happen, and sound like they are already hits. That’s why the group’s originals sound like covers. Yet, their originals are stamped with the band’s original sound in a subtle way that distinguishes them from the covers. With Blistur, what you see is what you get--no frills taut modern rock played with hot chops and enthusiasm. These guys love what they do and it shows. They create a fun atmosphere that makes people happy to be at their gig.
In regard to the debate over cover versus original material, if the band has hot originals that sound like hits and don’t mind playing covers, then it’s an acceptable compromise to mix originals and cover material. It broadens the band’s booking horizons. So many bands play all original music that does not meet the standard of hit cover songs. Then these substandard songwriters are just kidding themselves into thinking that people like their originals, when, in fact, they tune the band out.
My point is: If a bands’ original material is up to the standards of popular hit music, then they can mix them in with their covers and eventually play more originals than covers. But playing out with 100% sub-par originals just to say your band plays all originals is a one way ticket to oblivion.
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