The storm has passed. It’s time to rock and roll.
“All over the world, strangers talk only about the weather.” South Shore rock band Strange Weather is holding its debut CD release party Wednesday night at the American Legion in South Lake Tahoe. The band is Vinny Berry (lead vocals, guitar), John Munroe (lead guitar), Todd Christensen (bass) and Jon Gardner (drums).
The self-titled album is 11 original tracks, recorded and mixed by Vince Gates over the last year at Play Your Own Music in Carson City. Strange Weather used online service Disc Makers to create the packaging, artwork and final product.
“We’re super stoked on how it came out,” Berry said. “Vince did a great job; Disc Makers was really fair and easy to use. I mean we had a couple snags, uploading artwork that was the right size and a few things like that. But other than that it was really comprehensive and user friendly.”
The band’s songwriting approach is collaborative, with Munroe often bringing a riff or progression to the band, and the members working together to flesh out the song, although the debut album does include a handful of tunes brought as finished products by Munroe or Berry.
“I thought Strange Weather came out really well, I thought Johnny’s solo came out incredible,” Berry said.
Another finished tune that the band is pleased with is “Sleepwalker,” a slower song that Strange Weather does not usually play live.
“It’s kind of a minor blues, kind of (Led) Zeppeliney, slow temp, but it came out really, really good,” Berry said. “Johnny and me were like, ‘wow, I wish it sounded like this live.’”
The group is looking forward to celebrating its first release with all of its local friends and fans at the American Legion, a venue that the group has played at several times before. The doors open at 9 p.m., with a $10 entry fee that includes a copy of the album.
Strange Weather is also inviting some fellow South Shore musicians to help celebrate the occasion.
“We’ve got Connor Party and Mic Smith playing with us, so it’ll be like local hero night,” Berry said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun; just another wild rocking show.”
The rock group is looking forward to taking the new album on the road this spring, currently working on the details of a tour into the deserts of Southern California and Nevada.
“We’re hoping to do Vegas, Phoenix and then come back through L.A.,” Berry said. “Maybe do Palm Springs or Joshua Tree, do kind of a desert-in-the-springtime tour.”
- Strange Weather Album Release Party
When: 9 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 3
Where: American Legion, South Lake Tahoe
Tickets: $10 (includes one copy of “Strange Weather”)
