For Keeps Is Playing, For Keeps
by Charlie Sullivan
Cody Witsken (guitars, vocals) and Merideth Pryor (vocals) were in China teaching when the duo started writing some music together. It turns out the two were on to something with the new music. On their return to the states in April of 2014 the tandem had it on their minds to put a band together and start performing the music they wrote while abroad. Witsken, who is no slouch on the local music scene, soon tracked down former band mate Luke Hunter James-Erickson (drums) and laid out the game plan. The two had worked together previously in the not to be forgotten The Don’ts And Be Carefuls; a local act who crafted some earnest pop music a few years back. Next on the list was finding a bass player and in no time Witsken located and called another former band mate from Pep*Squad Brett Schrieber. The crew promptly started rehearsing Pryor and Witsken’s material but something was still lacking in the sound. James-Erickson brought up the idea of a keyboard player and quickly found a somewhat bored elementary school music teacher, Justine Sullivan, introduced her to the band and bang the line-up was set.The band is churning out some finally crafted power pop with a punk/ska attitude. It’s the kind of music you just have to groove too; bouncy, bubbly, high energy rock. The band members are calling it tweee or BFF pop; I call it an in your face kick-ass sound with an early 80’s British quality. The outfit has figured out how to throw down cutesy pop with an intelligent well-structured sonic assault. The band takes a unique approach with Pryor and Witsken sharing vocal duties on most of songs creating some great harmonies. There’s nothing down or dark with the tunes. The band takes pride in the optimistic uplifting quality of the music. “Life can really suck at times,” says Witsken, “But we want people to know we’re going to be happy regardless.”
“We want people who hear our music to come away somewhat inspired and feeling good,” Witsken adds.
The band has already comprised an album’s worth of songs which will be produced by Low Fidelity Laboratories. The plan is to have the album ready by the end of the summer or early fall. Pryor and Witsken have already begun writing songs for a follow-up EP before they start the process for the next album. Pryor and Witsken craft the songs and lyrics and the band provides the vehicle to deliver it to the listeners. The band does cover an obscure Chubby Parker folk piece, “King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O”, retrofitting the music and lyrics effortlessly into a power pop dynamo that rocks the house. Even when they slows it down a bit with the melodic rocker “Telescope” the music is still vibrant and full of energy. The band will be releasing a single in about a month to wet your whiskers.
This is definitely an up-and-coming local act that is already catching fire in the clubs. For Keeps already has half a dozen shows under their belt and more on the books. Don’t miss out, this act will take definitely take you for Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.
“I love pop music. It’s not easy to write a good pop song.”- John Lydon
Skylark Lounge 140 S. Broadway, April 3, 2015 with Stella Luce & Nathan Brazil, doors open @ 8:00 PM
Online: facebook.com/ForKeepsMusic?fref=ts
Category: Buzzworthy
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