Several years ago, while serving as a member of the Local Spin of the Year Award-winning The Mighty Narwhale, Kyle Colter started a side solo project he called Pistolbrides.
The name came to him in a dream. Now, that dream is a full-fledged, pop-infused rock band.
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About three weeks ago, members of the Pistolbrides – Colter, Joe Wiltse, Dan Wier and John Harrell — released their full-length debut CD, packed with the sort of infectious, edgy rock that should settle easily into any rock fan’s iPod playlist. The album was recorded and produced by Matt Ten Clay at Skull Studios in Grand Rapids.
Members of the group split their time with other local bands, but it’s also clear that this particular project occupies a special spot for all of them: They plan to book a tour later this year to spread their music regionally. “It’s a very hectic schedule,” Colter conceded.
When Colter plays the acoustic guitar, I hear tinges of The Decemberists. But this band also lists the likes of The Beach Boys, Zombies, Charles Mingus, Yo La Tengo, Flaming Lips, Dinosaur Jr., , Pixies, The Beatles and “the creature from the black lagoon” as influences. Just to try to visualize that …
Earlier this week, Colter (guitar), Wiltse (bass) and Wier (percussion) joined me in the studios of News Talk 1340 AM for my Local Spins Live segment to talk about their music and perform a song, “Sleepwalking.” A video of that on-air performance is posted here today on my Local Spins site.
Better yet, folks can catch the band live on Saturday at The Pyramid Scheme, 68 Commerce Ave. SW in Grand Rapids. The 8 p.m. show also features The Juliets, Orpheum Bell and the Kent County String Band, an eclectic lineup to be sure. Tickets are $8. You can expect the Pistolbrides to take the stage sometime after 10 p.m.
Learn more about the band at their bandcamp.com site or on their Facebook page.
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com