Second by second, a lyrically-driven rock band counts down for the moment their ticking-time bomb explodes.
The Pat McGee Band hopes the release of the new album, “Save Me,”will be the catalyst for the explosion. In an effort to increase momentum and awareness of the April 6 release date, the band will stop at Columbus’ Little Brother’s tonight.
“With the new release of ‘Save Me,’ the Pat McGee Band is making a return to their rock roots,” said Courtney Kopf, a spokeswoman for the band. “The more raw sounding songs combined with the band’s powerful stage presence makes for an amazing live show.”
Formerly a one-man band, the Virginian-based sextet has been making music together since 1996. In the early years, the group was known for their “jam band” style, playing long pieces which blended into a general sound. The style changed when the Pat McGee Band signed with Warner Bros. and released their first album, “Shine,” in 2000.
“Our last album was released almost four years ago,” said Pat McGee, the lead vocalist and guitarist. “Fans don’t understand how the release process works. When a label really cares about you, it makes a strategy as to when to put your album out. So many things go into a successful release.”
“When you are a newer, younger group, it is really tough to release your album during the second half of the year when there is more competition. I really owe the band’s success to our producers,” McGee said.
Any grassroots-style band relies heavily on their fans. The Pat McGee Band is no exception. The group played at Chicago’s House of Blues, at various New York City venues and alongside Goo Goo Dolls, but no crowd is more faithful than its hometown of Washington, D.C. With a tour schedule focusing on towns surrounding college campuses, the band has radiated its following across the United States.
“The band has a magnetic appeal on stage, and they are very down-to-earth,” Kopf said. “It is easy to see why they have developed an extensive fan base around the U.S. I am confident the release of ‘Save Me’ will elevate thiseven more.”
The band incorporates the audience in every performance, McGee said. Each song is a natural interaction between audience and band, he said. Their new album reflects this integrity.
“My favorite track of the album, ‘Don’t Give Up,’ features a NewYork Symphony,” McGee said. “The producers would only give us two takes to finish the song in order to make it a real performance. In ‘Shine,’ we would go in and play a song until it was almost perfect and then let the computer take care of the rest.In ‘Save Me,’ it didn’t matter if there were small mistakes. We were able to get amazing energy off of each track.”
Kopf credits the band’s resonating energy and authentic talent to their escalating success.
“The band’s passion for music and live performances, as well as their work ethic has brought them to where they are today,” she said. “The Pat McGee Band has not relied on luck or timing to make them successful, as many people in the music world have. They are hard workers and talented musicians, and most importantly, they are doing what they love.”
“Everyday, I can’t believe I do this for a living,” McGee said. “We live in a fantasy world, and it’s inspiring that we actually have a shot at our dream.”
The Pat McGee Band is not well known in the Columbus area, but it is home to many avid fans.
“Pat’s music ispop with a bite,” said Dennis Kaps, a fan from Columbus. “It combines catchy rhythms and lead guitars with the angst of a seasoned rock veteran.”
The Tuesday performance is at 7 p.m. and features supporting act Oval Opus. Tickets are $10 in advance at ticketmaster.com and $12 at the door.
