SPOTLIGHT:
TREAD - Cracks in the Pavement
The geographical area of any local music scene can be a volatile
entity. Trends change, bandwagons are jumped upon, and occasionally,
innovative artists emerge - even if that innovation is a negative reaction
to the artist's surroundings.
While the Tri-Cities have given birth to many exceptional Original bands,
artists, and songwriters, more often than not it has given us an incestuous
spate of Cover bands. These bands invariably copy the most successful local
cover bands in an attempt to rake in as much cash as possible, not
realizing that both the clubs and their patrons will only fully support one
or two of these groups at a time. It was a climate such as this that gave
us Tread.
In 1995, when every self-respecting Cover band was desperately trying to
beat Shovel and Wet Cement at a game that had already easily and clearly
won (and I can say that because my band at the time was firmly in that
category), I first encountered Tread on an off-night at Zingger's.
They were nothing to write 'home about'. My initial impression was of four
guys who were all taking lessons at the same music store. What I was
witnessing was not a gig so much as a recital. Every note, beat, and
movement had a profoundly tentative feel to it, as though the groove the
band had constructed could, at any instant, completely dissolve.
This is not to say that they sucked, just that they were unremarkable. But
what I was not cognizant of is the fact that these were just four beer
drinkin', fun-lovin', down-to-earth guys who were playing what they thought
we wanted to hear for fun & profit. After all, it wasn't rocket science -
it was Rock 'n Roll.
Years passed, and the next time I was this band was at the 'Alaplooza'
Benefit for Al Limberg at the Watering Trough. This Tread was a slightly
different animal.
Singer/guitarist Scott 'Raz' Rezmer had left the group, replaced by
hair-metal holdover Chuck Zang. Behind Zang's ear-piercing shrieks (they
actually did a convincing take on Veruca Salt's Volcano Girls; and, oh yes,
that annoying SteelHeart tune) lurked a band that had quietly improved and
gained some chops in the process. Drummer Kyle 'Sherman' Charbeneau and
bassist Matt Lavictoire had jelled into a cohesive rhythm section; and lead
guitarist Steve Zielinski was coming into his own. They were still just a
Cover band, but the years had served them well.
Fast-forward to the present. A phone conversation with my good friend Matt
Palmer brought Tread to my attention once more. Matt and I both operate
recording studios (his is called Sadworld Studios in Bay City - a fact I
unfortunately overlooked in last issue's piece of Silverspork) and
periodically compare notes on new techniques, gear, and the last projects
we work upon.
"Wait till you hear the Tread CD," he said. "It's probably the best thing
I've done yet. They got a new singer and the songs kick ass."
Intrigued, I snagged Bob Martin's copy of the disc and commandeered this
profile. But I was in no way prepared for the progress Tread had made.
The CD, entitled Cracks in the Pavement, showcases solid songwriting in the
Classic Rock vein that still manages to encompass diverse elements of Funk,
Metal, and even some Hendrixie Blues. If you knew nothing of the band, this
debut would be merely a Great Record. But in light of this group's history,
it comes across as nothing short of a Triumph. The only local parallel I
can draw is when a crappy cover band called Radical jack miraculously
transformed themselves into Social Degeneration of Poets and released the
landmark Martyrdom CD. (Funny enough, Cracks 6th track, a short segue
entitled Disturbing the Peace inadvertently quotes the intro to the Poets'
Grave, the lead-off track on Martyrdom.)
But what makes this disc come alive is new vocalist Chris McGarvie, whose
powerful voice adds a dimensional clarity to the mix. McGarvie made a name
for himself in another cover group, Circle of Fifths, that also featured
Tread alum Rezmer, who has now returned to the fold to handle rhythm guitar
duties.
So how did this happen? How did a marginal cover band come to write and
record what may well become a 'timeless classic' in the local lexicon?
A funny thing happened on the way to oblivion; at the tail end of the Chuck
Zang period, Lavictoire and Charbeneau began to formulate original ideas.
But when Zielinski threw his two cents in, the whole thing exploded.
Zielinski is credited with being mainly responsible for Tread's music,
while McGarvie provides the lion's share of the lyrics.
"When we were putting this album together," said bassist Lavictoire, "we
thought 'Wow, this is just a bunch of really good, straight-up rock songs,'
And you don't hear a lot of that anymore. It's not trendy. It's who we are
and what we're all about."
Recording went relatively quickly. "Chris' vocals are pretty much first
takes," notes Lavictoire, "but mixing the disc took almost 14 months to
complete. Matt (Palmer) and Steve are serious perfectionists," continues
the bassist, "and it took a long time to get everything to that point of
perfection. Plus, we weren't comparing the mix to the best local CDs. We
were going for a Stone Temple Pilots kind of mix. And that can take awhile."
Their diligence has paid off, earning Tread airplay in selected areas and
landing them several gigs in markets like Lansing and Grand Rapids. It has
even garnered them that rarest of commodities, record company interest.
They're not saying which record company because, as Lavictoire points out,
"We don't want to jinx it."
So why the change to Tread, Inc.?
The usual reason, of course - there's another Tread out there somewhere,
and the band wishes to avoid confusion. Not content to rest on their
laurels, the band is already constructing material for their next disc.
They are also seeking Management. "We all have full time jobs. Three of us
work at Delphi, so there isn't a lot of time to book gigs and promote the
CD. We're definitely looking."
