Concert preview
After several years of solo acoustic work, local guitarist and University senior Chris Arnold is finally working with a band.
The group, dubbed Chris Arnold and the Morning After, will be performing an all ages show at the Wild Duck Music Hall on Oct. 6 along with the B-Side Players and Nicole Barrett. The band consists of Arnold on acoustic guitar and vocals, Cole Hodgen on electric guitar, Pat Pearsall on bass and Dan Steinberg on drums.
“I took a while to find the right combination of musicians, to find personalities that clicked,” said Arnold. “Some of us are students, so there were schedule problems as well. This summer has been the first chance for us to really get together.”
The band promises to offer something for people with a wide range of tastes. Arnold is not one to stick to any particular musical style and likes to stretch his and the band’s sound to include diverse influences.
“My personal favorites, off the top of my head, are Neil Young, Bob Dylan and David Bowie. Also a lot of Miles Davis recently,” said Arnold. “In my CD player right now are Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater and the Beastie Boys, if that’s any indication of what I like.”
Arnold says that people can expect to see a band made up of distinctive personalities and an eclectic musical taste. The band’s music ranges from “happy-go-lucky pop songs” to more serious — and not so serious — fare concerning drinking and infidelity.
“We’re just really excited to be getting together as a band,” said Arnold. “We’re looking to solidify a live set that we’re happy with, something that’s fun to play and fun to watch. Something we can take pride in doing.”
Arnold became interested in performing music in high school when he began to meet musicians.
“That was the first time it occurred to me that this is something you could pick up and learn,” said Arnold. “I had always listened to music, but that was when I first got interested in making it.”
It was while in high school that Arnold met future friend and bandmate Pat Pearsall. The two started playing together informally, and as with the other members of Morning After, it was these informal sessions and meetings that eventually led to the creation of a solid line up.
Now that the band is together, Arnold is planning to branch out.
“I’m thinking of trying some electric guitar, or maybe dropping the guitar for awhile and focusing on being more of a front man,” he said. “We’re also rehearsing with keyboard players, to fill things out.”
More local gigs are being planned, and a tour is tentatively scheduled for next summer. Tickets for the Oct. 6 gig will be on sale at any Fastixx outlet and are $6 in advance, $7 at the door. The doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m.