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Entertainment
Trixter guitarist speaks out
Phone interview reveals past influences, future plans
Not quite New Kids: Trixter members Mark Scott, Peter Loran, Steve
Brown and P.J. Farley bring their blend of New Jersey rock to the Erie
Civic Center Friday, Feb. 15.
b Robb Frederick
The Collegian
Steve Brown is obviously
enjoying himself.
The 20-year-old Trixter
guitarist laughs again, breaking
up our phone interview and
unintentionally serving up a
flawless imitation of a metal-head
from Saturday Night Live's
"Wayne's World."
But Brown, who brings his
blend of New Jersey rock to the
Erie Civic Center for a show
with Poison and Slaughter
Friday, Feb. 15, has every reason
to be happy. His band's self-titled
debut is just about to turn gold,
and he has just embarked on his
first major world tour.
"Everything I've dreamed came
true," he explains.
Those dreanis began when
Brown was seven. "I was
mesmerized by Kiss' Rock and
Roll Over. I went out and bought
an acoustic guitar that was twice
my size, and I never stopped
playin'."
By the age of twelve, Brown
had discovered Eddie Van Halen,
and he decided to start a band. So
he enlisted friends Peter Loran
(vocals), Mark Scott (drums), and
Coming next week: Simpsons
creator Matt Groening talks
about his hit TV show, the joys
of parenthood, and life after
Bart in an exclusive interview
with The Collegian.
P.J. Farley (bass) and formed
Trixter.
The band gained popularity on
the Jersey club circuit,
consistently playing to crowds of
about 100.
And how has the band adapted
to larger venues?
"Trixter was made for arenas,"
Brown proudly states. "It's still
just about strappin' on guitars
and singin' and havin' fun."
Several critics, however, have
Collegian
Exclusive
panned the band's debut,
suggesting that Trixter is all
work and no play. But Brown
confidently disregards these
attacks.
"Some reviews overlook our
material and focus on our age
(only one band member is old
enough to legally drink)," he
explains. "But we can play, and
we do it."
"There's a lot of different
styles on our album. "Give it to
The Collegian
Me Good" is full of southern
rock, and "Line of Fire" is just
straight-ahead rock,"
Most of this diverse material
stems from Brown, the band's
principal songwriter.
"I'm the basic sculptor," he
explains. "I usually come up
with the idea, and the other guys
smooth out the edges."
According to Brown, several
bands have joined the ranks of
Kiss and Van Halen to provide
inspiration for Trixter's material.
"I listen to a lot of other
styles, especially when I'm on
the tour bus. I'm into Metallica,
but I also listen to the Beatles
and U 2."
The effect of these expanded
influences will no doubt be heard
on the band's next release, for
which Brown has already written
ten songs.
"There's gonna' be a lot of
different styles on the next
record," he predicts. "It's really
gonna' show the growth of the
band."
But until the next release,
Brown vows to keep Trixter
moving ahead.
"There's gonna' be constant
touring. We'll rock until we
drop."
Thursday, February 7, 1991
Trixter debut
has potential
b Jon Flick
The Collegian
Those in fear that rock and
roll is becoming extinct should
pay attention to Trixter's debut
album. This self-titled MCA
Records release is the product of a
hard-working band who keeps the
tradition alive by mixing basic,
solid rhythms and strong vocals
with some hot guitar licks.
Produced by Bill Wray, the
album is pieced together very
well. Wray participated in a lot of
the writing, as did guitarist
Steve Brown (see related story at
left), and the result is quite
creative.
The music, for the most part,
is quite predictable; the band
definitely did not enter uncharted
waters with that aspect. The
music draws too heavily on
influences to render it artistically
original, but the inherent power
of the music balances it out and
results in an album that is worth
listening to.
Trixter traveled a bumpy road
to attain the level they have
reached as a band. Their lyrics
make this apparent, as they tell
the story of a hard-working band
with the simple goal of playing
rock and roll.
"Line of Fire," the first track,
rips into the listener with the fact
that experience is the best
teacher. Brown's solo made me
perk up my ears; I didn't expect it
at all! "Only Young Once" and
the beautiful slow tune "On and
On" tell the story of the band
without relying on lyrical
cliches.
The subject of love is dealt
with extensively, and it seems
like Trixter is trying to give their
listeners some healthy advice
from the heart.
In particular, "Heart of Steel"
and "One In a Million" do this
with that basic rock rhythm and
some potent guitar and vocal
harmonies, supplied by lead
vocalist Peter Loran and Brown
on guitar and backing vocals.
"One In a Million" also
addresses the subject of
influences; one cannot ignore the
Def Leppard flavor of this track.
THE CARD GALLERY
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Mother notable in the love
category, "Always a Victim" is
one of the most creatively written
songs on the album, dealing with
love's sometimes agonizing pain.
Once again, the vocals are strong
and seem to match the meaning
of the song. It is hard to say that
about some debut bands, who
mostly rely on an image in lieu
of soul.
Four tracks on this album
stick out in my mind as having a
good combination of lyrical
mastery and musical originality,
and can even stir emotions.
Trixter's current single, "Give It
to Me Good," is one of them, and
it kicks, not only because it is
the absolute truth (from a
rebellious rocker's point of view),
but it also represents the current
trend in rock music- clean guitar
and oodles of vocal harmony.
(Many hard rock bands are due for
albums this year, so don't be
surprised if they also decide to
follow this trend).
"Surrender" is a beautiful slow
song that will surely create many
fond memories. I lost myself in
it and almost didn't make it back
out! I felt that the production in
this song was outstanding.
"Play Rough" really captured
my interest, as it is the heaviest
song here. I liked the driving
rhythm, and it contained enough
originality to keep me glued to
my headphones.
Finally, "On and On," written
by Brown, portrays the life of the
band in a nutshell. In fact, it is
almost a diary of Trixter's road to
fame, with the upsets and the
glories that go with it. Those
songs are the most noteworthy
on the album, and I can see
Trixter developing a style that is
a tangent of these songs.
Trixter is a testimonial to the
fact that a band can make it by
working hard and playing their
hearts out, instead of relying on
glamor and gimmicks. They want
you to listen to their story, not
just their music. As the band
tours, I would expect them to
develop their own style and rely
less on influences, so that their
already creative lyrics can be
augmented by fresh melodies.