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"Hills, valleys and a new CD from 40-Lb. Head"
Alan K. Stout - Music On The Menu
The Times Leader — October 6, 2000
It's about 10 P.M. on a Saturday at Jimmy's Night Clup and the members of 40-Lb. Head are in good spirits. We're hanging out in the private back band room talking about their new CD, "Hills and Valleys," and - as usual with these guys - the conversation is lively. In a few minutes, we'll turn off the tape recorder and the group will take the stage to another packed house-something they've become quite accustomed to over the past few years.
Amid the smoky ambiance, people will be singing and dancing and having a good time, and the music, as always, will be fun and entertaining. And although nothing is ever taken too seriously with this band and the members are still quick with jokes and zingers, they do talk passionately and thoughtfully about their music - particularly this new record.
Our first album was more more of a straightforward approach," says guitarist Steve Egenski. "on this CD, there's a lot of different types of songs that give it more of a roller coaster ride. It's a lot more diverse."
"I'm ecstatic, honestly," says vocalist and keyboardist Jason Egenski. "For as well as our first album did, I think this one is so much better."
Formed in 1996, 40-Lb. Head also includes bassist Brian Egenski (yes, they're brothers) and drummer Mike Zubritski. Although the group's debut CD - 1998's "Savior Self" - sold nearly 2,000 units, its members say they wanted to take the music to higher level with it's follow-up. and although Steve did most of the songwriting for "Hills and Valleys," he's quick to share the credit with his bandmates.
"I've been doing this since I was 14 years old," says Steve. "Even in some of the older cover bands that I was playing in, I would always have a four-track recorder around and I would always be putting my ideas down. Over the years, it just amounted to a lot of material that we eventually picked through. We restructures some of it, and some of it was just written on the fly. About 30 percent of what's on the disk is stuff from way back in the past, and the rest of it was put together recently.
"We still have some really good old stuff that some day might come to light, but the new stuff was fresh and right off the top of our heads, so we decide to go with that."
"Steve just had this great creative spurt and started writing a lot of good material," says Mike. The next thing you know, there were only two or three songs from the older stuff on the album."
Quality, says Brian, was the only thing that mattered when picking the songs.
"I remember when we first started playing live, we watched the entire 'Beatles Anthology,"' he says. "The way they handled the writing was they went with what they collectively thought was the best. When we get together and rehearse, everyone has their input, and we collectively decide what sounds the best.
"So we're basically tryin to be the Beatles," adds Jason with a laugh.
Tracks on the new CD include "Primitive," "Around The Bar," "Old," "Climb High Enough," "Thank You" and "No Friends."
It is available at the group's shows, Gallery of Sound stores and through the band's website. Musically, 40-Lb. Head's breezy sound doesn't easily fit into any specific genre. And that, says Jason, Is fine with them.
"There are too many names anymore and so many styles, we don't know what tyo call it," he says. "We're just trying to have a good time."
"We were all brought up on classic rock," says Brian. "Steve and I - Going to school together - we'd listen to everything we could get our hands on. We'd go to the cassette bin and wanted to hear everthing Tom Petty ever wrote, everthing Led Zeppelin ever wrote and everthing from Pink Floyd to the entire span of classic rock. We all had former piano training when we were young and always had a love for music."
"I listen to anything that has a lot of emotion to it," adds Steve. "Everthing from Edie Brickell to Godsmack, Zeppelin, Floyd, and Neil Young."
"It could be basic drums or basic guitar, or something as complex as Dave Matthews, who's all over the place." says Mike. "It's the emotion behind a song that really makes a song."
At their live shows, 40-Lb. Head will be offering a few origianls each night, which will be mixed in with their entergetic renditions of Top 40, modern rock and classic rock covers.
The group says the past four years have been a wild ride, and they're thankful to all of the fans and friends - including souindman Gene Smith and agent Lyn Carey - who have supported them throughout the region and helped them become one of the area's most popular bands.
"If we go no further than we've gone today, I consider this a total success," says Steve. "We called this CD 'Hills and Valleys" because it has a local feel to it and Pensylvania feel - which is what we're after. We're in the same boat with all of these people, and we're just like everyone else - trying to enjoy our lives and live ever day the best we can. There's lots of tunes on the CD that have that vibe on it."
"We are a bunch of local guys," he adds"and so far, everybody in this valley has been very good to us and has shown us more heart than we could ever ask for."