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"Take a glimpse inside a 40 Lb. Head "
NEPAToday.com — July 30, 2001
NORTHEASTERN PA - Brew for a cool, local rock band:
Blend 3 parts scientific brothers and 1 part teacher (a brother all but for the biology).
Add, one at a time, guitars, keyboard, drums, microphones and speakers.
Toss in harmonica and tambourine to taste.
Leave, unattended, in basement, and wait.
Within minutes, walls will throb with the beat of original pop-punk.
Repeat as necessary to satisfy your craving for 40 LB. Head.
Note: don't be afraid to throw in a brewsky or two when necessary, and be sure to shop in Nanticoke for the "hottest" ingredients.
After all, Nanticoke is where 40 LB. Head was created five years ago. A visit with the Egenski brothers, Steve (lead guitar and vocals), Brian (on bass) and Jason (lead vocals, keyboard, harmonica, tambourine) and their best friend, Mike Zubritski (on drums), makes for an entertaining afternoon, as well as a good story.
And it's a story that's far from over....
Having released their first two CD's (Savior Self and, most recently, Hills and Valleys), the group is working on a third album as they are in the middle of their summer outdoor tour. By summer's end they will have played at about 15 festivals and bazaars across Pennsylvania and New York.
In those crowds are younger fans who might not have the chance to see a 40 LB. Head show because they are too young to get into bars. "There are so many people under 21 who seem to enjoy our original music - they seem to dig us - and this is really the only chance they get to see us," Steve explained.
And the group is more than happy to cater to them. In fact, it's probably safe to say that they feed off the energy at these shows. "It's an unbelievable feeling," Mike said, describing what it was like to play at the Newtown Bazaar. (They asked Newtown's chief of police how many people attended, and he estimated 14,000 people heard 40 LB. Head play). "It was biggest crowd we've played for this year," said Steve.
Sometimes they are amazed by the progress they have made in a short time. "I just sit back and wonder 'how did the four of us get to this point'?" Mike said. The answer to that may be found by watching 40 LB. Head interact with each other, and listening to them play. "We're such good friends," Mike said. "And we do everything together," Steve added.
"We vacation together," Mike said. "And family outings," Brian chimed in. "We've known Mike since fourth grade - he's like a brother to us. Even his family is friends with our family."
Mike said even under trying circumstances, none of them would trade being in the band for a second. "We really amuse each other," he said, laughing. "Even if we get into an argument, we pretty much just make the best of it and deal with it. Because even on the worst day, this is still the best job we'll ever have."
The best job, that is, in addition to their day jobs. All four band members are college graduates, working regular jobs in addition to playing in the band. The Egenski brothers own Altest Environmental Testing, and Mike is a substitute history teacher in the Nanticoke School District.
Some of them always knew music would be an integral part of their lives; some of them didn't. Steve started playing in clubs when he was 15 years old; he has a natural affinity to both write and play music. For him, performing in a band was always a definite. "It's something I love so much, I couldn't live without it," he said.
And while the brothers studied piano as children, Steve said that's not necessarily the key to their success. "It's genetics, not piano lessons," he said.
For Brian, the thought of playing in a band was always in the back of his mind, but he wasn't sure it would happen. "I always thought it would be part of my life that I always dreamed of, but I never thought it would actually happen."
Well, it has happened, and fans throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania couldn't be more pleased. "We have loyal fans who listen to us ranging in age from 10 to 50," Brian said. "It justifies writing CD after CD because they want that."
And while the right deal with a major label would be welcomed by the band, the group said they are content to keep making their music and having fun with their fans in Northeastern Pennsylvania. "It's not our primary goal to be rock stars," Steve said. "We are very content with our situation right now. If we go no further than where we are right now, we've achieved success."
Picking the Heads' brains
We asked 40 LB. Head what songs they enjoyed playing most for their fans. Here's what they said:
Steve: "Primitive"
Mike: "Too little, too late"
Brian: "Again. It's a 40 LB. Head song. It's a real easy, very emotional song and it's not yet recorded on and CD's. You can only hear it at a live show."
What's in a name?
They could have been The Basements.
They could have been Steve and the Roadies.
But those ideas just didn't make the cut when the Brothers Egenski and Mike Zubritski were racking their brains for a cool name for the band. Under pressure to come up with a name within 24 hours (because they were hired for their first gig before they even had a name), "40 LB. Head" was found where they weren't looking.
Brian explained. "Steve and Jason and one of Jason's friends were wasting time and weighing things on a bathroom scale, and they were weighing their heads. Each one was around 10 pounds."
Multiply 10 pounds by four band members and, voila! "Steve said 'I got it! 40 LB. Head - that's it!' So that's how we got the name," Brian said