Rye - May/June 2004
Who: Rye
What: classic Canadian lick-or
Where: Toronto, ON
To Contact: rye@ryerye.com, www.ryerye.com.
Rye is the solo band from Moist/David Usher bassist Jeff Pearce and he’s traded in the 4-string for guitar and steps up as the frontman. Those familiar with Moist and Usher know he often contributes background vocals, and is also prone to singing odd classics (”Let It Ride”, “Hot Child In The City”) at benefit concerts. He has a sweet, melodic voice with a slight melancholic tone. Add to that the fact that he hasn’t lost his rock star hair, why not take the centre spotlight for the first-time with his own band? Pearce, who co-wrote three Moist albums (with sales totaling a million) started demoing Rye material in his home studio, and recruited a band: guitarist Sean Kelly and drummer Steve Nunnaro (both of Crash Kelly) and local bassist Robert Shaw. Together, they started performing locally, while finishing up the album, Wolves, in various locales. From the slamming “Alcohol And Nicotine” and catchy “Radio One” to the gentler “Tip Of My Tongue” and “Empires”, Pearce has voice that works on softer cuts and the bottle-to-the-head ones. “If Its True” is the stand-out. Like the whiskey, Rye is straight up and potent.
