The Jessica Prouty Band has been shaking things up on the New England music scene. Although Prouty and her band mates just graduated high school last spring, these untested young musicians have consumed everything in their wake like a giant blob. Everybody stops on the name Jessica Prouty to find out what it’s all about. Prouty and her boys went into a recording studio with the incomparable producer Brian Maes and this CD they created only ignited another powder keg.
Hard-rocking title track “My Way” comes charging out of the gate with jet propulsion in the galloping rhythm section and full-bodied synthesizer. Natural born belter Prouty puts forward her anthem of feisty independence, singing it like she means it and like she means business. Lead guitarist Cody Nilsen screams his support with a hard edge phrase that takes no prisoners.
“Lights” continues the energy with a lively, affective piano line from keyboardist Andy Covino. When combined with Prouty’s smooth flowing timbre, the tune reminds of the hinting dark energy of Evanescence. Prouty shows a whole different strength as she croons in a gentle timbre without being wimpy. She injects a world of emotions into her vocal phrases, setting the tone for this song’s implied undercurrents. Lead guitarist Nilsen kicks it up with an icy cool phrase that make you picture the mist wafting off large blocks of ice inside an Antarctic cave.
Guitar chords threaten dark storm clouds of doom and the thumping rhythm section implies heavy weather ahead on “Escape.” Prouty has mastered the songwriter’s ability to control everything in her songs, including colors and tones. Drummer Cam Pelkey and Prouty on bass guitar make you feel their chunky slabs of Foreboding trouble. As vocalist, Prouty gives it her all, putting across hefty anthem like belts that carry light over the darkness.
“Calm Before The Storm” reveals more strength in this band’s ability to paint a scene. Prouty and Nilsen interweave their urgent vocals into a tapestry of excitement. Producer Maes has polished the sonic textures of this band to a high gloss shine. Prouty’s voice shines in all of its dimensions, holding notes aggressively, belting rapid fire, or crooning with gentle emotion. She guides her listener through each timbre of color in the aural prism and it’s a treat to hear a young musician with true ability.
Prouty gets to be her most gentle on “Please Be OK,” a song of reaching out to a friend in need. A streaming sincerity flows from Prouty, making the song work even more than its technique and production. Listeners gets a true sense that the person singing the song really cares about her subject matter. Nilsen comes in vocally underneath her lyrical lines; this second textures making both of them impressive in their contrasting timbres.
“Realize Me” gets its muscle from rolling, brittle melody notes that give it a unique sound. Prouty is the real deal on this one too, sounding off on the need for existential recognition. Mounting tension from the rhythm section during build ups to the next level of emotion are chockfull of crunchy, feisty slabs of oomph. The low end and drumming are full-bodied, holding up the platform for Prouty’s belty technique.
Prouty and her band mates turn in a modern hard rock version of the Celine Dion song “My Heart Will Go On” from the Titanic movie soundtrack. Prouty, unafraid of being compared to one of today’s strongest voices, manages to conjure feelings of longing and nostalgia. She, as the song intends, pulls off the task of making you feel something special amidst her outpouring of highly charged vocal power. Nilsen does his thing too, pitching in with a larger than life power ballad guitar phrase.
“Falling Hard” makes you want to bang your head with its feisty chording, expansive synth, and driving rhythms. Prouty’s voice is wide and intimidating, a waterfall of dark feeling and menace. Bits of metal influences augment this band rightly, giving them character and personality. Nilsen adds much muscle to the frame, more of his edgy, precise phrasing, moving the song forward with the force of a Viking sailing ship, nothing getting in the way of its mission to conqueror.
Closing out with “Summertime,” Prouty turns the microphone over to Nilsen for the opening. His punchy vocal makes an impression, leaving a trace of longing in his wake. His acoustic guitar melody makes a handsome appearance and sweeps along the song beautifully with its stripped down but large timbre. Pelkey’s percussion smacks pepper this tune with colorful dollops of rhythm and Covino’s cascading tinkling adds just the right touch of class and presentation. This is a tasteful approach to the almost unplugged side of The Jessica Prouty Band. Bare bones, there is enough going on to make you realize this youthful band will be taken very seriously for its skills and songwriting.
Prouty and Nilsen are freshmen at Berklee College Of Music this year and they clearly have a leg up on the rest of the class of 2015,
