The Old Sweethearts CD Release Party
Mohawk Place, Buffalo
August 12, 2005

by Kevin J. Hosey
Rock and roll (and punk and many other variations) is often thought to be the main art form for the young, and more lately, young at heart, but within music, the areas of country, country rock and very melodic, intricate pop are often the places the more experienced musicians and fans head to; fortunately, this is not always the case, as the Old Sweethearts is/are not only playing in these areas, but mixing them up, and quite frankly, is one of the best bands of any genre playing in Buffalo right now. This was amply proven at the band’s CD release party at Mohawk Place. Led by guitarist, singer and songwriter Roger Bryan, the Old Sweethearts (no longer “Roger Bryan and …” for good reason) showed off continued growth from the fine, often laid back country, pop and rock sounds of the Old Sweethearts’ excellent first CD, “In Regards to Your Affairs,” with most of the songs from the band’s new CD, “Arms of the Town,” (which I have yet to hear, and hopefully will soon).
Roger Bryan and Eric "Spicoli" Roessler
Keyboardist and singer Mark Nosowicz
The Old Sweethearts can certainly be heard to be in the same basic category and league as the nearest and probably easiest comparison, Wilco, with some thick songs and lots of layered sounds and keyboards (keyboardist Mark Nosowicz really stands out in good ways) as well as country rock and serious studio pop flavor. But this isn’t a tribute to Jeff Tweedy as much as a younger band picking up on the influences that also affected Wilco and putting its own spin on the sound. Before I continue, I should note that none of the songs played at the show I will write about will have names; not having received the new CD, I wrote down what I thought were names of several songs, none that match either the new CD or the first one, which I meant to listen to before going but could (and still cannot) find.As the band started, I was caught with my Coke in one hand and Val’s 7-Up in the other, and she had already gone to the front and side area to start photographing the show; with an extremely large crowd all squeezed forward in a ridiculously hot setting (the hottest night a lot of us regulars can remember at Mohawk Place), I was unable to write anything down until the fourth song, when I made my way to a small opening at the bar, put the soft drinks down and got out my pad.
The first three songs were smart sounding experimental pop with some country and rock flourishes, and the fourth song was very good, battered, smoky jazz, pop and country, with Eric Roessler (known as Spicoli) adding some interesting electric guitar countered by Nosowicz’s keyboards; the song intensified through Roessler’s guitar and Bryan’s harmonica. The next song (which I noted/thought was titled having to do with a storm or being led away) was good, spare experimental pop rock and country, while a few songs later, a tune with some 1960s pop rock sound was paced by Nosowicz’s lead vocals.
The next song was also pretty good, with some real nice dreamy lead guitar from Roessler that revved up to more churning rock from Roessler’s and Bryan’s guitars with a touch of keyboard, but the next tune particularly reminded Val and me of Wilco (and this is a good thing); as Nosowicz sang to a lighter introduction and start, Roessler and Bryan really kicked in on electric guitars. The Old Sweethearts changed the pace as Nosowicz sang lead again and the music was slow and burning at first before the guitar and keyboard blend became spacey while staying rootsy; the song sounded at times like good early Blue Rodeo. The Old Sweethearts ended their set with two strong songs; the first went from 1970s rock and keyboard sounds to an instrumental portion where the guitars churned again and the keyboard stayed cool, while the second song featured slow, bluesy bass from Andrew Vaeth and brushed drums from Jeff Pietrzak on top of more keyboards from Nosowicz.
Opening the show was Mark Norris, the former leader of the late, great girlpope, performing a solo set. One of the best songwriters to come out of Buffalo in years (as well as a pretty good rock writer), Norris’ songs seemed like they would easily sound as good in this solo setting or with a band, and at times sounded a bit more pensive and thoughtful than before, addressing relationships, things done and not done with voice, acoustic and electric guitar. The heat was obviously affecting the musicians all night, and it seemed like Norris was sweating like a fountain; he also talked/joked about the heat and Mars all night, as well as playing “Life on Mars.” Among the musicians working with Norris as an occasional backing band is Bryan.
Mark Norris, opening the night solo