Smoky bars are home to some of the world’s best musicians, and provide a venue for an introduction of some of the greatest local acts that otherwise might not be seen. On Tuesday, November 7 at 9 p.m., The Plymouth House of Pizza (PHOP) became just that sort of place, introducing the Plymouth community to newly formed band, The Safe Escape.
The band is lead by vocalist and guitarist Adam Goulart. Other members include Mike Kim on backup vocals and guitar, Ian Ward also singing backup vocals and bass and Mike Lacerte on the drums. The group’s current members have been together since June 2006, with the recent addition of Kim. Opening with a strong start, the group, which has a pop punk sound, showcased Goulart’s vocals, which are a solid mix between standard pop punk vocals and scream. Due to the fairly short length of time the group has been together, their songs still lack titles, but regardless the musicianship is still very present.
Most of the material performed were original works written by band members, however, the set also included two covers. The first, “Crush” by Jimmy Eat World is a generally obscure song to the mass population, but a good choice for the group’s dynamic. The harmonies from Kim and Goulart were rich, with a few interjections from Ward. The second cover, “Hey Jealousy,” by the Gin Blossoms, is a new addition to the band’s set and was an instant crowd favorite.
One additional, slightly unconventional, member of the band has been getting some recognition lately. Bonfiglio, the little fuzzy “jackolope” that looks slightly like a bunny with antlers, sits on top of the bass drum like a good luck charm and consistently attends every performance and practice. “Bonfiglio is a hell beast,” Lacerte said. “We adoped him off of the side of the road one night and now he sits on the front of my drums. He lives and breathes on rock and roll, so we feed him regularly.”
At the end of their dynamite performance, guitar swinging, witty banter and massive amounts of double bass petal, the group ended their set with one of their original pieces, “Don’t Hold Your Breath.” The song, one of the few songs with a title, was a definite strong point for the group as a whole. Kim’s screams were well done, Lacerte’s power behind the drums was very present and it was obvious that it is a band favorite. Fans that are unsure what to expect from the newly developed band can be assured of their continual movement forward. “We’re looking to record an EP soon, possibly during the next break,” Lacerte said. Until then, check the group out on their page on Myspace.com.