"To get together and do it like it's your last day to do it." This is how one should "Chuch it up," describes Matt Hayes, who plays pedal steel, lap steel and dobro and sings for the Burlington, Vermont-based band Chuch. Hayes, along with the rest of Chuch - Chad Hammaker (electric and acoustic guitars and vocals) and brothers Justin (percussion and vocals) and Noah Crowther (bass and vocals) - point out that their sound is actually a wide range of their influences, but have described it as "Underground Outlaw Country" when asked to classify their sound.
Chuch came together when Hayes and Haymaker-who have known each other as long as they can remember-and the Crowther brothers started hanging out together in high school in Port Trevorton, a small town in central Pennsylvania. By this time, they each had been playing their respective instruments for a few years, and had started to make music together in the Crowther garage, which they dubbed "The Cave." Following graduation from high school, they took off separately, as Hayes explains, to "do our own things in different areas of the country. After about five years, we eventually started to play open mics at bars and coffeehouses." The four reunited after about three years, regrouped and Chuch was born.
Influenced by everyone from Black Sabbath and Little Feat, to Muddy Waters and Mahavishnu Orchestra, the band's sound and style is a blast of country, punk, heavy metal and rock and roll. This sound is quite evident in the songs that grace their their two albums, "Four Tall" and "Juarez" filled with energetic, hook-laden melodies, and excellent vocal harmonies.
The band's original material, which is written by everyone in the band, mainly focuses on the things currently going on in their lives, or on things that have happened to them in the past, such as celebrating a birthday at a rest stop, which inspired "Shiffy Man," a track from "Four Tall." Hayes elaborates, "If one of our buddies falls down drunk, knocks out his two front teeth while I'm eating a slice of pizza, it's probably going to end up in a song."
While recording is always an amazing experience for them, Chuch would prefer to bring their message to a live audience. "When we're playing live, you never know what will happen or what happened for that matter," says Hayes. We've left places thinking that was the worst show we've ever played, and somewhere down the road we hear a recording of that night and really enjoy some things that we thought were disasters before. If we have to pick one or the other, playing live is what it's all about."
Chuch has hit the road, gone coast-to-coast and even to Mexico adding songs to their extensive playlist including original tunes and covers ranging from Willie Nelson and Gram Parsons, to the Meat Puppets and the Ramones, sharing the stage with acts like My Morning Jacket, Junior Brown, Southern Culture on the Skids & Son Volt to name a few. The band also played on the side stage at two very memorable Gathering of the Vibes festivals and High Sierra Music Festival in California, where they made lasting impressions and drew an even larger fanbase.
After two albums and an amazing ride, Chuch disbanded in early 2008.
"Thanks to all our friends, old and new, everyone that has supported us along the way, our hometown crew, friends, drunkards & dancers. Thanks to everyone we have met, the many bands and musicians we have had the pleasure to perform with, and finally thanks to every single person out there that believes in and comes out to support live music."
To purchase both albums, or Chuch's DVD (a video project by Brian Granfors called "That, I Couldn't Live With" - chronicling Chuch's 2006 Summer Tour) please see the links below:
"FOUR TALL"
Visit: http://cdbaby.com/cd/chuch
"JUAREZ"
Visit: http://cdbaby.com/cd/chuchmusic
To purchase "THAT, I COULDN'T LIVE WITH" ...OR any T-Churts or other Murch (buttons, stickers) please send a message through this page for full details on how to obtain a copy. We accept PayPal!
Enjoy this extended trailer of "That, I Couldn't Live With":
