Jim Spellos (guitar, lead and backing vocals, keyboards, harmonica); Mark LaRiviere (bass, lead and backing vocals); Thierry Farges (guitar, backing vocals); Susan Murray (lead and backing vocals); Jon Weiswasser (drums).
Influences
Lots of them. The Beatles (natch...we're all in our 40's and 50's). The Band. 60's psychedelic meets power pop (Grateful Dead --> Elvis Costello). Man, some sound, eh? Too many others to list here.
Sounds Like
What...is this a game of charades? Anyway, hard to peg. If you ask our bassist, Mark, he'd say it goes from rock/pop, to anthemic rock (think Meat Loaf, Supertramp, etc.).
Contraband was formed in 2002 by long time friends & musical partners Jim Spellos and Thierry Farges. Adding singer Susan Murray and bassist Mark LaRiviere in 2003, and drummer John (Johnny Mac) McMenamin in '04, the band gigged occassionally in NYC. After searching for a replacement for Johnny Mac, who moved to a foreign country (Florida), they finally found Jon Weiswasser to fill out the band as their drummer.
Since 2006, Contraband has become an originals band, with music written by Jim Spellos, and lyrics written by Jim and Mark LaRiviere. In April 2008, they began working in the studio to record their first CD/digital compilation. They're hoping that will be done in late 2008.
The band's goals are simple. Make great music, enjoy each other's company, and drink lots of red wine (well, most of the band). Playing some gigs is also part of that mix.
