Buzzing Rickenbacker guitars, vintage fuzz organ and pop smarts separate Carry the Zero from the force-fed rock that plagues the airwaves. The trio — Matt Erhartic on guitar, Bill Gaudette on the skins and Eddie "Velvet Fingers" Paquette on the keys — combines left-of-the-dial, indie pop cool with the sexy kick of your old Elvis Costello and Jam records. Carry The Zero delivers garage-door bustin' riffs with all the sharp licks and the swinging hips your family has come to love.
"Hey!, Hey!, Hey!" Reviews:
The Noise
"It takes balls to call your album Hey! Hey! Hey!–people are going to expect you to throw it down and get the dance floor all beery and maybe bloody. But the title track (entitled “Title Track”) will put your mind at ease and your body in motion, as the band comes out swinging like The Turbines, and with the same kind of vintage sound but better guitars. Things slow down a bit after that, but they don’t lose intensity, and then the wah-wah-soaked chop chords of “Rev ‘Em Up” bring you back to the fist-pumping. Now, it also takes balls to cover “Midnight Confessions.” Full credit for the fact that this cover works so well goes to singer Matt Erhartic, who belts out these songs with the soul of Sam Cooke, a range wider than yours, and enough pissed-off-ness to make it sound like these tracks were done with a cop standing in the doorway yelling “Okay, boys, time to wrap it up, the neighbors have had enough.” But you haven’t. Excellent." (Tim Emswiler)
WBRU Providence
"A beautiful blend of rock music from the '60s and the '00's, Carry the Zero has edge, talent, and attitude. When I put on the band's disc, the hard riffs and smooth vocals immediately struck me as rock star caliber material."
Pulse Magazine
The trio's energetic, crowd-pleasing stage show is of a caliber one would expect to see from established performances in any international city. In other words: CTZ is tight as tight can be, as is evident on "Hey, Hey, Hey, (Title Track)" the first track off the freshly minted Pulse-exclusive demo (one of the perks) that CTZ forked over. The song launches with a build-up that would rival the looming, overcast skies of any classic Nor’easter. Then, as if finely sharpened with a Bowie knife, wrenching guitar and keys tear through thundering floor toms, brandishing a sharp sword of savage "danceability." The infectious verse gives way to clear pre-chords, catchy presentation, which leaves even the most critical ear saying, "Damn, that was freakin' sweet!" Another nugget of CTZ sound is the wonderful collaboration dubbed "Start a Fire", which blends the melody and rhythm of Edmund Paquette, keys/bass, Bill Gaudette's floorboard-loosening percussion, and the rock-star vocals and stringed thrashings of lead man Matt Erhartic. Few area bands can match the intensity and accuracy that CTZ achieves in every note, none of which are ever wasted." (Michael Shivick)
Performer Magazine
"Opening with the paradoxically named "Title Track," CTZ launches into a tremendous buildup, followed by the wails of wrenching guitars rising over thundering toms. Giving way to an infectious chorus, the equally memorable verses prepare the ear for the tightly crafted song writing to come. From the catchy "Rev Em' Up" to the county roots inspired "Start A Fire" - which dabbles in gospel territory while maintaining a classic indie-rock twang - the men of Carry the Zero have learned how to rock with a tighter, more cohesive sound than ever before. They have also included a cover of "Midnight Confessions" by the Grass Roots, politically charged anthems like "Hell Like a Hurricane," and the Sheila Divine-esque confessional "Bandages & Bulletwounds." Their blend of melody and rhythm forms the perfect framework for Erhartic's rock-star vocals. It all comes together in an excellent conflation of intensity and accuracy, successfully navigating the pitfalls of overindulgent, directionless rock epic. Ultimately, Hey, Hey, Hey plays like an updated version of classic rock with its vintage swagger and nod to the good old days." (Jess Baggia)
Metronome Magazine
"Okay, you got my attention with a Hot, scantily clad beauty [Tianna Ta] on the CD cover but does the music live up to the hype? Yeah, it does. Loud, raucous rock & roll from singer-guitarist Matt Erhartic, keyboardist Ed Paquette, and drummer Bill Gaudette are what's delivered on this wickedly recorded 7-song sampler. And what's even cooler? No bass player. Do you miss the low-end thump? Not in this rollicking brand of original rock. It sounds like punk got tangled up in a pop rock web of Sci-Fi melodrama. Cool stuff and definitely something I'd like to see performed live."
Hello CTZ, I have some bad news for you all; During your last show I developed a bad case of venereal disease, I was back stage and I think I gave it to Matt. And Billy. And possibly Eddie too. Anyways, get some penicillin, and dont wear white underwear unless you want them to turn green.
your mom's a bitch!... because i'm coming back east for x-mas and you guys are playing a show on the night of the day i leave. i wish i could've come to a show, but i guess you'll just have to come visit san fran and rock out
