General Noise is a piano-based Alt Rock band from Atlanta, similar in sound to Ben Folds, Sara Bareilles, and Elton John. The band is run and operated by bassist Jason Matthews and vocalist/pianist Andy Perez, with other Atlanta-area musicians rotating in and out of the lineup as needed.
Formed in 2005, General Noise has seen huge success touring colleges and clubs throughout the Eastern US and highlighted their critical acclaim with 4 regional showcase selections to the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) and Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities (APCA) conferences.
Their first full-length album, Blueprint for the Budding Revolutionary, was released in 2008.
Q&A with Andy:
What kind of music is it?
For industry purposes, they tell me to make the obvious comparisons to Ben Folds and other piano artists, like Fiona Apple and Elton John. Which isn't a bad thing, because I like all that music, especially Elton John's older, more rock-and-roll stuff. Personally, though, I hope at some point we reflect a little of the music we grew up on, like the improvisation-tendencies of the Dave Matthews Band, the energy of Green Day, and the creativity of the Counting Crows. But I also adore artists like Elliott Smith and The Decembrists, and Jason seems to love pretty much all pop-punk. So in theory all of that should be making appearances in our music here and there. Really, though, if you want to just say "they sound like Ben Folds", go right ahead.
A 2-person band seems unusual.
Yeah, Jason and I have thought a lot about that, since while we're obviously a full, 4-piece band, we only have two permanent people. Back when we were auditioning drummers and sax players and such, we must have tried out 30, 40 different people looking for permanent members. We're just dead-set on playing with really, really talented musicians, and the reality for us is that bringing in a permanent addition to the band is a lot like getting married. So when you combine how picky we are and how difficult it is to permanently nail down great musicians, you end up where we are now, with two front-people and a rotating group of guys we pull from for touring and shows. But I'm very comfortable with our situation, because it allows me to perform and record with some of the best, most talented people out there.
Thanks Andy and Benji for playing at the Middle School Retreat! The piano in "Wanna Be in the Light" was fabulous. I loved the song you wrote Benji. Rock on guys.
I just wanted to say I noticed on the "Sounds Like" part of your page you have "Early Elton John." That's exactly what I thought when I heard you guys for the first time ever at NACA Central. I've pretty muched been obsessed with Elton since I was born. That might have had a little to do with how I liked you guys immediately!
Yeah, you guys probably know more about the Indie Wars next year than I do. All I know is that there is going to be one, and I just found this out Friday. Hopefully you guys can make it. Keep me posted. I miss you three.
Tehe, OOOH...THRILLING. What a WILD boy you are... (who am I talking to, P.S.?) : D
My costume...completely ridiculous and absolutely stupid, but honestly GENIUS and TOTALLY me...
It's a black shirt with a giant letter "U" on it...that's it. Thereby, when people ask me, "what the hell are you supposed to be?" I can graciously reply, "who me? I'm u..." : D