Poor Harvey is a band on a mission – out to prove Baton Rouge deserves some original music that rocks.
With a gritty sound running the gambit of musical stylings from jazz, funk and punk, Poor Harvey aims to play rock ‘n’ roll with no limitations.
Poor Harvey is comprised of drummer Dan “Danimal” Thompson and brothers Patrick Johnson (bass and vocals) and Paul Johnson (guitar and vocals).
“We don’t sound like anybody but ourselves,” Patrick said.
The band members say as long as they are playing original music they are working toward their goal.
Paul said he wants the band to make themselves part of the musical circle already out there.
“[We want to tap into] the eternal spiral of never ending rock ‘n’ roll, the perpetual motion of harmony, rhythm and melody,” Paul said.
Poor Harvey got its start at Ichabod’s, a place they think of as home base.
They played some of their first gigs there and think of it as where they cut their teeth.
Members of the band say places such as Ichabod’s give them pride in the Baton Rouge music scene.
They said they have faith in the original bands in Baton Rouge.
Patrick said it seems the scene is flooded with cover bands and sometimes it is hard for an original band to get its head above water.
“[Baton Rouge] is a good music scene with the potential to be great, if original bands just stick to their guns,” said Patrick.
The boys love playing for other musicians, and give praises to other local bands.
This appreciation of others helped the band land a place on Baton Rouge native Kristin Diable’s label Meridian Jane Records.
Poor Harvey met Diable when they both played at an LSU show in February.
Meridian Jane will distribute the band’s upcoming CD “Antimatter” to more markets in Louisiana and make the CD available in New York.
The band played the Varsity Theatre Wednesday night with Ingram Hill.
“[Live shows are] a lot like sex,” Patrick said. “A musical orgasm.”
The band agrees a good performance involves total communication among all the players.
The three must become one, a trait the band seems to have accomplished.
Their shows reflect their commitment to making good music.
The band cites acts ranging from Miles Davis to Black Sabbath, Duke Ellington to Black Flag as inspiring their grassroots sound.
Thompson’s first concert was Metallica, and the last one was he saw was Tom Petty.
Thompson seems to be the main source of the band’s jazzy style.
He solved the problem facing the Johnsons before, when they were playing with a drummer who was leaning toward what Patrick called “death metal.”
Now Thompson said he feels just like he is another Johnson brother.
Patrick said he admires the early ’90s rock band the Pixies. After meeting Pixies leader Francis Black and letting him listen to one of the band’s CDs, Black’s praises helped him continue the confidence in the band.
Their sound reflects the wide spectrum of music they enjoy.
Poor Harvey is at one point reminiscent of the Toadies and Soundgarden.
But it moves to sounding more like a mellow jam band and then to sounding like the Clash. The boys wanted to be unique, and their effort pays off.
When asked to choose one song that represented them best, the boys claim it is impossible.
Each song is representative, because like their sound each song is different.
One listen to their last CD “Sonus” speaks for itself.
Poor Harvey’s sound is distinct without being exclusive. They believe in original music, and their music might make fans believe too.