BROOKLYN, NY—Being that I’ve been a fan of The Company Band since I heard of their beginnings, having the rare opportunity to see them perform live was certainly a treat. Due to the fact that they’ve been busy for most of the year with their main bands, it’s always been difficult for these gentlemen to put a lot of focus on this project. In any case, to promote the release of their new EP, Pros And Cons, TCB did a three-night stint of shows in Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York. I was given the chance to attend the New York show and immediately took advantage of it.
I arrived to Brooklyn early, as I usually do for most shows, and in the back of the bar near the stage, the boys were finishing up their sound check. It was at this moment that I was able to meet each member and share a few kind words on how big of a fan I am. They seemed more than happy to hear me tell them about how much I dug their sound. This vibe of friendliness was certainly present in their live set. The two openers, Black Cowgirl and Lionize, were finishing up their fantastic sets and The Company Band began setting up for their performance. The venue wasn’t packed too much, which was somewhat shocking to me. Almost every other fan was wearing a Clutch T-shirt, though not a single person was representing Fu Manchu, CKY, or Fireball Ministry. Much confusion stirred in my brain, leaving me to wonder what it was about The Company Band besides their frontman, Neil Fallon, that attracted fans. As soon as the band began playing, we were all thrown back by their aggressive style of rock and roll. Each player carried the essence of their own band with them, yet a new sound to accompany it. Throughout the night, a feeling of friendship existed, though the jokes being cracked by rhythm guitarist Jim Rota (Fireball Ministry) seemed to be met by silence in between songs. It was almost as if we were all just waiting to hear what was next. The anticipation was bearable due to the fact that the space in between tracks was short before a cue was made by someone in the band to start the next groove.
On bass, Brad Davis grooved with a crunch that was reminiscent of Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath, which to my understanding is his biggest influence. Drummer Jess Margera played in a basic manner with a nonchalant attitude. Regardless of the fact that I have seen Neil Fallon perform many a time and he’s never ceased to amaze me, there was something different going on here. I can’t recall hearing this man (or any other for that matter) hit notes so high in my life. In my eyes, the hit of the show was the guitar playing of Dave Bone. The guy was a solid player and he seemed to have solos that were very clearly heard.
Outside, in the middle of a conversation with Brad Davis and Dave Bone, it was revealed to me that this musical endeavor is mainly an excuse for these five guys to get together and party as friends. The Company Band definitely showed me a good time that night and proved themselves to be gentlemen and scholars when it came to their trade. There was such a strong connection between the band and the fans that was felt. By the end of the night it was clear that while they may have a lot of fun and joke around, when it comes to their music, The Company Band means business.
