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If you're out at a bar this weekend on the Eastern Shore, the chances are pretty good that you'll see an acoustic duo shoved off in a corner somewhere.
With wallets tightening and floor space becoming more and more precious, there isn't a lot of room for a set of drums and the usual quartet of guitars, bass, keyboards and a singer.
"That's been happening for the last couple of years," guitarist Pete Bozick said. "More than anything, it has to do with the economy -- a lot of the clubs that we used to play at as a full band will say, 'Well, we're going to cut the price back. You can bring your full band in here, but we understand if you want to pair it back to a duo.'"
Bozick, a member of The Permilla Projects, The Larks, The Bullbuckers and The Pam Miller Band, knows local music about as well as anyone. His latest foray, PB&J, fits into the condensed model of duos favored by many area venues.
"It's a really fun format, though," Bozick said. "It's a really classic format, and it really challenges you as a musician to be on top of your game and make a full, rocking sound with just two guys on acoustic guitars."
PB&J features Bozick on lead guitar and Josh Pryor, who also fronts metal stalwarts Goatbag and the alt rock band Robots, on lead vocals and rhythm guitar.
"(Pryor) called me up, asking me to join him," Bozick said. "A couple of places he was playing were looking for a little different act. I thought that'd be fun because I love his style. He's got a great take on the songs that he plays. His singing has a real neat take on the phrasing to stuff, and it's just really fun to do."
The duo mines familiar territory, packaging together 1980s and 1990s alternative rock with hip hop in a way that's meant to be a departure from other acts who share a similar makeup.
"At a PB&J show, you're just going to come out and sing along to a bunch of songs that you know," Bozick said, "but they're done a little bit differently than the usual take. We're going to do a little more harder, punk rock-style version of the songs, and that just comes from Josh Pryor's sensibilities and style and the things that he's into.
"The name obviously comes from (our names), but it's also kind of great because like peanut butter and jelly you've got two completely different types of things that come together for one unique sound."
Even though both musicians are playing in several bands simultaneously, Bozick insists there is a common thread.
"It can get a little confusing, but ... I think the bands that I'm in have me for a reason to just play my style," he said. "So whether I'm doing, rock or jazz, I still sound like Pete. It's a lot to memorize -- each band has a different element to it, so there's not a lot of redundancy or repetition. That keeps everything interesting and enjoyable. You've got the whole range of stuff, and it allows me to step on all the different elements of music that I like -- which is all of it."
Cool article.
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