Patrolled By Radar (PBR) is a roots rock trio based in Los Angeles. The band blends alt-country, blues and soul with "equal parts British invasion, cow-punk and Americana, songwriting respected as craft".[1]

Patrolled By Radar
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, CA, USA
GenresBritish Invasion[1]
Cowpunk[1]
Americana[1][2]
Alternative country[3]
Roots music[2][3]
Folk[2]
Rock[2]
Country[2]
Blues[2]
Soul[2]
Years active2010-present
MembersJay Souza: songwriter, lead vocals, acoustic guitar, blues harp
Bosco Sheff: lead guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals
Ben Johnsen: drums, backing vocals
Past membersPreston Mann: organ, piano, accordion

After dismantling his group 50 Cent Haircut, which had been an institution in the US southwest for over a decade and performed over 1,000 shows,[4] folksinger Souza formed PBR in 2010 with lead guitarist and longtime bandmate Bosco Sheff, both of whom are from Boston, Massachusetts.

Shortly thereafter, they were joined by drummer Ben Johnsen, a veteran of the New York City music scene from Hackensack, New Jersey. The sound post-production an Emmy-winner Preston Mann, from Paisley, Scotland, played with the group on Hammond Organ and piano from 2012 to 2014.

Managed for their first two years by Knitting Factory Entertainment's CEO, Morgan Margolis,[5] they released their first album, Be Happy, in June 2011, on Knitting Factory Records.[2] Recorded and mixed by the Grammy-nominated producer Peter Curry of the group Los Straitjackets, the record received good reviews. On that momentum, they toured in direct support of the Grammy winners Los Lonely Boys, playing to capacity audiences in concert theaters throughout the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. A review of their performance at The Wilma Theater in Missoula, Montana, described PBR as "classic heartland rock and roll, providing an old school Bob Dylan and The Band vibe".[citation needed]

In 2013, the group independently released a full-length studio album of cover versions titled Cards, Gifts & Caskets Vol. 1.[6] They finished a full-length original record titled "Cool Your Jets", set for release early 2014. Both, were produced by Peter Curry.

"With a timeless narrative style"[2] PBR is a consummate bar band in the 1970s pub rock tradition and has played with Porter Wagoner, Marty Stuart, Taj Mahal, Dave Davies Kinks Chronicles, The Jayhawks, Tim Finn and Richard Thompson, Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs,[7] and The Gourds.

"A mixture of Bob Dylan lyrics with Ray Davies passion, add a dash of Johnny Cash swagger and throw in a Wilco-type musical journey and you have Patrolled By Radar."[8]

Discography edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Album: Patrolled By Radar, "Be Happy"". SoundSpike. June 20, 2011. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013. Souza, who still pulls a regular shift as a bartender, has concocted an intoxicating elixir of equal parts British invasion, cow punk and Americana. … This is songwriting respected as craft, no doubt a pile of crumpled lyric sheets left in its wake.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Patrolled by Radar, L.A.'s Americana pub-rockers, sign to Knitting Factory and ready 'Be Happy'". No Depression. April 6, 2011. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "2011 CD Reviews". American Roots UK. August 1, 2011. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013. On the strength of this tremendous album I may well be delving in to their back catalogue to see how their sound developed into this mainly alt. country, but with more besides, mix of roots music.
  4. ^ ""Normal" 50 cent Haircut - Live at the Pitcher House". Dailymotion. January 15, 2005. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2013. Americana Roots Rock Quintet, 50 cent Haircut, performs live at the Pitcher House in Hermosa Beach CA on January 15th 2005
  5. ^ "High Adventure Management Showcase". May 19, 2011. Archived from the original on March 1, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2011. High Adventure Management handles the careers of emerging and critically acclaimed recording artists both in the U.S. and overseas. It is the West Coast artist management wing of Knitting Factory Entertainment....
  6. ^ a b "PATROLLED BY RADAR presents their first covers record!". 2012. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  7. ^ "Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs + Patrolled by Radar". Time Out New York. May 19, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2011. The English garage-rock doyenne...[dead link]
  8. ^ "CD Review: Patrolled By Radar Want You To "Be Happy"". Record Journal. June 7, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013. A mixture of Bob Dylan lyrics with Ray Davies passion, add a dash of Johnny Cash swagger and throw in a Wilco-type musical journey and you have Patrolled By Radar.
  9. ^ "PATROLLED BY RADAR READIES 'BE HAPPY' ON KNITTING FACTORY RECORDS, OUT ON JUNE 7". Music Industry News Network. June 4, 2011. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2011. LOS ANGELES, CA — Patrolled by Radar's Be Happy is an album of original songs penned by singer-songwriter Jay Souza. ... Be Happy is the band's debut CD on Knitting Factory Records through RED Distribution, set for worldwide release on June 7, 2011

External links edit