Up, up, and away

Comic Book Super Heroes' sonic adventures

by Bob Gulla

Back in 1995, Cranston was the same as it is now -- a rather large, ultimately non-descript city that doesn't leave its residents much to complain about or much to crow about either. One of the things that the four Merida brothers -- Moe, Javi, Oscar, and James -- did to counteract that neutral malaise was start a band, the Comic Book Super Heroes -- a punk band, a band designed to make people feel something one way or the other. Love or hate, agony or ecstasy, you know the drill. The Meridas were a talented and inspired bunch who wanted to break through the malaise and give their lives meaning. It would take a few years, and the defection of eldest brother Moe, but eventually, something began happening.

"When we started out," says Javi, "we were straightforward punk with a funk influence that was hard to hear. But we really liked funk, so we stuck a horn section in the band to try and distinguish ourselves from what was popular at the time. We didn't know if we could pull it off, but we decided to stick with that formula." At the time, the CBSH lead singer was doing a rap thing -- the scene was just starting to turn to rap-rock. But as that sound gained in acceptance, CBSH didn't want to be perceived as followers, so they bagged that approach and began carving out a niche of their own. That niche, full of heavy rock and vibe-acious horn-driven funk, is in evidence on their second full-length disc, the freshly minted eponymous The Comic Book Super Heroes.

"Our sound has evolved quite a bit," says Javi. "We initially did that Rage/Beastie Boys thing, but once it became big it was kind of ridiculous. On the new record, we tried to incorporate different sounds: flamenco, Arabic music, heavy metal, with soulful back-up singing. And the stuff we're writing now is even more eclectic."

The birth of The Comic Book Super Heroes disc was arduous and painful, consuming almost two years. Recorded at a studio in Akron, Ohio, and finished off in New Jersey, the disc required a full year of rehearsal and pre-production. Before recording, they teamed with a producer who had been a stranger to the band's heavy rock groove. That required a courtship and a learning curve. Producer Mike Jackson was the boss of the project. "Mike is more commercially oriented," says Javi, "and that was difficult at first. We didn't want anyone to tell us what to do on the business end as well as on the musical side. But in the end we were willing to swallow that pill in order to achieve the goal."

The goal in question was to achieve an existential comfort level through music. "Everyone needs a career eventually," Javi admits. "We didn't think we could find a better one than to make music as a livelihood. That would be a dream come true. We're not interested in fame, per se, but we'll take it as a kind of mixed blessing."

Since 1995 the CBSH have been clinging on to that dream like a child to its mother's hem. Every once in a while the band will even get a little pat on the head. "Once in a while we get this extra boost of hope that we might actually make it," says Javi. "Either we'll meet someone or someone will offer these promises that keep our spirits up."

Musically speaking they sure don't have a problem keeping spirits up. Their disc is a powerful wash of horn-driven zing and heavy chord electricity. The 12-song set veers from James Brown-style chicka-chicka funk and classic R&B horn charts to chugging overdriven guitar chords ala Rage's Tom Morello. And that's only the first track! The band, which also consists of Dave Regoli on trumpet, Fares Rihani on guitars, and a few friends on backing vocals, is a true team effort, coming together nicely on bad-ass metallic funk like "Masochism," the fuzzy Hendrix psychedelia of "Seratonin," the sweet Cuban sound of "A.M.A.R." and the magical punk riffing of "Super Manguera." There's even a little ska on "Strokin' It," which is funny because, though the band clearly isn't a ska act, they've often been mistaken for one by folks who learn of their horn section.

"We get branded as a ska band all the time," says Javi, humored. "It's strange because, first of all, not all ska bands have horns and, second, not all horn bands play ska. Not that we have anything against ska!" But the misinformation concerning the CBSH is fast dissipating now that they're boosting their local profile and turning audiences on with regularity. "I guess we've gained a certain amount of respect on the local scene lately, mostly from bouncers and sound guys. I wish there was more of a draw around town, but that'll change with promotion and representation."

Merida isn't too quick, though, to blame the local scene for anything. "I really admire a lot of the bands locally," he says. "It's not a bad scene. It's not a ghost town; I'm comfortable being here. I'm a proud to be in a Providence band."

While the Merida brothers and company haven't been able to give up their day jobs -- Javi's a union electrician, while his brother James works at the Cable Car Cinema -- they still have their hearts set on dedicating their lives to music. "Music is my particular way of expressing myself through a spiritual channel. There's something in it that yanks at my emotions. I think everyone needs a passion, and everyone has something that creates passion in them. People need that to give their life purpose. Music is my channel. Some people's life purpose is to entertain. I intend to do it for the rest of my life or for as long as I can." Whichever, of course, comes first.

Comic Book Super Heroes will perform at the Met on Friday, July 6.

WANDERING EYE. Projekt Records act Faith & Disease, an ambient/ ethereal/dreampop band from Seattle, is touring in support of their recent album Beneath the Trees, their sixth release since forming in 1992. The band will play a free show at Trinity Brewhouse on Saturday, July 7. Doors open at 9 p.m. and you must be 18-plus. Contact 453-2337 for help.

If the goth thing doesn't make you break out the eye shadow, the Ocean Mist has something very different in store on Saturday. Percy Hill's album Color In Bloom won the "Studio Album of the Year" at the First Annual 2000 Jambands.com Jammy Awards, and has gained critical acclaim from some credible folks. Their sound has been placed in the same sort of breezy folk-pop as Sting, Paul Simon, and Steely Dan. Get there early. You know how this jam stuff goes over in a college town in the summertime.

Bob Gulla can be reached at b_gulla@yahoo.com.