They quit their day jobs. After four and a half years together, a single album, and untold numbers of gigs, the Complaints -- Dean Petrella, Chris Cruz, and Anthony Marotti -- left the security of their conventional wage-earning positions and set out for destinations unknown. That is, they were hoping to make a living off the band.

It wasn't an entirely uncalculated risk. If you've been around the local club scene over the past few years, you know that Dean and company have been building steadily towards something worthwhile. Their tough, working man's guitar pop has made some seriously good impressions around town, as far north as Maine, and as far south as Philly. That's the corridor within which they work.

But in order to make it on their own, they had to concede a few things. "We had to be versatile in what we could play," says Petrella, who does all the band's booking. "If we wanted to play a lot, we had to find a way to get booked at places that feature cover bands. So I found a way to play a handful of covers we like that people will know, from Dave Matthews to the Police. Learning that stuff allows us to play the kind of places where we can make extra money and still not feel like we're selling out as a band."

Every Tuesday, for example, the band plays a venue on the Cape, where they play half originals, half covers. "We struggled with possibly changing our name when we did cover nights," admits Petrella. "But we always do at least 50 percent originals. And besides, the Beatles and Stones started out this way, right?"

Since leaving their day jobs and hiting the road, Petrella, Cruz, and Marotti have come together -- as people, as friends, as musicians, and as a band. "It's really made us a brotherhood," says Petrella. "It made us focus on what we want and what it's all about for us. We had two gigs in Vermont this weekend, which is a 6.5-hour drive from where I live in West Warwick. You've gotta love what you're doing when you do that!"

Staying busy right now is the key to keeping the Complaints, from, uh, complaining. When they're not playing as a band, Dean sets out on acoustic shows. "We need to play, we need to be in front of people. You can't play out a lot if you have a narrow focus. Plus, you get better at what you do by getting out there." The band's philosophy has enabled them to do the seemingly unthinkable: pay their bills and support the band by playing music. "I'd be lying if I said we were getting rich," Dean admits, "but we're getting by." So far, the Complaints have sold 4000 copies of their debut CD, 1999's Fear, a disc that was also voted Album of the Year in the Providence Phoenix. "We're selling them two, maybe five at a time, but we're doing it!"

The Complaints should have an easier time reaching that number with their new disc, Criminal Mind. It's a brave, confident statement of intent -- that the Complaints mean to make music that is enjoyable but at the same time serious and weighty. While songs like "Weak" and "Elena" are propulsive and powerful, other tracks, like "Comeback" and "Stole Sisters Sacred Secret," feel feathery, with a filigreed guitar line and a light rhythm touch. Think power pop a la Elvis Costello or Marshall Crenshaw, add a dash of Dave Matthews's tip-toe pop, mix in a little Stones, and you have a winning formula.

"This record is a product of us, traveling, quitting our jobs, gigging four, five or six nights a week," says Dean. "When we made Fear we were together less than a year. It was a real straight-ahead rock record. This is much more indicative of where we are and where we're going."

While the record was pieced together in Philly and at Sound Station 7, the band also recorded some of the tracks themselves. "We spent a lot of money on equipment, which is one reason the record took a long time to come out. There's a lot of growing, a lot of education, and a lotta love in it."

The band picked up Digital Performer 3, a few high-end Audio-Technica microphones, and a few old amps to do vocals and guitar tracks. They then translated those tracks into Pro Tools at SS7, and had the mastering done at Sterling Sound in NYC.

Now that they have a great new record in the can, set for release this weekend, what happens next? "I talk to people all the time -- management, agents, nightclubs, newspapers," Dean says. "But in this day and age, it's so competitive, people are forced to make records in their cellar. The record labels want to see you sell 10,000 on your own and hear that 500 people come out to see you at all of your shows. I'm a stubborn Italian kid from Silver Lake, I want to talk about lyrics and music. These people don't want to talk about music at all.

"I guess we have to talk to these people," he concedes. "But I really believe we wanna do these things we need to do on our own. And besides, if I were meeting those numbers and making that kind of money, why on earth would I want to sign with a record label?"

The Complaints' CD release party is set for Saturday, October 12 at Lupo's. Criminal Mind goes on sale at Newbury Comics next week, and is available at www.thecomplaints.com.

WANDERING EYE. Illustrious Day will be playing at Cats on Saturday (the 12th) with Emery Vesch and Greyshine. Music starts at 9 p.m. This serves as ID's first local show with their new drummer, Dan MacLeod. Rhode Island's own Iditarod have been tapped to play Terrastock 5, an international psychedelic and folk fest that began here in Providence some five years ago. Thirty-five artists will perform over three days -- October 11, 12, and 13 -- including Sonic Youth, Bardo Pond, Ghost, Acid Mothers Temple, Tom Rapp/Pearls Before Swine, the Bevis Frond, and a bunch more! It's at Axis in Boston. Go to www.terrascope.org/t5.html.

The Courthouse Center for the Arts in West Kingston presents the South County Arts & Music Showcase, a celebration of Rhode Island artists and musicians, on Sunday (the 13th). An art reception will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and the music starts soon after with performances by Chiva Bus, Gary Gramolini (from John Cafferty's Beaver Brown Band), Sandol Astrausky & Rory MacLeod (from Hatfield McCoy Trio), Mike Fischman and Ed McGuirl, Greg Badigian & Eric Neff, and Bob Woods. Refreshments will be available and the galleries will be open during the musical performances. There is no charge for the art exhibit; tickets for the concert are $8 general admission ($4 for children, or $20 for the entire family). For more information, call the Courthouse Center at 782-1018.

Entrain returns to the area on Friday (the 11th) at Jokers Night Club (3057 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, Massachusetts) for a jamming evening of world music after a summer of extensive touring, including a Colorado tour and trip to Tokyo. Doors open at 9 p.m.; tickets are $10.

Also at Jokers, musicians, Beatles fans, music lovers, and friends will come together on Sunday (the 13th) for the 19th Annual John Lennon Birthday Tribute. The event celebrates the life and work of Lennon and will be presented from 7 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door.

Reach me at big.daddy1@cox.net.

Issue Date: October 11 - 17, 2002