By Kevin J. Hosey

A team of veteran musicians, the Outlyers, has released the best roots rock/Americana CD by a Buffalo band in years on “Hits & Myths,” the band’s second CD. Things start off with a bang on “Criminal,” written and sung by guitarist Dave Meinzer; a tough opening riff leads to the twin guitars of Meinzer and Adam Gearing as Meinzer sings of staying honest and trustworthy in dishonest times. Gearing offers a cool electric solo near the end. The jangly, roots pop rock of “Everything But the Time” follows; Gearing sings that they have possessions, but time shouldn’t be wasted on them; they are nowhere near as important as quality time with each other and family. The vitality of family continues on “Scatterplot,” also written and sung by Gearing; the mid-tempo, slightly distorted electric guitar introduction leads to some county flavored rock that gets some punch from horns. Gearing (a Buffalo school teacher) sings of his and his family and friends’ reality versus media “reality,” noting that their lives and what is important to them (honesty, family, children, helping others) is less sexy than the trite possessions, money and sex shown too often. He’ll take responsibility and doing what’s right any day. “Tumble Down,” written and sung by keyboardist (and Meinzer’s wife) Cathy Carfagna, is deceptively upbeat, R&B influenced rock and roll in which she wonders if our lives and the system will fall apart as we pursue individual wants over the good of society. “State Street” is the most specifically political song, as Gearing sings about his experiences campaigning for John Kerry for President in Erie, Pennsylvania, one weekend morning, including the hopes, dreams and goals he fought for and the guilt he feels for not succeeding: “Want to change the world/it seems like a fine day” and “we’re here for the broken hearted/all the dreams that never got started.” The Outlyers, including bassist Tom Fischer and drummer/vocalist Jim Celeste (Bob Chapman also plays drums), the former rhythm section of the Riddlers (as well as Gearing) and the Pine Dogs (with former Outlyer Jim Whitford, who guests on pedal and lap steel on a couple of songs here), do a good job led by Meinzer on the production. The Outlyers can be contacted at www.outlyers.com or outlyers@buffalo.com.

By Kevin J. Hosey

Almost 30 years ago, the Vores, containing the core of guitarist/vocalist (and photographer) Biff Henrich and bassist/studio keyboardist Gary Nickard, started playing out and recording in Buffalo, leaving an indelible mark as possibly the best post-punk (a term I hate), new wave and art rock band this area has seen before calling it a day in the 1980s. Fans of Pere Ubu, Gang of Four and Wire would probably find a lot to like with the old Vores, and still find enough to like about the “new” Vores, still featuring Henrich and Nickard.
The Vores’ new CD, “Moments of Uncertainty,” is actually comprised of old and new material; for the most part, at least partially because I am more familiar with it, the older material sounds better to me, and certainly is less conventional sounding. My favorite song here is the oldie “Heartbeat,” with high-pitched guitars snaking and bending as Henrich sings of alienation, the threat of violence and confusion, possibly getting in the head of a serial killer or person fighting the urge to kill. By the end, the heavily rhythmic guitars are all but grinding. “Stress,” a song I have on an old mix tape, builds from bass and chugging guitar in tempo and volume, as Henrich is about to burst from the stress and strain of everyday life. “Joke” has jangly guitars and bent notes with a spooky new wave feel before kicking in/toughening a bit. The song is apparently about an obsessive loner who may be crossing the line from nosey to stalker. “New Personality,” which as far as I know is a new song, discusses putting up barriers, false faces and fronts and obtaining possessions to make better impressions and fit in with society. “The Rack” also addresses people under stress and strain, but musically reminds me of an old Vores’ song, the title of which I forget but the topic was basically about a guy asking his ex to leave her college boyfriend and return to him. The only real off-target song to my ears is “Raven and Eagle.” While the story of disorder, war and religion standing out from the forces and words of good is pretty interesting, the music is turgid and almost tuneless, which shouldn’t stop you from getting this CD. The Vores can be contacted at www.thevores.com.