Maybe the Welders is a New York City rock'n'roll band. Driven by two guitars, a rock-solid rhythm section, and the distinct voices of co-singer/songwriters Greg Campbell and Declan Collins, they play powerful, well-crafted songs and give energetic shows all around town. In fact, they can be seen as part of the new face of New York City's proud rock'n'roll history. According to Risa Mickinberg, the front-woman of Jesus H. Christ and the Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse, their sound is "Spasm/pony-dancing infectiousness that smells of the old CBGB's but, rather than leaving you wishing for the old days, reminds you that NYC is still glowing here somewhere in the ashes."
Currently, the guys & girl in MtW are busy shopping around their Four-Song Demo to as many listeners as they can find. In addition they are still finding time to play live in Manhattan and Brooklyn as often as possible. Declan, putting it simply, states, "Playing live right now is key." Adds Greg, "Absolutely! I went to theatre school. Playing out is what I live for."
Maybe the Welders have achieved the lineup to create the sound that founding members Pitti--their drummer--Campbell and Collins had in mind when they formed in 2005. Says Pitti, "We were just three guys working in a restaurant who discovered we had a similar interest in music. The Smiths, Talking Heads, The Clash, Bowie. And I happened to want to start a band at the time, so..." The three, along with fellow-founder Daniel Mitchell, who has since moved on, wasted no time getting started. Within the first three weeks, they recorded a demo. Within three months, they played their first gig at CBGB's. From there, they went on to gig and record around the New York area, with occasional trips to Boston and Pitti's native Brazil. Regarding their show at Rio's historic Cine Lapa, award-winning Brazilian graphic artist Fabio Lyra gushed, "It was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Like seeing the Sex Pistols in Manchester!"
Still, until the addition of Greg's sister, Kat, Maybe the Welders' sound was not complete. Formerly the guitarist for the L.A.-based band, Renfield, Kat now applies her considerable talent to the bass. Says Kat, "Even though I loved my former band, it's great to be able to play some danceable rock. Bass is neat."
"What sets us apart," opines Pitti, "from most other indie bands right now is the guitars. We don't have keyboards or a banjo. We are a guitar band." "Not," Greg interjects, "that we're a bunch of virtuosos spraying notes all over the place. It's about simple parts working together. We have a great chemistry. Everybody likes each other, and I think that comes across." For Declan, what it comes down to is, "The songs. We've got great songs. Without that, you've got nothing. End of story."
On the topic of songs, the Four-Song Demo contains four real gems. "Hot Shot," the lead-off track, is a cautionary tale about the perils of excess, couched in a punchy, infectiously catchy pop song, "Got You Wrapped" is a cocky come-one in the wake of a fight. "Mr. Ribakoff," and "San Clemente," detail the follies and failings of the wealthy in the Hamptons and in L.A.'s affluent suburbs, respectively. Grins Collins, "We've been dabbling in class warfare." "We're not a political band," Campbell interjects, "most of our songs are about love and loss and getting it on. But it's also sometimes the job of a rock'n'roll band to comment on culture.
"I do say we're a rock'n'roll band. Some people correct me and say there is no more rock'n'roll; it's just "rock." But I feel we have more in common with early rock'n'roll than with classic rock. We have a similar attitude to that of the early punks. Plus, at a show, I dance around, the audience dances around, and it's loud. So that's rock'n'roll." Maybe the next chapter of New York's rock'n'roll history.
