Saturday People, The
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1999) - Terry Banks -- vocals, guitar - Ara Hacopian -- keyboards, bass - Greg Pavlovcak-- vocals, guitar - Dan Searing -- drums, percussion
line up 2 (1999-2001) - Terry Banks -- vocals, guitar NEW - Archie Moore -- bass, keyboards - Greg Pavlovcak-- vocals, guitar - Dan Searing -- drums, percussion
line up 3 (2004) - Terry Banks -- vocals, guitar NEW - Ara Hacopian -- keyboards, bass - Archie Moore -- bass, keyboards - Greg Pavlovcak-- vocals, guitar - Dan Searing -- drums, percussion
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- Black Tambourine (Ara Hacopian) - Boyracer (Ara Hacopian) - The Castaway Stones (Greg Pavlovcak) - Dot Dash (Terry Banks) - Glo-Worm (Terry Banks) - Heartworms (Ara Hacopian) - Julie Ocean (Terry Banks) - The Last Wave - Lu - Public Record (Greg Pavlovcak) - The Ropers (Greg Pavlovcak) - The Still (Greg Pavlovcak) - St. Christopher (Terry Banks) - Tree Fort Angel (Terry Banks) - Velocity Girl (Ara Hacopian) - The Youth Untold
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Genre: pop Rating: 4 stars **** Title: The Saturday People Company: Slumberland Catalog: SLR67 Country/State: Washington, DC Grade (cover/record): NM/NM Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 957 Price: $25.00
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Tagging anything with the descriptor Beatle-esque is a marketing kiss of death and sadly, that's what seems to have happened to The Saturday People's self-titled album debut. Sales and publicity weren't helped by the fact 2001's "The Saturday People" was released by the small Oakland-based Slumberland Records which lacked much in the way of promotional capacity, or resources. As if that weren't problematic enough, these guys hailed from Washington, D.C. - hard for any band to find a loyal base in a city that has less than a million residents.
Formed in 1999, The Saturday People showcased the talents of singer/guitarist Terry Banks, keyboardist Ara Hacopian (who promptly left the group and was replaced by Archie Moore), singer/guitarist Greg Pavlovcak, and drummer Dan Searing. Singularly and collectively these guys had compiled an impressive resume prior to the start of The Saturdays. Banks had been a member of the Richmond, Virginia-based Glo-Worm and Tree Fort Angel. Moore's credits included Black Tambourine, Heartworm, and Velocity Girl. Padlock's credits included The Castaway Stones and The Ropers. Searing had also been a member of Castaway Stone.
The band debuted with a 1999 single for the small Brittle Star label:
- 1999's 'Twilight Story' b/w 'The Castle' (Brittle Star catalog BSR 005)
That was followed by a 12" EP "Feel So Real" for the Phuzz! imprint (Phuzz! catalog PHUZZ 007)
The following year found the group signed to the Oakland-based Slumberland Records which released a couple of 45s:
- 2000's 'Slipping Through Your Fingertips' b/w 'California Girls' (Slumberland catalog number SLR 060)
The follow-up was actually a split single with side one featuring British psychedelic retro popsters, The Clientele and the flip side showcasing The Saturday People:
- 2000's 'Porcelain' b/w 'Grace' (Slumberland catalog number SLR-063)
Even though the Slumberland singles did little commercially, the label green-lighted an album. Produced by bassist/keyboardist Moore, 2001's "The Saturday People" featured a collection of 14 group-penned originals, rounded out by one cover (Nat Ormsby's 'Lullaby In the Rain'). As mentioned, there aren't many review out there, but the ones that exist include lots of Beatles comparisons. While tracks like 'Upside Down Girl' clearly included Fab Four nods, I'd argue that wasn't the predominant sound. In fact, I'd argue the band were influenced by the same '60s groups that Sean O'Hagan and the High Llamas worshipped - lots of Beach Boys, some Ray Davies and the Kinks, The Association, and other vocals-heavy pop-psych outfits. Add to that occasional nods to '80s jangle rockers like R.E.M. and some Morrissey and the Smiths and you had an album that may not have been the most creative thing every heard, but was fun to listen to star-to-finish and made for a wonderful game of pot-the-influences.
"The
Saturday People" track listing: 1.) No Matter Where You Are (Terry Banks - Ara Hacopian - Archie Moore - Greg Pavlovcak - Dan Searing) - Ever wondered what an Americanized version of Morrissey and The Smiths would have sounded like ? Probably not. On the other hand, if that question has haunted your existence, then I'd suggest giving this track a spin. So, an American version of the band certainly wouldn't have suffered from the original's doom-and-gloom outlook on things, but like the best of The Smiths, this had a glorious, jangle rock feel that climbs into your head and won't leave. rating: **** stars 2.) Find Out (Terry Banks - Ara Hacopian - Archie Moore - Greg Pavlovcak - Dan Searing) - 'Find Out' found the band turning their attention to mid-'60s garage rock. Moore's bass was simply killer, but the real secret weapon on this one was Moore's wicked little keyboard pattern. rating: **** stars 3.) Upside Down Girl (Terry Banks - Ara Hacopian - Archie Moore - Greg Pavlovcak - Dan Searing) - Opening with a guitar chord that sounded like it had been stolen from a Beatles, or Kinks song, 'Upside Down Girl' was stunning in terms of how a band that hadn't even been born at that time, could seemingly capture that 1966 sound so easily ... glistening 12 strings, sweet harmonies, wonderful melody. This was the kind of music that Sean O'Hagan and the High Llamas always wanted to make. rating: **** stars 4.) Grace (Kinky On Your Leg Mix) (Terry Banks - Ara Hacopian - Archie Moore - Greg Pavlovcak - Dan Searing) - It took me awhile to figure it out who the beautiful ballad 'Grace( Kinky On Your Leg Mix))' reminded me of. There was just something about the pretty melody and Banks' plaintive vocals that sounded like another band - and then it dawned on me, this was a dead ringer for something out of the Neil FInn and Crowded House catalog. By the way, the album track featured a different mix than the earlier single. rating: *** stars 5.) Working for the Weekend (Terry Banks - Ara Hacopian - Archie Moore - Greg Pavlovcak - Dan Searing) - Glorious jangle rock that was even better than early R.E.M. since you could actually understand Bank's vocals. rating: **** stars 6.) That Settles That (Terry Banks - Ara Hacopian - Archie Moore - Greg Pavlovcak - Dan Searing) - More early R.E.M.-styled pop-rock, but with far better vocals than Michael Stipe ever mustered. The train sounds were hysterical and guaranteed to make you smile. rating: **** stars 7.) Slipping Through Your Fingertips (Terry Banks - Ara Hacopian - Archie Moore - Greg Pavlovcak - Dan Searing) - Previously released as a single, 'Slipping Through Your Fingers' sounded like another High Llamas trying to cover a Beach Boys tune. very mid-'60s vibe. rating: *** stars
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2) Complete with waves of backward and jangle guitar, in spite of the curious title, 'The Man without Qualities, Part 1' was probably one of the album's most commercial tunes. Wrapped in one of those irresistible melodies, it was hard not to be impressed by this one. It's also one of those tunes that I unexpectedly find myself humming from time to time. rating: **** stars 2.) California Girls (Terry Banks - Ara Hacopian - Archie Moore - Greg Pavlovcak - Dan Searing) - Opening up with some gorgeous Moore keyboards, 'California Girls' was one of the album's more tuneful compositions and also sported one of the band's best guitar solos. Probably one of the tunes I would have tapped as a single (rather than wasting it as a 'B' side). rating: **** stars 3.) Sound of Yesterday (Terry Banks - Ara Hacopian - Archie Moore - Greg Pavlovcak - Dan Searing) - 'Sound of Yesterday' was given a cool pseudo-B-52s vibe complete with Bank's Fred Schneider-styled speak-sing vocals and jarring background guitars. rating: **** stars 4.) Lullaby In the Rain (Nat Ormsby) Their remake of Dean Torrence's 'Lullaby In the Rain' (credited to his real name - Nat Ormsby), was given a mega-jangle guitar arrangement with some of the album's best vocal arrangements and some wonderful Farfisa organ touches.. I suspect Jan and Dean would have approved. rating: *** stars 5.) Twilight Story (Terry Banks - Ara Hacopian - Archie Moore - Greg Pavlovcak - Dan Searing) Complete with mesmerizing melody, jangle guitars, and sweet harmonies, 'Twilight Story' was a near perfect slice of jangle rock. Very '80s English feel to this one ... rating: **** stars 6.) The Man without Qualities, Part II (Terry Banks - Ara Hacopian - Archie Moore - Greg Pavlovcak - Dan Searing) - Yeah, the title was quirky, but kicked along by Moore's tuneful bass, 'The Man without Qualities, Part II' was exceptionally catchy. rating: **** stars 7.) The Castle (Terry Banks - Ara Hacopian - Archie Moore - Greg Pavlovcak - Dan Searing) - A smooth and wistful ballad, 'The Castle' was one of the album's prettiest and most radio-friendly tunes. Nice fuzz guitar solo in the background. This one also reminded me a bit of Neil Finn and company. rating: **** stars 8.)Ghost of a Chance (Terry Banks - Ara Hacopian - Archie Moore - Greg Pavlovcak - Dan Searing) - The album's lone disappointment, 'Ghost of a Chance' sounded like an incomplete demo - Banks accompanying himself with acoustic guitar, some discordant keyboards, and assorted percussion. Shame the album didn't end on a better note. rating: ** stars
One of those rare albums that was fun to listen to almost from start to finish. Well worth tracking down.
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Genre: pop Rating: 3 stars *** Title: The Saturday People Company: Foxyboy Catalog: FOX
007 Country/State: Washington, DC Grade (cover/record): NM/NM Comments: -- Available: -- Catalog ID: -- Price: --
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Unexpectedly in 2004 the band (with original keyboardist Ara Hacopian back in the fold), released an eight track EP - the cleverly-titled "The Saturday People" Released by Hacopian's Foxyboy label, I've been looking for a copy, so if anyone's got a spare, let me know.
The Saturday People track listing (side 1) 1.) Conditional Time (Now It's Gone) (Terry Bank) - 2:58 2.) Preamble (Greg Pavlovcak) - 11:15 3.) When You Come Around (Terry Bank) - 3:09 4.) No Photos Exist (Archie Moore) - 3:24
(side 2) 1.) Sun Never Sets - 2:35 2.) The Saturday Peopke - 0:11 3.) Man Without Qualities Part 1 (Drunk in the Babypool) - 3;03 4.) Upside-Down Girl (Summer of 19 A.D.D. - 2:45
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