The World View
Drum Coach: An Interview with Paul Christophersen - Colorado Music Buzz (August 1, 2008)- Dazz
Let’s take a look at Paul Christophersen, and appreciate the valuable knowledge that he has to offer. Currently, Paul holds it down for the highly acclaimed juke joint boogie band “The Informants”, teaches private lessons, and accepts session work and freelance gigs when his schedule permits.
DC: When you were eight years old your parents encouraged you to take piano lessons. Tell us what caused you to switch to drums a couple of years later.
Paul: My lessons were at a music store. A bucket of sticks and a beautiful blue Rogers drum kit were on display and caught my attention. The allure intensified each time I passed by them and one day I decided to buy a pair sticks with 50 cents that I had left over from lesson money. That’s when my parents realized that I was serious about drums and so they allowed me to make the switch.
DC: What were practice sessions like for you when you were young and how does that compare now with such a busy work schedule?
Paul: I practiced about as much as most kids do at that age. I took lessons at school and advanced quickly. Currently it’s difficult to fit in a consistent practice regime but I try for at least a half hour a day although I prefer to get in a couple of hours whenever I can.
DC: Tell us about your educational experiences along the way.
Paul: When I was a teen my parents took me to a Louie Bellson drum clinic. That was a monumental moment! He left a huge impression on me as the greatest drummer in the world and became my biggest hero. I also invested in music theory, band camps, and performed in various bands, all of which helped solidify my direction. I believe that formal education holds a certain value in developing the language and keeps you grounded, but it isn’t mandatory. In fact, it can be overkill. I encourage all drummers to be open-minded and listen to everything.
DC: You teach drums at Mojo Music in Longmont, Colorado - would you mind sharing some insight with our faithful CMB Drum Coach readers?
Paul: Oh, yes! I explain to my students to do all the right things. I listen to them because sometimes they are right about some things and they deserve that courtesy and validation. I want my students to learn and become better drummers than myself. My philosophy is to allow them to excel and be individual. Like parents, I reinforce the positive and correct the negative. Remember what you are…the drummer, the time keeper, the conductor! Never forget that your job is to accompany the band and keep it together. Don’t be full of yourself! Flash is OK but never at the expense of the band. Mistakes are bound to happen, but don’t let them bother you. It means that you are relaxed and it’s good to laugh and learn from them. Play the music and do the songs but leave out the ego. Don’t make it a competition, a challenge, or a judgment. Rather, be positive, gracious, and grateful. Play with all your heart, believe in yourself, and put on a great show. It is a privilege to play for people and humility goes a long way. You need jobs and you won’t do yourself any favors by being a jerk.
DC: How about sharing a blast from the past?
Paul: When I was 11 years old I was in a rock band and thought of an idea to cut a notch half way through the shank of my sticks so that they would break off and fly into the audience at a really big moment. I executed my plan at the end of our show and the crowd loved it! That was extremely flashy, mind you, but not at the expense of the band.
"Stiletto Angel CD Review" – Rootstime.be (Translated from Dutch) (July 2008)- Bootsy Lester
Next we have the debut album, 'Stiletto Angel' from The Informants from Denver, Colorado. The band was formed in 2005. The leader of the group is singer Kerry Pastine. This flirtatious lady swings with her six piece male band. In 2006 The Informants were named the "Best Bar Band' in Denver. Not really a price where a modal Belgian lies awake of. I do not know how big the bar circuit is in Denver, but with 'Stiletto Angel' they are receiving a taste of (inter) national success.
The lady and gentlemen play very catchy swing. The opener, "Stuck On You" sets the tone immediately: cheerful whipping piano combined with tearing saxophones. The baritone and tenor saxophone also play an important role in swinging the songs "Baby Take A Shot" and "Jump Jack Jump." It is impossible to sit still during these numbers. The title track leans heavily on guitarist Paul Shellooe, but for the rest he plays functionally and rather inconspicuously. The song 'Ding Dong Daddy' is a delicious fifties rocker. Buddy Holly would have been jealous.
The best song on the album is the sleeper, 'Tears Of Heartache." It sounds so familiar, yet the band truly makes it their own. In the days of old it would have been a soul ballad hit. Front woman Kerry Pastine can represent many emotions with her voice. She can depict a broken heart, or an equally tempting, angry or happy sound. The men are all very experienced musicians with a past in various local bands.
Of the 13 songs, 10 were written by the piano/trumpet player [Mark Richardson]. People who like to listen to blues where the sax takes a lead role must buy this CD. But the CD will appeal to just about everyone else as well. It is a disc that will cheer you up after an off day. If that's not a good reason to buy it, then I don't know what is...
“Pop Music: Bands Don't Always Get Their Share” - Denver Post (July 13, 2008)- Ricardo Baca
When asked how much money his band collects for an average show, Gregg Dolan laughs. The singer-guitarist behind indie-pop quintet the Kissing Party counts off his band's booty as if he's telling a joke — and the punch line is the number that comes after the dollar sign.
"Well, our last show was at the Larimer Lounge and we made $13," Dolan deadpanned. "Before that we played the Hi-Dive, opening for the Little Ones, and it was packed. I'm sure they had a guarantee, but we got $25."
It's a bleak scene, but Dolan and his bandmates have a good sense of humor, and they are happy to be playing. Before those shows, they were paid $40 total for a gig at the Skylark Lounge, a venue Dolan sometimes books. And there was also that show at the Meadowlark when they didn't get paid anything — "but they gave us free drinks. And we didn't get paid because we forgot to ask. It's awkward to go up to people afterward, especially if we didn't draw a bunch of people, which we usually don't."
Denver 's music scene may be thriving, but most musicians are figuring out how to make a living doing what they love.
"It's really about running it like a business, not sitting around thinking something will happen to you," said Paul Christophersen, the Informants' manager/drummer/ publicist/accountant. "Our band is on salary. Everybody gets paid for every gig. Excess money goes back to expenses.
"And right now we're in the process of saving for a future recording, which will happen next winter."
When Christophersen says his seven-piece blues-rock band is on salary, he's saying they get paid something every gig, no matter the payout. Of the band's recent $1,000-per- show average, he devotes approximately $350 to an account and $650 to pay the band.
Last year, he estimates, each of his bandmates made around $5,000 for their work. This year he expects that to double.
The Informants' most recent release, "Stiletto Angel," cost about $7,000 to produce, and was covered from the band's expense account.
COST OF MAKING CDS
Other bands aren't so lucky, or organized. Thoughtful indie-rock band Hello Kavita spent around $15,000 making its latest album, "And Then We Turned Sideways." The members do have a band expense account, but most of that money came from the band's pockets — and an anonymous $1,000 donation helped the band push the CD forward.
"We're not expecting to recoup anything on this record," said frontman Corey Teruya, who added that his five-piece band has recently been making around $200 per show. "It was our first time doing it, and we went overboard. This second time around, we'll know what we're doing, and I don't expect it to cost as much."
It doesn't help that Teruya, the band's lead songwriter, also handles many of his band's business chores. Some local artists, including country heroes the Railbenders, employ management to maximize their worth.
"(Manager) Ken Rivera has seen what the Railbenders can do wherever they play, regarding the food and bar sales, and he goes in and makes sure they get paid what they think they're worth," said music industry veteran Morris Beegle, president of Loveland-based Hapi Skratch Entertainment. "A lot of bands don't have the ability to have somebody in their corner."
TO MANAGE OR NOT
Country singer-songwriter Angie Stevens is working up to that point. Stevens is working with a team of three people — volunteers (for now) handling business, artist and account management — but that hasn't always been the case.
"The music business is something I've always understood," said Stevens, whose last record, "Stand Up Girl," cost her $10,000 to produce. "But as I've gotten busier, it's something I've had to hand off because it takes so much time."
Darren Albert is familiar with indie-rock success. For years he was the drummer for Denver-rooted critical darlings Dressy Bessy. He's played in various other bands around town for the last couple of years, but his most recent outing, Hawks of Paradise, just played their third-ever show last week.
Hawks of Paradise were averaging $80 per show in their first two outings, and the psychedelic-leaning quartet is readying a six-song EP, which cost between $3,000 and $3,500 to produce and press. Albert doesn't miss being on a name indie label or the bigger paydays.
"It brought back the whole spirit of why I got into this in the beginning," Albert said, "the passion of playing and having fun and feeling fresh about the songs I'm playing.
"The money doesn't get me down at all. If we have enough money to buy some beer after the show, that's cool."
"Sexy, Simmering, and Terrific" - BluesWax (June 25, 2008) - Rick Galusha
" The Informants - Stiletto Angel 'Horn Driven Blues'" - Pacific Street Blues (May 23, 2008) - Rick Galusha
Denver based band, ‘The Informants’ are a sonically full-range band that puts the piano and
horns right up front with vocalist Kerry Pastine for a rich mix of Louis Jordan meets Roomful of Blues
fun-time blues that are irresistible, at times sexy and exceptionally well arranged. This is a recording
of a band that took time to conceive an album as opposed to the regular collection of songs thrown
together. When it comes to the history of recorded music these guys ‘get it’ and understand
how to take a bit from the past, add a bit from the present and come up with something familiar yet fresh.
No doubt about it, this album wraps around the “sultry” and able vocals of Kerry Pastine.
On the title track singer Pastine uses full-throated approach that swings with a Chuck Berry sass against
a pulsating band in high gear. Strategically placed pauses with a taste of Angelia Strehli vocal lines
leads the band through a high gear tune of a woman clearly in control of the next sexual conquest who,
“just hasn’t gone wrong” yet.
‘Tears of a Heartache’ is a slow burning track that sounds like something Otis Redding would
have sung. Rather than punching through the next break the bands, stops, holds and waits for the next
chorus to present itself in with a simmering broken hearted line.
The Informants have a rich mix of soulful guitar, lulling horns and a fine, fine vocalist. This is not a
record that slips easily into a genre other than to say that roots music fans will readily embrace this
album and those that got into the ‘jump blues’ craze of the late 90’s will readily
appreciate this well made record.
‘Let’s Roll’ is your thumping blues ala’ Exene meets John Doe (‘X’)
in a rich duet that is crafted to add something special to the genre. It is easy to see The Informants
performing this track at next year’s Blues Music Awards presentation. A terrific
album that stands up repeated listening in the car or on the home stereo.
"Stiletto Angel CD Review" – Blue Suede News (June 2008)- Marc Bristol
They call it juke joint boogie, and I agree. This band has keys and a twin sax section, so they definitely jump and boogie! Most of the 13 songs are original, with "Monday Morning Blues," "Ding Dong Daddy" (a bit of a Rockabilly boogie), and "Jump Jack Jump" the only 3 not sporting composer credits from the band members. Lead singer Kerry Pastine co-wrote 4, and although that name can go either way, she's definitely a female singer. They do mix up the tempos, and also include slow dance numbers as in "Tears Of Heartache," and "I'll Never Know,"and also New Orleans style grooves on "Baby Take A Shot." And slow grind tunes, too, like "Monday Morning Blues." "Let's Roll" is a fast 'flat tire' shuffle, they even delve into Zydco territory on the last song, "Work It," with accordion. Folks who dig these vintage styles ought to enjoy this CD! This is another group I'm sure Gaby and I would love to go out and dance to, were they local to Seattle, or passing through. They hail from Denver – if you're around there keep your eye on the entertainment listings! Who knows, they might break out of there too!
" Attention: All Music Lovers the Informants are Coming to a Venue Near You" - Metromix.com (May 23, 2008) - Erica Boniface
Okay, we’re going to walk down the “what ifs” of life. Let’s say you’re a
huge ice skater and you’re a huge fan of Kristi Yamaguchi. You would totally flip out if you met
her, right? Or let’s take baseball for instance. If you’re a baseball freak, meeting Matt
Holliday would be insane. Now let’s say you’re in a blues band, completely local and playing
for the sake of having a damn good time. If you knew that Dan Akroyd the Blues God, knew you existed, you
would freak out. That is the story of Denver band, The Informants.
In 2007, The Informants released their debut album, “Stiletto Angel,” which has already been
played on the radio show hosted by Dan Aykroyd, “House of Blues Radio Hour.” One of their
title tracks was “Song of the Week.” They play all over Colorado, their recent concert is at
The Summit Steakhouse in Aurora on May 30.
We decided it would be cool to sit down with The Informants to find out more about the band… and
of course to consider us two degrees from Dan Aykroyd.
The Informants formed in 2005 when the bassist, Mac, and vocalist, Kerry Pastine crossed paths in a
nightclub. A] Which nightclub are we talking about and B] what the hell were groovy blues musicians
doing in a nightclub?
Okay, groovy musicians then! It’s blues, it’s funk, it’s soul, it’s rockabilly…as
long as it’s great music, it’s groovy! And speaking of rockabilly, we were at The Bluebird to
see Big Sandy and His Fly Right Boys!
Are there ever sax fights between Jonny Love and Kenny Plum? (I.E. Do they argue with who is the better
sax player?)
Yes, they fight over who drank the last drop of whiskey! Kidding…we’ve started calling them
the Love Brothers because they’re falling in love with each other.
Follow-up: Who would kick whose ass?
Did you say kiss ass? They do that to each other all the time and then they argue that the other is a better
sax player. They’re uniquely different in every way, and when they play side by side, it’s like
butta!
Back to the serious band questions: Will you explain how the title “Stiletto Angel” was chosen
for your 2007 debut recording?
We were drinking at rehearsal, and…well things always go south when we’re drinking.
The Blues God, Dan Aykroyd played one of your title tracks from “Stiletto Angel.” Is it crazy
for you guys to know you are now 1° from Dan Akroyd?
Absolutely! I jumped around the house for 15 minutes when I heard the sound bite, especially when he said he was a “naughty little angel” quoting a line from Stiletto Angel.
For people who have never seen you play live, give them one reason they utterly have to see you guys
perform:
Because you’ve never had as much fun before and you’ll wonder what you’ve been doing with
your life.
You are now considered to be “A” listers for bands in Denver. Do you now get VIP service
wherever you go?
Hell no, because the bar owners can’t afford the bass player’s bar tab. One time we got a case
of Budweiser on ice and the damn bass player drank it all. Here’s what we get…all the love we
could hope for from the best fans in Denver, and by the end of a show, the venue owners are drinking with us.
What more could you ask for?
What do you prefer: Ice cold beer in a hot shower –or- Warm beer in a cold bath?
A video camera to film the live shenanigans of The Informants and fans. Oh, and an ice cold beer in a Jacuzzi!
Anything you care to sign off with?
We’re going to be on Altitude TV, taped live at Elway’s on July 30 from 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., so
come join us for the fun!
"Stiletto Angel CD Review" – Ol Skool Rodz (July 2008) - Richard Davis
Stiletto Angel is the first [sic] release for The Informants, a Denver, Colorado band that began playing "Southern juke joint" gems at local venues in 2006.
The hot maple syrupy voice of lead singer Kerry Pastine quickly melted away any doubt I had about a Colorado band playing Memphis juke, and the talents of the masterful musicians playing everything from sax to accordions made me a true fan.
The CD offers everything from sultry slow-flowing despair to fast and youthful carelessness. On one track, the seven-person band serves up some blues that could hush even the rowdiest bar fly and turn him momentarily inward. Another track brings forth hot and heavy rockabilly, complete with vintage aural shadows that deepen and define a sound that reminds me of a less frenetic B-52s tune.
Overall, it's a great mix of talent and genres. Not only are the Informants able to recreate a great vintage sound, at times they also manage to sprinkle in a little bit of modern music, creating something new and alive.
Band members include Kerry Pastine, vocals; Mark Richardson, keys, accordion, trumpet and vocals; Mike "Mac" McMurray, bass and vocals; Paul Christophersen, drums and vocals; Paul Shellooe, guitar and vocals; Kenny Plum, tenor sax and vocals; Jonny Love, baritone sax, tenor sax and vocals.
"The Informants Play It Down, Dirty and with an Old School Party Style" -
(April 11, 2008) - Glenn BurnSilver
At the turbulent crossroads where bop jazz, rhythm and blues and early rock ’n’ roll collided, a new musical form was born. Sometimes called jump blues, others boogie woogie, this music quickly became the ultimate party sound with raw vocals, wailing saxophones and horn sections, and a driving beat that made people move. While that rough and tumble sound was a short-lived phenomenon in the early 1960s, it is back with a raucous vengeance via The Informants.
“There’s a lot of misbehaving going on,” lead singer Kerry Pastine says with a mischievous laugh about what draws people to the band. “It’s the music combined with seven of us on stage. When we first got together it felt like it was a reunion; like we hadn’t seen each other in 50 years. Like twins of another mother or something. I think we connected so quickly that we felt we could be who we are instantly. It’s carried over that way onto the stage.”
That connection is at the heart of the Denver band which sounds loose and easy while playing it tight and powerful. Pastine, with a naturally bluesy vocal inflection, says she was drawn into the seven-piece band by a mutual love of “tough music,” a theme that followed her from the Midnight Cats to the Informants.
“I had just come out of a rockabilly band where it was like ‘let’s just play it meaner, faster and rougher,’” she says. “I could do Patsy Cline or Wanda Jackson, those rough gals who were backwoods and barefoot. It was hard living. ... I like things that are really raw and dirty and gritty. I like that painful stuff. I feel it.”
When initially approached by bassist Mike “Mac” McMurray, she compiled a list of tracks she was interested in singing. Coincidentally, McMurray had listed some of the same artists on his list.
“We both had a lot of the same things on there, like Ruth Brown,” she says with another laugh. “We were right there.”
With a full horn section and slapping bottom end, biting guitar and Pastine’s impassioned vocals, The Informants are making friends across the globe (including from Russia, Norway and Finland) via Internet outlets, but more importantly up and down the Front Range. The Informants have also found a fan in Blues Brother and actor Dan Aykroyd who frequently plays songs from the band’s debut album “Stiletto Angel” on his radio show. He hasn’t sat in with the band yet, though Pastine says it “would be great if he did.”
Until then, The Informants will just keep bringing the party the way the do best: loud, fast and rough.
“It’s like the best party you’ve ever been too. Parties can be kind of lame, but not if we’re there,” she says. “The music’s either happy and energetic or grindy and naughty. It’s music that pushes people right over the edge. It keeps them in the mood they want to be in.”
"Stiletto Angel CD Review" – Scene Magazine (April 2008)- Nathan Harper
The term “dance music” is too often used despairingly, if only because most of today’s music for movin’ and shakin’ is monotonous and horrendously insipid. Given the rather dire state of dance music today it’s tough to remember back to a time when even using such a term would be redundant - what other reason would people possibly be making music for.
Denver’s the Informants are such a band-a throwback to the swinging rock and roll of the 40s and 50s, a time when a sax solo in the middle of a rock song didn’t mean you were ska, and people didn’t have to be afraid to have fun at shows.
On “Stiletto Angel” the band’s first full length, the group sounds like they’ve been playing together for longer than their 2007 [sic] debut would belie. The band’s lineup of veteran musicians come together to produce songs that are both easy and fun. The mood never gets too serious, which is good because the entire album is centered on the joy one experiences from letting go and having a good time.
On tracks like Stuck On You and Let’s Roll the band shows their skill for writing tight, upbeat rock numbers with catchy hooks that could lure even the clumsiest dancer to the floor.
The slower songs do well to showcase vocalist Kerry Pastine’s big, bold voice. On tracks like Tears of Heartache and I’ll Never Know, Pastine burns and soars, her voice taking center stage to sell her anguish with total sincerity. Throughout the entire record, but especially on the burners, the rhythm section shows of their chops, hammering the beat into place, even if the song is not a boogie.
If the band has a passion for anything other than shaking their respective groove-thing, it’s doing it with a cocktail in hand. This is well lubed music all around, and that apparently includes the listener’s too-when not encouraging you to throw back a shot or three, Pastine, the titular Stiletto Angel, is enjoying a bottle from a bucket of longnecks or sneaking a drink by the jukebox. The record conjures up a drive most people usually only find in Vegas, when after staying out all night drinking and dancing they’re lured back, maybe even against their will, by a beat for another night of it, knowing real life will always be waiting when the world stops spinning.
"What We're Doing This Weekend: The Informants" - Rocky Mountain News (April 4, 2008) - Alex Neth
The Informants do blues the way it was meant to be done - at night, in bars, with a slinky backbeat, tasteful guitar work and a gal at the mike (the powerhouse Kerry Pastine, formerly of The Mean Eyed Cats) who can bring it. Their first release, 2007's Stiletto Angel, got a glowing review from none other than Elwood Blues himself (aka Dan Aykroyd) on the House of Blues Radio Hour, who said: "Beware, judging from what I've been hearing, they will not be Denver's little secret for long." If it's good enough for Elwood, folks, well . . . you know. We caught up with them before their Saturday-night gig at Ziggie's to find out what recent weekends have brought to Informants-land.
* What did you do last weekend?
"We celebrated! Westword named us 'Best Bar Band' in the Best of Denver 2008 edition, so naturally we played a couple of fine drinking establishments. Friday was our debut gig at the funky little blues watering hole in the Boulder Outlook Hotel. Sunday, we really turned it on at our home club Lincoln's Road House. There is nothing like an Informants' Sunday afternoon show at Lincoln's; a hair-of-the-dog day for a packed room of partyers keeping the weekend alive just a little longer! Truly the most fun of any gig we play."
* What do you have going on this weekend?
"Another rowdy Saturday night at Ziggie's. The Informants played there for the first time a couple months ago, and it was wonderful - such a great audience that really 'gets it.' The new Ziggie's is finally living up to its potential since it changed ownership. We have a rare Friday night off this week; every now and again it helps recharge the batteries, so look out, Ziggie's might be like partyin' with the Energizer Bunny!"
"Best of Denver 2008" - Westword (March 27, 2008)
The Informants - Best Bar Band
“Plenty of musicians take umbrage if their group is called a bar band. Still, the finest acts with this label don't need open taps or drink specials to work their magic; their playing is intoxicating enough. Witness the Informants, which boasts killer brass, a driving rhythm section, a lead singer (Kerry Pastine) capable of starting any party, and songs such as "Stuck on You" (from the album Stiletto Angel) that sound just as good to a designated driver as the folks along for the ride.”
"Stiletto Angel CD Review" – Real Blues Magazine (March/April 2008) - Andy Grigg
Here’s a big jolt of good-time music from the U.S. southwest (Denver, Colorado to be exact) and it’s precisely the kind of honest-to-goodness rejuvenating rockin’ boogie blues that the world needs in 2008. Can we save the world with great music? You better believe it!! The Informants are a young group in terms of band existence but they’ve got that sound that comes from absorbing all the right music of the last 60 years. (All anyone has to do is listen to the kings & queens of rock’n roll, blues and soul of the 1950s-1970s to realize that something important is missing from 98% of post-2000 music; talent, joy, creativity, honesty for starters…). So, let’s call The Informants pro-active as they’ve decided to deliver the goods to music fans everywhere and we should all be eternally grateful! Fronted by the tough and talented vocals of Kerry Pastine, a singer who has none of the flaws or phoniness that infects 99% of female rock/blues vocalists. She’s got a tough and unique sound that’s 100% her own. While she acknowledges her mentors, she never tries to imitate or create a bogus identity. (I have a soft spot for great female vocalists but readers know how I detest the Janis Joplin/Etta James and Koko Taylor copycats, which unfortunately account for 98% of those female singers we get to hear). Kerry has a voice that could be described as a cross between Wanda Jackson, Toni Price and Betty James, which means she’s a treat to the ears! I’m always afraid that given the steady diet of crud music and accompanying music media hype that people under 40 will be totally cut off from the REAL music but The Informants brand of rockin’ blues offers a big antidote to all that and, in turn, hope for the future of good music. The Informants are a BIG band by today’s standards; 7 members starting with the aforementioned Pastine on vocals, Mark Richardson on piano, organ, accordian, trumpet and vocals, Mike McMurray on bass/vocals, Paul Shellooe on guitar/vocals, Kenny Plum on tenor sax/vocals, Johnny Love on baritone & tenor sax and vocals. What’s interesting is that the back cover shot of the band leads me to believe that we’ve got a multi-generational outfit here – while 3 members appear to be in their twenties, the remaining 4 range from their thirties to their forties. That makes me feel good as I see a ‘torch’ being handed down.
Anyhow, music time! “Stuck On You” opens up in bouncing barrel-house fashion with nice piano-work from Richardson and riffing saxes backing Kerry Pastine’s tough and brassy vocals. This is excellent music and this tune should be a mega-hit with shaggers in the Carolinas. Plum is an excellent tenor sax man who blows hot blasts. “Stiletto Angel” gives a tougher sound (think Wanda Jackson fronting for Link Wray!) as Shellooe shows us he’s a killer picker with lots of barbed-wire guitar. Another dance-inducer. Pastine is one of the finest caucasian female vocalists to emerge in years and she proves it on “Tears of Heartache”, a slow, scorching torch song that is just freakin’ awesome. Mesmerizing. If this tune gets played on radio there’ll be tens of thousands of new Informants fans. Shellooe is right behind Kerry laying down soul-tingling guitar and the horn section has me down on my knees yelling “Tell The Truth!” Wow! “Baby Take A Shot” is a cool little ditty that sounds like a Savoy Records hit circa 1958. God, this is great stuff! This is my idea of a dream band and after 45 years as a music fan I have to say The Informants are one of the very best bands I’ve experienced. The sax-work on “Baby Take A Shot” is just stupendous. “Monday Morning Blues” is the very first non-original tune (10 of 13 tracks were written by band members) and it’s an excellent pick. Pastine has a voice that you’ll never get tired of. She can sing and I’m inclined to say she’s a natural. “Monday…” is another one the shaggers will go nuts over. “Let’s Roll” is a fast-paced jumper featuring oodles of great sax and guitar (Shellooe sounds like he listened to lots of Houston-based guitar kings like Johnny Watson and Little Joe Washington). “Ukulele Johnny” is more of a surf-rock influenced tune and proof that these guys have more than just a couple of aces up their sleeves. Shellooe goes nuts and this must be a live showstopper (I can see Go-Go Girls!). “I’ll Never Know” slows it down to a Chicago-style West Side slow burner and Pastine shows her stuff while Shellooe puts on his Otis Rush, Buddy Guy/Magic Sam ‘hat’. Wow! “Backyard Bar-B-Que” is a killer-diller (“I got Magic Sam on the radio the bar-b-que’s on and I’m ready to go!”…) that has to be one of the finest original blues tunes of the last decade. Shellooe propels things with the toughest guitar I’ve ever heard since Matt Murphy retired. This is one that should become a big-time blues standard (Mark Richardson produced this excellent album and his work is far above most of the so-called ‘star’ producers). They do a great job on “Jump Jack Jump” (a 1950s hit) before the piano-heavy “You Got Me Hooked” a track that sounds like mid-1960s Atlantic thanks to Richardson’s gospel-inflected pianistic skills and the Ray Charles-like horns. “Ding Dong Daddy” gets a really cool southern rockabilly treatment with a pseudo-vocal group chorus that’s far-out. Shillooe burns the strings on this one. I had both my feet flying in different directions while listening to this sweet thing. “Work It” is the closing track and it’s a perfect closing tune (and show closer?) as Richardson straps on the accordion and the band rocks their asses off. The sequing into various instrument solos is a blast with drums, bass and then guitar getting the spotlight. I can Pony, Mash-Potato and Jerk to this one (and I had to grab my baby so she could shimmy for me!). Total Joy! This may be the best CD and the best band to emerge out of North America in many a year and they can (and will!) rejuvenate every music lover who listens to this delight-filled 13-track fireball of an album. 6 bottles of Thunderbird for the album everyone’s been waiting for! And I ain’t jivin’!
"The Colorado Beat Goes On!" - The Oyster (February 21, 2008) - JR Wolfe
I’m the type of music fan that will see any band of any genre at least once. If they’re good, twice and if they blow me away, they’re going to think I’m a stalker. The Informants fit that last category. There just are not enough toes and fingers to count how many times I’ve seen the Informants because their concerts are so insanely entertaining.
Every member of the band adds tons of musical and spontaneous and visual energy to the show. Sultry singer Kerry Pastine shakes her money maker like a caged go go girl. Mighty Mac looks gangster cool, Paul Shellooe is the six string guitar slinger and Jonny Love is the Robin Williams of the group. You never know what he’s going to say or do next. One minute Jonny is cracking jokes, playing his sax solos lying on top of the bar, dancing on someone’s table or jitterbugging with a customer or Kerry. The man is certifiably insane on stage and that’s a good thing.
The Informant’s music is infectious and guaranteed to take any place it’s played, be it a casino, bar or blues festival, and instantly turn it into a party. Although it didn’t take them long to go from opening act to headliner. The band learned their craft and paid their dues playing in other groups before co-founders Mac and Kerry joined forces and recruited them for the Informants. Bassist Mike “Mac” McMurray, drummer Paul Christophersen and sax players Jonny Love and Kenny Plum sweated it out together in Sol-Fed-Joe. Keyboardist/trumpet player Mark Richardson was in the Dalhart Imperials and guitarist Paul Shellooe was in Dirty Pool.
On their debut album, “Stiletto Angel” the Informants have successfully captured their juke joint boogie stage energy in the studio. The covers are well chosen, Wynona Carr’s “Ding Dong Daddy” and Margie Taylor’s “Jump Jack Jump” display the rockabilly chops Kerry cut her teeth on when she was in the Mean Eyed Cats. Mark and Kerry sing a duet on Rick Darnell & Mario Delgagarde’s “Monday Morning Blues.”
The remaining ten songs are originals composed by Mark Richardson, four of them were co-written with Kerry Pastine and “I’ll Never Know” with Paul Christophersen. “Stuck On You” and “You Got Me Hooked” shows off Mark’s barrelhouse bordello piano. “Ukulele Johnny” fuses surf music with roots rock. “Work It” is peppered with some of that exotic New Orleans flavor. The horns are on fire on “Let’s Roll,” “Backyard Bar-B-Que,” the title cut and the party anthem “Baby Take a Shot” rock with heady stew of jump blues, vintage R&B, soul and rock n roll. “Tears of Heartache” music sounds like early Al Kooper led Blood Sweat & Tears. On both it and “I’ll Never Know” Kerry’s aching vocals are the essence of heartache and despair.
Throughout “Stiletto Angel” the rhythm section is tighter than a mosquito’s ass, the horns play with sass, Paul’s guitar ignites on his solos and Miss Kerry’s vocals show off that she’s much more than the band’s young eye candy. She takes every song and purrs her personality into it like nobody has ever done before. In my humble opinion, “Stiletto Angel” is both nationally and locally, the best album of 2007. It’s been stuck in my car’s CD player since November and I’m not tired of cruising to it yet.
"Stiletto Angel CD Review" – The Holler (February/March 2008) - Jim Primock, Colorado Blues Society
This is hot stuff from a fairly new, Denver-based band. The Informants are a 7-piece combo playing behind Kerry Pastine, a powerhouse vocalist with more attitude than you could find in an urban middle school - and she sounds like she means every word of every song, whether heart-broken, seductive, angry, or excited.
Stiletto Angel offers a mix of styles, which I will summarize ratherloosely: slow blues (“Tears of Heartache,” “I’ll Never Know”), barrelhouse blues (“Stuck on You,” “Baby Take a Shot,” “You Got Me Hooked,” “Backyard Bar-B-Que”), Louisiana (“Work It”), rockabilly/jump (“Stiletto Angel,” “Ding Dong Daddy,” “Let’s Roll,” “Jump Jack Jump,” “Ukelele Johnny”), honky tonk (“Monday Morning Blues”).
No matter where the songs fall on the musical spectrum, they are presented with great energy and obvious dedication. Everything is tighter than the proverbial drum, including the production and engineering, done at Notably Fine Audio in Denver.
Ms. Pastine’s colleagues, all of whom provide backing vocals, are: Mark Richardson (keys, accordion, trumpet), Mike “Mac” McMurray (bass), Paul Christophersen (drums), Paul Shellooe (guitar), Kenny Plum (tenor sax), and Jonny Love (tenor and baritone saxes). If compelled to pick one song that I prefer to the rest, it would be “Tears of Heartache,” written by Mark Richardson. Ten of the 13 tracks are band originals.
"Stiletto Angel CD Review" (Dutch version) – Rootsville.be (February 2008) - SWA
Mike "Mac" Mc Murray liet er geen gras overgroeien toen hij vernam dat de rockabilly / honky - tonk band "The Mean Eyed Cats" geen lang leven meer was beschoren en hij kon zangeres Kerry Pastine overtuigen om scheep te gaan met een aantal oudgedienden uit the Dalhart Imperials, Sol - Fed - Joe, Easy Bill & the Big Beat. Wij schreven toen 2005 en ondertussen zijn the Informants uitgegroeid tot één van de "Hottest Live Acts" in het juke - joint - boogie gebeuren. Hun debuutalbum "Stiletto Angel" kan dan ook rekenen op een uitgebreide mix van R & B, blues, swing, rockabilly, New Orleans & rock met stride piano, funky tenor sax honking, a stomping rhythm section, and -- best of all -- Kerry Pastine's sly, sassy vocals.
Precies dat laatste maakt het verschil dat wij The Informants niet beschouwen als de zoveelste jump blues revival band maar behoorlijk onder de indruk zijn van songs als de melodramatic ballads "Tears of Heartache" en "I'll Never Know", de rockabilly restantjes op "Stiletto Angel" en "Let's Roll", de jump - juke - jive - swing- boogie woogie toestanden op de eigen pennevruchten "Stuck on You", "Baby Take A Shot", "You Got Me Hooked" en "Backyard Bar - B - Que" en Margie Taylor's "Jump Jack Blues".
Het startsein voor a loose night of boozing, dancing and meeting lustful gazes from across the room naar the "Ding Dong Daddies" en "Ukulele Johnny's" die wellicht opgezadeld wordt met een enorme kater en "The Monday Morning Blues"...
Elke uitnodiging voor eender welke barbeque / tuinfeest gericht aan het adres van the members of Rootsville gaat vanaf nu verplicht gepaard met een optreden van the Informants..."Work it"!!
"Stiletto Angel CD Review" – All Music Guide (January 2008) - Stewart Mason
From the band name, album title, and retro-kitsch cover art, one would be forgiven for assuming that the debut album by the Informants was the latest in the now past its peak garage rock revival. In fact, Stiletto Angel is a throwback of an entirely different color, a rocking little jump blues album filled with stride piano, funky tenor sax honking, a stomping rhythm section, and–best of all-Kerry Pastine’s sly sassy vocals. Pastine doesn’t truck with the usual blues mama clichés, but she’s got a roughened, soulful tone that even puts over potentially sappy material like the melodramatic ballad “Tears of Heartache.” But she’s at her best on material like the stomping opener and the more playful “Backyard Bar-B Que,” where she can alternate between flirty come-ons and finger-wagging feistiness. Without her, The Informants would be just another jump blues revival band, indistinguishable from the porkpie-hatted twits who were all over the place for a few months circa 1998. Indeed, even with her, there’s still an occasional whiff that the Informants have decided to play dress-up with their favorite old style of music rather than creating something new that’s based on beloved old forms. Still, as costume parties go, one could do much, much worse.
"Moovers and Shakers 2007" - Westword (December 20, 2008) - Michael Roberts
The Informants, Stiletto Angel (Wipe It Off! Records). It's easy to underrate music that operates within well-established genres instead of trying to rewrite the rules. Still, the Informants hardly paint by the numbers. Lead singer Kerry Pastine makes every note sting, and a muscular crew of bar-band boogie men light a fire under exuberant tracks like the title cut, which is capable of getting any joint jumping.
"Stiletto Angel CD Review" - Loveland Reorter-Herald (November 23, 2007) - Glenn Burnsilver
It's safe to say they don't make music like this anymore - and that's the real fun. Hailing from Denver, the Informants pick up where the hopping 1950s R&B bands left off. A party record in the truest sense, "Stiletto Angel" (Wipe It Off!) packs boogie-woogie piano ala Lloyd Glenn with Joe Houston-like sax grooves. And it's all bolstered by the powerful, slightly gritty vocals of Kerry Pastine. Let the party begin.
"Informants Bring Juke Joint Style to the Snake" - Summit Daily News (November 22, 2007) - Leslie Brefeld
KEYSTONE — According to lead singer Kerry Pastine, the seven members of the Informants band will have fun on stage whether an audience shows up or not.
“We can’t wait to see each other ... It makes it so contagious,” Pastine said.
The group’s lineup includes Mark Richardson on keys, vocals, trumpet and accordion; Mac on Fender bass, Paul Christophersen on drums and vocals, Pauly “Six String” Shellooe on guitar and vocals; Kenny Plum on tenor sax; Johnny Love on baritone and tenor sax and flute; and Pastine.
The lead singer said each member of the band picks up a little of the work that goes along with a rock band, and in so doing gains a feeling of ownership. They have been playing together since 2005 and recently released an album called “Stiletto Angel.”
The group used their recording studio time to its fullest by recording all the parts at the same time instead of the usual separate tracks for different instrumentation.
“We do four or five takes, pick the best one, and what’s next?,” she said of the process.
Pastine described the group’s music as “swinging, juke joint boogie stuff” in the style of the ‘40s and ‘50s. They will play Friday and Saturday at the Snake River Saloon in Keystone.
"Stiletto Angel CD Review" - Westword (November 8, 2007) - Michael Roberts
Most retro groups either tinker with vintage sounds so music lovers can hear them from a new perspective or stick to the verities. The latter course is generally less rewarding, but such combos can still succeed if the musicians are good enough and their affection for the form comes through loud and clear. The Informants is such a band.
Stiletto Angel, which is being celebrated during a CD-release event on Friday, November 9, at the Skylark Lounge, doesn't offer anything particularly novel; its jump blues and boogie-woogie numbers connect the dots in the expected ways. Luckily, Kerry Pastine, formerly of the Mean Eyed Cats, is a feisty, consistently potent vocalist, bassist Mike "Mac" McMurray and drummer Paul Christophersen make a killer rhythm section, and guitarist Paul Shellooe and a brass-and-reed crew consisting of Kenny Plum, Jonny Love and Mark Richardson juice up entertaining pastiches like "Stuck on You" and "Let's Roll."
With players this strong, why change anything?
"Stiletto Angel CD Review" - RockOnColorado.com (October 30, 2007) - David Barber
The Informants' debut CD Stiletto Angel rocks pure retro 1950s style. The clear star of the album is vocalist Kerry Pastine, a real life Stiletto Angel. Her vocals shine on every track. The piano mastery (Mark Richardson) and horn section (Richardson, Jonny Love and Kenny Plum) provide a comfortably plush background for Pastine's vocals to stand out against. Many tracks sound like the might have been recorded in the 1950s, only with better equipment. The Informants have really captured that boogie woogie juke joint essence. The rhythm section (Mike "Mac" McMurray in bass and Paul Christophersen on drums) keeps time like an expensive pocket watch and the guitars (Paul Shellooe) are perfect. Not too much or too little for any given track. From the light-hearted original "Backyard Bar-B-Que" to the oldie "Ding Dong Daddy" all 13 tracks are well produced and just sound terrific! Buy This CD!
"Who's Making Noise" - Colorado Music Buzz (October 2007) - Jessica Moffet
An altruistic crowd of curious families were determined to groove to the Informants' juke box boogie music at the "It's All Good" Motorcycle Benefit for women with breast cancer on September 9th at the In The Zone bar in Golden. Why the excitement? Finally, a revival of America’s best 1950s and 1960s Rock, R&B, Gospel, and Soul dance music combined has returned to Denver, thanks to this band. You’ll “funk and sweat” as if you’re a cast member in John Waters’s Hairspray movies. Various bands play such styles, but hardly any bands tap into all uplifting influences in one show, if not per song.
Lead singer Kerry, daughter of a 94-year-old Big Band 1940s-era musician father, attributes her love of music not only to her father but also the legends of Wynona Carr, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Ruth Brown. Ironically, she is self- taught and never professionally sang before a crowd except in a high school choir until ten years ago. Bassist Mac discovered Kerry as she sang for Rock-a-billy band Mean Eyed Cats several years ago. Coincidentally, the Cats and Mac's band Sol~Fed~Joe were on the downfall at the same time, and soon after that, Mac asked Kerry to join him and other band members for a new musical adventure with a taste of Wynona Carr's "Jump Jack Jump!" Keyboardist Mark writes songs daily and collaborates with Kerry-enough to create two CDs in one year.
There are a few benefits to seeing the Informants live...First, they play originals most of the time. Second, their new album will be released this fall. Lastly, you can jitterbug to the Informants - at Herman's Hideaway on Friday, November 2nd for a possible CD release party. Wynona Carr's spirit will be grooving with you.
"Websites of the Month" - Colorado Music Buzz (June 2007) - D. Scott Morris
The Informants have one of the nicest-looking websites and best-presented newletters that I've seen in long time. Often there's so much Flash on websites and imagery in band newsletters that readability and navigation get cluttered - making "usability" a royal pain in the arse. That's no the case here; the content is so elegantly presented that it's easy for viewers to get what they seek efficiently and effortlessly. Whoever designs the Informants' online presentations paid careful attention to usability - well done!