The Heck with Wheres Waldo/People are now asking Wheres Pete
By: Krista Doran
This issue’s featured band started back in 2000 as a four piece with a member who was very, well, let’s say “elusive.” He would come all the way from New Jersey to rehearse at the bass player’s home. Sometimes he would even stay the entire weekend so that the band could jam into the wee hours of the morning. Then he would just leave, and the band wouldn’t see him for months! His name was “Pete”, and the band would joke that the next formation of the band would be called “Where’s Pete?”, and the name just stuck. Today the band, now twice that size, has has erupted onto the local music scene as one of the newest, most bad ass horn bands on the circuit. I spoke to drummer and vocalist Miles Adams who told me “I remember seeing Johnny O & The Classic Dogs of Love back in the day and being so impressed with their song selection, tight musical arrangements,confident stage show and big sound & light production. That’s the kind of cover band I want Where’s Pete to be and the show we strive to put on. Since we’re not writing the music, the creativity comes from playing the songs with clear arrangements and conviction.” This band works very hard at putting on a great show, but likes to have a lot of fun doing so. Miles went on to tell me, “we don’t take ourselves that seriously. We try to add humor to the shows too…For instance, we cover the History of a Hip Medley that was originally done by Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Falon, & The Roots. It’s a killer medley, done chronologically by year, that pays homage to all the most notable rappers and hip hop artists starting with Kurtis Blow, Salt n Peppa and Black Sheep, up through Fifty Cent, Lil Wayne & Rick Ross and believe me, nothing is funnier than seeing Nicky D trying to get gansta doing Blowing Money Fast! It’s a lot of fun to perform and people really seem to get a kick out of it.”
When you go to see Where’s Pete, you can expect to hear tunes from many different genres. Miles explained, “We feel all genres have something of value to offer…While some bands stick to one style, I’ve always loved the bands that kill a Jay Z tune and then transitions into a heavy metal tune or a country tune, and play it convincingly. That’s one way in which Where’s Pete is different – no style is off limits…the only requirement is people have to be able to groove to it!” The versatility of this band is something that definitely sets them apart from other horn bands. Just about all of the members of Where’s Pete have fronted their own band at one time or another. They are all strong, confident players with backgrounds in theater, dance and performance and it always makes for a fun and unique show. Miles told me, “Bands often take their cue from the crowd. A hyped crowd makes a show feel effortless, and the interplay between band members magical. But, a subdued crowd can sap a band’s energy or shake their confidence because you feel nobody enjoys or is in to it. Where’s Pete strives to make every performance feel like a show at a packed Lincoln Financial Stadium! You can expect high energy at all times, and interaction with the crowd. Our singers often head into the crowd with wireless mics to make the audience members part of the show. We have five strong vocalists, so there’s a ton of variety not just in terms of genre, but in who is singing at any one time. There are also plenty of harmonies, choreography, seamless transitions and unpredictable tunes form genres at far ends of the musical spectrum.”
You can catch Where’s Pete playing at some awesome venues, such as The SugarHouse Casino, PJ Whelihan’s, The Temperance House, Havana, Molly Maguire’s, and many weddings and corporate events. They also play for smaller rooms and events as a duo or trio. Here are just a few of their upcoming shows: 9/1 – Holiday Inn Car Show, Ft. Washington PA; 9/7 – Magerk’s Patio Party, Ft. Washington, PA; 9/15 – Club Zinc, Lansdale PA; 9-21 – Davinci’s in Collegeville, PA and 9/28 – The Temperance House in Newtown, PA. To view their full schedule, please visit their website at www.wherespeteband.com. To book the band, send an email to wherespete@gmail.com.
So, to answer the question Where’s Pete…well, let’s just say the legend of Pete has grown. Some guess he’s a CIA agent…Others swear he’s a survivalist living in the Smokey Mountains. Miles went on to say “There are Pete sightings, and at every show people ask “So Where Is Pete, anyway”…and we tell them ‘we’re on a musical quest to find him….let us know if you do so we can stop playing!’ He surfaced on our website message board a few years ago, and that’s the last time we heard from him. The band line up has changed quite a bit over the years, but we all share the same intense desire to find Pete!”
Where’s Pete is Miles Adams- drums/vocasl; Jack Connell-Trombone; Nick Dirocco-keys/vocals; Jim Furlow- Sax; Joe Caristo- guitar/vocals; David Gaines-Trumput; Darlene White- Lead vocals and Howard Whitman-Bass. Go check out Where’s Pete if you are looking to enjoy your evening with friends and listen to top end, concise and certainly fun music, onstage antics and personality! See for yourself why so many people are asking the question, Where’s Pete!