aving no idea the night would introduce them to one of the biggest local music acts since Nappy Roots, Bryan Stuart, 22, of Lafayette, Ind., and William “Weejy” Rogers, 21, of Clarksdale, Miss., found Perfect Confusion last September at a local bar they visited in an attempt to meet people in Bowling Green. They have been to every gig the group’s played since.
“At least the ones (here),” Stuart said. “And we went to Murfreesboro to see them and slept in my car outside the courthouse.”
The Bowling Green quintet is made up of Thomas Bullen (left hand guitar), brothers Brad Shultz (right hand guitar) and Matt Shultz (vocals), David Kem (bass) and Jared Champion (drums and percussion.)
The band, which practices two or three times a week, has gained a lot of ground in the past few months.
It’s booked in venues stretching from Louisville to Nashville nearly every weekend, and in January, released its 10-track debut album.
Recorded by Deep Sound Recordings under the independent label 110 Entertainment, the heavily blues-inspired album is solid – supreme even for a first effort.
Though their sound is signature – especially compared to most of the modern music scene – they do borrow elements from several alternative and rock genres’ most classic artists; most stem from the late ’60s and early ’70s, but hints of Pearl Jam and the voice of Blind Melon’s late Shannon Hoon are pretty apparent.
“We’ve got the album and we still request, like, two songs a day on Revolution (91.7 FM) because I don’t have a CD player in my car,” Stuart said. “They’re just really original.”
In it’s self-titled debut, among a list that includes God, friends and family, the band offers special thanks to Western’s Revolution 91.7, which started playing Perfect Confusion songs several months ago.
“When they sent us a copy of the demo ‘Beat Your Eardrums,’ we started playing it, and it got requested constantly,” said sophomore Chris Hill, who co-hosts “Local Shots” on Revolution. “They just completely blew up when that single came out. For a while it was probably our most requested song. It was ridiculous.”
Though several members of the band have played together for a few years, according to the band’s manager Joey Stratton, it was only about eight months ago that it emerged with the sound it has today – a fact he credits mostly to Kem.
“He’s the element we were missing,” Stratton said.
Prior to Kem’s arrival, the group’s roots were divulged more in the grunge or hard rock genres. Kem, who had been in several previous bands, said he inspired the improvisational side of Perfect Confusion.
“And Matt can almost freestyle,” Kem added of the lead singer. “It’s crazy.”
This seemingly natural ability of Matt Schultz to put words to music, is one of the band’s strongest assets.
An added bonus is the fact that Perfect Confusion lyrics aren’t centered on the typical messages from more young hormonal bands, specifically on or about love, love lost, and lust (though “Midnight Rendezvous” and “Man of the Hour” are exceptions).
Instead they focus on subjects like prescription drugs, debt and twisted politicians.
In the aptly titled “Government Song” for example, Matt Schultz croons in a trademark, feathering voice: They don’t mind to risk your life/For worthless dollar bills/And they’ll gladly send you off to war/To reach their own objectives.
“Most of the guys love music and just want to play,” Brad Shultz said of his bandmates. “I mean, me and Matt love music, too, but we’re here to preach a message.
“A lot of bands lose sight of the power you have when you play music; but when you hear something you like, you eventually are going to learn the words.”
And what this means is Perfect Confusion brings to the table a dissipating phenomenon among many of today’s most popular acts – it believes in what it has to say and it shows.
There are several standout tracks on this album, most notably “Beat Your Eardrums,” “Jamie’s Institution” and “Autumn Breeze.”
“We try to make it a point not to write songs about girls,” Kem said. “We like to write more about things like our political beliefs and things of substance.”
So does Kem have a favorite song?
“Probably ‘Midnight Rendezvous,’” he said, then dips his head and sweeps a hand over this face sheepishly. “It’s the only one about a girl, too.”
But there are some songs Kem is a little tired of performing; “Beat Your Eardrums,” is wearing thin.
“Yeah, I’m starting to get burned out on that one,” Kem said. “But it’s still good. It’s one that everybody’s always asking for.”
Though parts of the CD can seem almost mellow, this is far from the case with any of the band’s songs performed live.
People at Perfect Confusion shows are routinely consumed by the performances. Regardless of whether listeners are singing along to songs from the album (and most are), their bodies react almost instinctively.
That’s because the band definitely knows how to throw a live show.
Infectious energy streams back – spreading from the band members themselves (either with Bullen playing his guitar from behind his head, Matt’s barefoot convulsions on stage or Brad’s impulsive, decisions to crowd surf) to the front lines of their most devoted fans like Stuart and Rogers, then on back to the people who wandered in off the street.
At the end of the night, if smoked cigarettes and spilled beer are any indication of a good show, this fast-rising local rock n’ blues band never fails to bring down the house.
Reach Natasha Allen at features@wkuherald.com
Their CD is available online at CD Warehouse in Hermitage, Antioch and Bowling Green; Musician’s Pro in Bowling Green; and online at CDBaby.
Interested ears can download free mp3s and read about the band’s upcoming performances at www.myspace.com/perfect confusion.
.