(reposted from facebook, w permission)
Having your face rocked off might sound like it would be bad. I can tell you most assuredly, it is NOT. Gentleman Zero is not just an average cover band. Average can go fuck right off. Gentleman Zero has a knack for wandering across genres like a blind man crossing the street in traffic. This is part of the excitement of this band. You never know exactly what is coming and when it hits you, whether or not you actually like the song, your feet are tapping in time with the beat and your head is nodding like a bobble-head doll. Allow me to tell you a little bit about the band members themselves.
Nordan Dembitsky - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Where do I start? Nordan, if you let him, will talk your ear off about music. This is a good thing. He is the consummate musician. I always love watching him play because with Nordan, less truly is more. Every now and then he will give you a glimpse of the 80's metal rocker wanting to break out of the shell when he shreds the solos. What amazes me is how the guitar is part of him. There is no awkward motion when he rips out the tunes. He certainly does not overdo his performance, although even if he did start standing on a Marshall stack hammering on his whammy bar like an angry child in Wal-Mart not getting his way and his face looking like it was about to fall off from over-excitement, I would certainly not laugh at him(well, maybe a little). His delivery is right on point every time, every song.
Heavy Metal John - Bass, Backing Vocals
One look at this man and you think, "He is going to play the fuck out of that bass." and you would be right my friends. John, the self-proclaimed Starship Troopers trivia master, is phenomenal when he straps on that axe and starts slapping away at those four strings. You would think that by the way he plays, there are at least 4 more strings on that bass. Effortless and smooth in his delivery, John bangs out the rhythm with style and finesse. Don't let the shaggy beard fool you, he has an extra pair of arms under there, much like Chuck Norris has another fist under his beard. Don't let the nickname fool you either. Heavy Metal John can bring...the...funk.
Brian King - Percussion (and the Freak Bitch Baby)
Small of frame and yet stout of heart, Brian calmly and seriously rocks out through his first set. Perfection is the goal as his efforts emulate that of Neil Peart. He would probably smack me for the lofty comparison but I think you all know what I mean. He is the perfectionist because he absolutely wants the best show every time he gets on stage. Unlike Neil however, Brian has a flair for the wit and through the show slowly relaxes into a very skilled and yet playful drummer. Not hesitating to come from behind the kit to sing with the other 3 members during impromptu a cappella renditions of popular songs or to shout out that he is, in fact, a freak bitch baby during the bands version of Lady Gaga's Bad Romance. The steady pumping rhythm from the drums drives the sound and drives you into your seat as he rocks through so many different styles of drumming you think you are at a percussion festival.
Chael Griffith - Vocals, Cross Promoter extraordinaire
The silky smooth stylings...wait..no, that isn't right..Ok, it is. Chael is every bit the theatrical member of Gentleman Zero, and this, is a great thing. As the vocalist, he brings the crowd into the frenzy of such songs as Cult of Personality, Bulls on Parade, and yes, even Bad Romance. Although he eases into his element on stage much like Brian does, Chael belts out lyrics with a lot of passion and zeal. Excitable is only one word to describe him. Chael enjoys connecting with his audience and bringing them right into the show even between sets. His energy is so contagious it makes me want to stage dive with him...although he hasn't done that yet. I would suspect if I did anything like that people would tell me later "Sorry your Mom blew up Ricky...."
Gentleman Zero is definitely a show worth seeing. You may not like all the songs they play, but you will love the way they deliver them to you. Like a fat man loves the pizza guy...
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