Free Henry! isn't your average local band. For one thing, they're named after a piece of taxidermy.
This self-managed, independent rock ‘n' roll band has its roots in a long-time friendship. Bassist Derek Presti and lead guitarist and vocalist Alex Foote met through their mutual musical interests, and have been jamming with lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Bob Buckley since 2002. However, the band completed its four-man status when drummer Pat Mannella joined the trio in 2009 and formed the current lineup for Free Henry!.
What sets Free Henry! apart in the Buffalo music scene (aside from their music) is their humility, and their self-deprecating sense of humor.
"We rock harder than any other band," Mannella joked.
Jokes aside, the band attributes its success to its loyal fans and hard work. In turn, the fans see the their influence in Free Henry!'s music, according to Mannella.
Free Henry! is a force to be reckoned within the local music scene, and has gigs almost every weekend at many popular Buffalo venues like Nietzche's, Mister Goodbar, and DBDG. The band has also played major Buffalo events like Thursday in the Square, the Music is Art Festival, and the Lockport Canal Series.
Since 2009, the band has released three records. Summers on Neptune was their first album together, and served to quickly reveal the group's musical aesthetic. Recorded in only two weeks, the band made sure its first products made it into listeners' hands as quickly as possible. The band also released a compellation of live performances of summer shows in 2010.
Free Henry!'s newest album, Ethereal Gust, released on Nov. 25, took two years to record. Created from the confines of Goo Goo Dolls founder Robby Takac's studio GCR Audio, the album reflects the progress the band made through the years. The band wanted this record to reflect the band's emotion through a longer studio process.
The album name – Ethereal Gust – is a burst of powerful energy, the type of energy the band exudes when it performs on stage. According to Foote, Buckley liked the intangible, spiritual, and heavenly connotations of the word "ethereal," which he believes describes the band's hard work and passion.
Although each member of the band draws on different inspirations when crafting lyrics, their music follows general themes such as devotion to nature and allusions to romance and love. This is most prominently seen in Ethereal Gust's "Northeast Geese," which opens with the sounds of nature.
The jam-band styled songs on this album reflect the energy in the band's music. The positive sounds and instrumentals combine with the light-hearted lyrics to reflect that band's love of music.
The layered instrumentals are fully developed and produce a complex melody, which highlights the talents of each member. Longer songs allow the instrumentals to sync and tell a story along with the lyrics.
Lyrically, the light-hearted songs reflect the band as a whole and the enjoyment it wants fans to feel. The vocals of Buckley and Foote attract listeners, and invite them to delve into the lyrics and meanings of the songs.
The name Free Henry! started when the band used to jam in Presti's uncle's basement. Displayed there was piece of taxidermy, which the band nicknamed Henry. However, the original inspiration has matured into many meanings, and now holds an intangible meaning, according to Foote.
"When you come to a show, it's almost like we try to free the inner Henry in our listeners; Henry being any kind of freedom in expression, in creativity, in inner beauty in someone," said Foote.
Free Henry! has an upcoming show on Dec. 14 at the Ninth Ward in Babeville with Grace Stumberg and Pete Mroz in an event called "tunes4food" to benefit the Food Bank of WNY.
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Mhdariby / Wikimedia Commons
