Goodmorning Valentine
Genre: Americana
Hometown: Cleveland
Years performing: 8
Day gigs: Financial analyst, construction worker, pricing analyst, music equipment salesman, house painter
After traveling across the country two summers ago, singer-guitarist Joey Beltram decided to make his next Goodmorning Valentine project a road album of sorts.
"It's called 'Hey Washington,' and it's about a motorcycle trip I took with my then-girlfriend," said Kent native and 1997 Stow-Munroe Falls High School graduate Beltram.
"We went 8,200 miles from Ohio to Seattle to San Diego and back home. I'm not sure when it'll be out, but stylistically it's all over the place. This one is a lot more geared toward the Americana thing. In the past, it was a little bit more geared toward the rock 'n' roll thing. Parts of this are very stripped down. Some stuff is just me playing guitar in a room. It's like traveling around music."
Due out next year, "Hey Washington" finds Beltram leaving behind his previous Elvis Costello influence for more of a Bruce Springsteen-sounding vibe. Notable tracks include the folkish title track and the blues-rock "Early in the Morning."
Never to waste time, Goodmorning Valentine -- Beltram, John Kokoczka (bass), Neil Castaine (drums) and David Marchione (keys) -- is already looking ahead to its follow-up effort.
"I'm kind of using the band as a catalyst just for venting new material," Beltram said. "We're sort of changing the sound of the thing, and hopefully I'll have a completely new set of songs. Mostly I'm just trying to use the band as trying out ideas. We move pretty quick, but it's not the Joey Beltram Experience. I write all the songs, but the band I have now is really solid."
Goodmorning Valentine has booked a gig at 9 p.m. Friday at Bela Dubby, 13321 Madison Ave., Lakewood. Also on the bill is Mike Uva & the Bad Eyes. Cover is $5. Call 216-221-4479.
Clique music: Spurred by the High School Rock Off two years ago, local act Into the Crowd -- Garrett Cyr (guitar, vocals), Bipul Lama (guitar, vocals), Tony Giusto (bass) and Jerrod Borkey (drums) -- now uses the rejection as motivation to push its pop-punk sound that unabashedly veers into emo.
"There are a lot of deep lyrics put into it, so if people want to call it emo, I can see it," said Cyr, a 2011 Cleveland Heights High School graduate studying recording arts technology at Cuyahoga Community College.
"It's not about sounding good, it's the emotion behind the band. We get a lot of comparisons to All Time Low -- they're a big influence on us -- Simple Plan and Forever the Sickest Kids. We find great honor with being compared to bands like that. Those are groups that we look up to."
With its debut album due out this spring, the quartet has already released its lead single, "A Taste for Reaction." "We don't look at this as just a hobby," Cyr said. "One thing we'd like to do is just get on the road and tour nonstop."
For now, Into the Crowd has booked a 5:30 p.m. show Friday at the Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights. Also on the bill are Dear Christie, Goodnight City Lights, Take a Chance and We Were Kids. Tickets are $8. Call 216-321-5588.
Are you in a local band? Know of a great local band? Email local music news to the address below or send a fax to 216-999-6269, attn.: John Benson. To reach John Benson: [email protected]