Vocalist Rhet O'Neil and guitarist Gabe Loor hooked up first, writing songs and looking for musicians who wanted in on the vibe. "We just started jamming with musicians from rehearsal studios and other bands, anyone who just wanted to jam," says Rhett. "After a while it began to click. We wanted a big ass band like the Blues Brothers, a loose family where all musicians are welcome. Sometimes we have horn players sit in...violinists, anyone who makes good music."The full line is J.C. on bass, O'Neil on vocals, Loor on guitar, Frank Stone on guitar, Frank Leira on drums and Tony Suarez onpercussion. The band's name came from the sound. "We want to gel together a lot of influences into a smooth mix...you know, melt it together like butter," says Gabe. Rhett pens the lyrics, the whole band contributes to riffs and writing music. It's a blend of different music theband has heard and played, ranging from funk to acoustic ballads with a constant underlying groove. "It's a fusion of jammed out styles.This is mood music," says O'Neil. It takes you to a good place. Whatever the song calls for we use. Instruments are an open resource.
"The Butterclub has already inked a publishing deal with the international company, peermusic. The deal came about when peermusic Creative Director for the East Coast, Ramon Arias, sat in on a few rehearsals and heard the work in progress. "I signed them without a demo," says Arias. "Between the band's captivating live performances and the songs' storytelling elements, it's a pretty remarkable package. The spectrum of Rhett's writing painted such strong lyrical pictures upon a backdrop of affluent yet eclectic music that I knew this was a band I wanted to work with."
