HüsBandRocks

HüsBand plays original melodic pop with a lyrical bite. This quartet of local musicians blends diverse musical influences to hone their own groove of rhythm and rhyme. Reflective, driving, and laid-back, all at the same time.

HüsBand’s sharp societal and political commentary is rife with acerbic wit, and the four-piece band’s music exudes a breezy, jazz rock-informed sophistication. Though the guys individually don’t always agree on influences, and, thus, pool from a vibrant variety of classic rock, modern rock, alternative rock, jazz-rock, and jam rock inspirations, their music exhibits an intriguing cohesion. “A fan once said: ‘You sound like ABBA because all of your songs sound different, but you sound the same, you sound like HüsBand,’”

The quartet is made up of musicians who share the common thread of returning to music later in life, hence, the band’s cheeky moniker. HüsBand is Michael Kerwin, bass and vocals; Jonas Carnemark, guitar and vocals; Amit Chattterjie, keyboards; and Jim Süllivan, drums and percussion.

Through woodshedding individually, and as a band, HüsBand has homed in on a signature aesthetic that encompasses the full gamut of its, at times, contradictory influences while also showcasing the band’s sharp chops. To date, HüsBand has gigged steadily throughout the local DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas. Recently, the band has completed its debut record, and, in advance of this long-playing release, HüsBand will issue the singles “Too Big To Fail” and “Family Man.”

At the core of the band’s aesthetic is the creatively fertile friction between Jonas and Amit’s desire to explore advanced jazz-informed harmonic concepts, and Mike’s desire to keep things pop-rock concise. The group’s seemingly oppositional artistic aspirations make for a refreshingly diverse collection of songs. Two album standouts include the singles “Too Big To Fail” and “Family Man.”

The track “Too Big To Fail” is musically tight and tidy, brimming with telepathic band interplay, and slinky pop-funk riffage. A musical highlight within the track is Mike’s lyrical bass playing which is fluidly melodic, offering counterpoint musical motifs to complement the lead vocals. The lyrical territory here is seething political commentary, and the song stings with nugget phrases such as: Taxes are paid by small people In stature the width of a rail/I enjoy my Beef Wellington write-off/Life is good when you’re too big to fail.

Warped wit and pop-rock hooks abound on “Family Man” which cruises through the suburban nightmare riding high on some balmy, Antônio Carlos Jobim-style chord changes. In contrast to this track’s slow-burn sophistication is the album highlight “Glisten” which showcases HüsBand with its foot on the pedal, playing anthemic rock n’ roll replete with fleet-fingered bluesy guitar-solo virtuosity.