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| Volume 39 Issue 23 Stories: | |
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Arts
& Entertainment
The Matt Gerovac Implosion performs an eclectic range of reggae, funk, groove, calypso and rhythm and blues — a combination of sounds that stems from both the group members’ varied backgrounds and the frontman’s roots in the Virgin Islands. Gerovac was born in Pittsburgh, but soon moved to the Virgin Islands when his musician parents got a gig playing a resort for nine months. “I feel really fortunate that I grew up there,” he said. “People would come from all over the world to hang out there, so as far as diversity is concerned, I was subjected to a lot of different kinds of people when I was growing up. In fact, when I moved here for the first time I didn’t even know that there were different kinds of white people. “I just felt like people were people,” he said. “It didn’t really matter who you were; people gave you a pretty clean slate. They’re very accepting of differences.” Growing up in the Virgin Islands heavily influenced Gerovac’s music tastes. “[The music] is very cyclical,” he said. “Each person’s part by itself isn’t particularly difficult, but when you put everything together, it’s almost like a machine producing the groove.” The Cleveland-based group has varied influences, with members hailing from around the world. “Even though our instrumentation is somewhat traditional — we have bass, guitar, drums and keyboards — what we do is a little bit different,” said Gerovac, who has been playing guitar since he was 15. Bassist Deyampert Giles has released several albums in Germany, Gerovac said, and is on pop charts around the world. Gerovac said he met drummer Phillip Torres on the day of the massive Northeast Blackout in August 2003. “We heard some music, and we knew that it couldn’t be electric,” he said. “He was playing his drums, and we just hung out with him and drank beers out of plastic cups.” Playing music is trance-like for Gerovac, who said performing is like meditation. “I’m just thinking about playing music, and as long as people are feeling that from me then they’ll have a good time,” he said. “When everybody is feeling it, it’s almost like the energy pulls you and you’re not thinking about what you have to do technically on your instrument; it almost makes itself happen.” Some of the group’s songs tackle social issues, but Gerovac said he always tries to show a more positive side than is often presented. “I don’t like preaching,” he said. “I’m not real good at sitting around and complaining when you’re not offering a solution.” The Matt Gerovac Implosion will perform at the Kirkhof Center Lounge on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 9 p.m.
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