The 5 O’clocks  Electronic Media Kit

For interviews and booking info contact:
John Lamb (203) 414-5405  JohnLambMusic@aol.com

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Not on facebook 9 songs zipped

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THE 5 O’CLOCKS RELEASE NEW RECORD SHOWCASING UNIQUE SOUND

The 5 O’Clocks, the eclectic band from Westport, Connecticut, USA proudly announces the release of Not on Facebook, a part-live part-studio recording.

“No single label fits the band,” said keyboard player John Lamb who also produced the tracks.  “We have elements of rock, pop, funk, R & B, and even jazz and reggae.”

Not on Facebook has nine tracks.  Six were recorded in Lamb’s home studio in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  The other three were recorded live at a TV shoot and then remixed by Lamb.

The 5 O’Clocks are different from other bands in many ways.

Part of that is due to the unique instrumentation of the group driven by the keyboards and saxophone.  A signature sound of the band is the thumping bass line on every song.  But the band has no bass player.  Instead it’s Lamb playing the bass on a Moog synthesizer.

“The Moog and the other keyboards such as the Fender Rhodes and the Hohner Clavinet have such a fat sound it gives the tracks a warmth you don’t hear much these days, “ said Lamb. “The recordings were digital but the instruments – including the synthesizers – were all analog.”
And while many bands are sampling horns and relying on computer drums for rhythm, The 5 O’Clocks have real live musicians Jon Saxon on saxophone and Jim Syarto on drums.  Lamb and Saxon have been performing together since their days at Staples High School (Westport, CT).   Vocalist Paula Gallo and guitarist Tim DeHuff are also originally from Westport.  Syarto is from Milford, CT.

Even the band’s cover songs are unique.  “We play everything,” said Lamb. “We love doing our originals but we also cover everybody from the Rolling Stones to Bruno Mars.”  But the band doesn’t copy anything.  Instead, they perform their own arrangements of popular and some not-so-popular songs.    “So you may recognize the song but you probably haven’t heard it done that way before.”

Their original songs are sometimes quirky too – and hard to forget.

The opening track is a foot-mover entitled  Buy the Band a Beer.  “It’s a song about being a musician performing in bars, and entertaining without much compensation,” said Lamb who wrote the song.  “You’re supposed to write what you know.  I’ve been a gigging musician my whole life so I know all about that.”

Track two is also a personal story.  Primary vocalist Paula Gallo’s words on Small Girl in a Mighty World were inspired by her real live battle with Lyme disease.  The pounding bass sets the tone.  Syarto ‘s rap part punctuates it.

Whispers and rumors is the subject of Lamb’s Nothing, a dance tune featuring Saxon performing five saxophone parts, two tenors, two altos and a soprano.  DeHuff’s guitar solo is a highlight as well.

Lamb takes the vocal lead on the rocking title track.  Not on Facebook is an irreverent look at the pitfalls of social media, with Lamb calling on FBers to “sign off.” He also contributes a killer Moog bass solo.

Another studio song is a remake of the ballad I still love you anyway. That was written by former Westporter Charlie Karp who first recorded it with Buddy Miles on the Them Changes album.

“I’m thrilled,” said Karp who played guitar on the original and has a lead guitar cameo on The 5 O’Clocks version. “The way Paula (Gallo) sings it is wonderful.  She brings it.”

The live tracks were recorded as part of a cable TV shoot on a program called Studio 21 on the Comcast Cable system.  As a result there is live video of Wild Man, written by Lamb, and Tell Me Now and Leave Me Alone Please Don’t Go written by Lamb and Gallo.  “We wanted to capture the energy of the live band but we also wanted to record in the studio – so we did both,” said Lamb.   “The TV shoot gave us the perfect chance to get some live tracks down.  The video was a bonus.”

The recordings end appropriately with the Not on Facebook reprise, also written by Lamb.

Renowned Westport artist Miggs Burroughs shot the cover photograph for the CD.  “Miggs is a great artist and photographer.  And he is synonymous with all things Westport,” said Lamb.  “So we will were thrilled when he agreed to do our photo shoot.  And the results are fabulous.”

The recordings are being distributed worldwide on Itunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, CDBaby and other digital music outlets.  The physical CD and digital download are both available at the band website. It is also being distributed to 300 radio stations across the United States and Canada.  The band’s successful crowd-funding campaign in June of this year paid for the production and distribution of the recording.

The instant digital download of the 9-tracks as well as the CD is available at www.the5oclocks.com.