I'd like to introduce you to Sweet Talker, a new quartet featuring musicians from some notable Buffalo hardcore bands. I'll let vocalist Brett Biro explain that part. "A little over a year ago, I approached Jesse Muscato (Buried Alive, Pure Heel, general Buffalo legend) about doing a new band and we started jamming out some ideas.
"Along the way, we picked up Goo Robertson (Exhibition) and Skinhead Graham (Big Dog) and our buddy Nick Terlecky (Violent Way) played drums on the record and it came alive. We knew from the start we wanted to do something with a serious rock 'n' roll flair," says Brett, who also fronts Exhibition.
"At the core, we’re all hardcore and punk kids but I think I can speak for us all when I say our first real love was rock 'n' roll and we really wanted to kind of blend those flavors. We really wanted to create something you could simultaneously shake your ass to and make you wanna cut up the dance floor, you know?"
Ah yes, those rocker vibes aren't hard to miss on Sweet Talker's newly released debut, a 3-tracker called Not Your Daddy's Rock and Roll that features screaming solos, tasty NWOBHM-kissed melodies, and yes, hardcore grit. “We’re definitely all over the board when it comes to influences," explains Brett. "I would say the obvious ones are Motörhead, AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, Inepsy, and just general dope, hard-rockin’ stuff."
Guitarist Jesse also joins the conversation. “I would just say for myself, I'm a bit older and I grew up on a lot of hard rock and rock 'n' roll, and as far as influences, it stems anywhere from Motörhead to Guns N' Roses to AC/DC to Corrosion of Conformity to Dead Kennedys to Ramones. Basically, anything that just sounds rocking and ripping. But really, I just write what gets inside my head."
Since they play in other bands, I want to know if Brett and company try and have each new project check off a specific stylistic signature that sets it apart from the others. "We’re kind of lucky in the way that all of our other bands are already a bit different stylistically. Exhibition has a bit of a thrashy feel while Buried Alive is on the heavier side and then on the total opposite end of the spectrum we have Violent Way and Big Dog who are straight up Oi! bands.
"I think the melting pot of influences and the very different backgrounds made it easier to create something unique. However, what I really think sets us apart is Goo’s guitar work. I’ve been playing in bands with him for years and it still amazes me what he can do with a guitar. As far as other styles go, some of the newer stuff we’ve been writing leans a little into a kind of bluesy type feel so it’ll be interesting to experiment with that a little bit."
Sweet Talker has already played a couple of shows, and they have one coming up later this month with Pittsburgh's No Time (I dig em). So, with Sweet Talk's origin story as a side project, I get Brett's thoughts on their grand plans together.
"As far as future plans go, we are trying to gig as much as we can on as many kinds of shows as possible. Hardcore, punk, Oi!, rock 'n' roll, it doesn’t matter. If you want us, we’ll play it. We’re heading back into the studio very soon looking to crank out a 7”, maybe an LP, who knows? We’re just flying by the edge of our seat and enjoying the ride."
***
Sweet Talker on social media: Instagram
Tagged: buried alive, exhibition, pure heel, sweet talker, violent way
