(From CD Cover)
The Guise, “Forthcoming,”
Sound Ideas Music
I popped “Forthcoming” into my car CD player and said to myself, “yup,” as soon as the first notes of “You Never Know” hit my ears.
No way had I heard this song written and being played by The Guise before. But I knew it was going to make my drive through the hills of Madison County to my driveway in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood easy-peasy.
And as the work of Dale Randall and Adrian Gerard filled my Chevy Cruze, “Just Don’t Care” and “For You” and “After You Leave” and “Without” on what could be considered side one and “Falling in Love” and “Another Door” and “Give a Little Love” and “Within Your Smile” and “What We’re Gonna Do” completing the album, I knew my quick assumption had been correct.
The Guise had captured both the pop majesty and comforting harmonies of the Beatles. And all was good.
Randall and Gerard are both admitted Beatlemaniacs who have a long line of musical credits to their names before this new project.
Guitarist and bassist Randall played with venerable Syracuse rock band The Coachmen for 13 years, and was part of the band for “The Music of Carole King” at Turning Stone Resort and Casino, and “Cruisin’ thru the ’50s” at the New Times Theater. And with Syracuse Beatles tribute band The Fab Five, he played at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England.
Guitarist Gerard toured the east coast with The Eljer Band, opening for Chubby Checker, The Five Satins, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks and Joey Dee and the Starlighters. He also considered playing the Hershey Park Paviliion with Beatles tribute band Abbey Road as a big moment. He released an album, “Sounds Like Adrian Gerard,” and it received good reviews and earned him a slot at the International Pop Overthrow for independent pop artists in Los Angeles.
The pair were introduced by a common friend while at a music festival in Mexico. They played a set together, knew they had chemistry, and decided to form The Guise.
The way they blend their guitars and voices on “Forthcoming” shows it was a wise decision, indeed. They can take it slow and tasty as well as faster and layered.
“You Never Know” takes my mind from the Beatles’ harmony to the Byrds’ jangle to America’s bridges. “Just Don’t Care” rolls like a love song from the Oneders in the great and underappreciated movie “That Thing You Do.” And that’s just the first two cuts.
The album, recorded and produced by Jocko Randall at More Sounds Studio in Syracuse, also enlists Nick Munger on drums and Tom Reitano on piano on “Give a Little Love.” The sound values are top shelf.
The Guise plays live gigs throughout northern and Central New York. They play at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 5 at Greenwood Winery in East Syracuse and 7 p.m. Friday, March 6 at Vendetti’s Soft Rock in Syracuse.
Here’s the link to The Guise’s Reverb Nation page.
Mark Bialczak 
Thanks to all for listening to our music. as they say Music is the doctor. It brings us back to a time when things were a little lighter, a good place for most. ADRIAN /THE GUISE
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Thanks for dropping in and addressing those who listening, Adrian. We have a music community here, too, you see. 🙂
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How cool! 🙂
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It is a cool sound, Rachel. 🙂
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I’ve known and played music with Adrian since we were teens.
His drive and love for music continues strong and steady, just like it always has been.
Thankful for our time together on this planet playing and loving the music that takes us back to a special time and place. Listen and enjoy.
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Thanks for stopping by here and sharing your affection for the life, times and music you’ve shared with your friend Adrian, John. I appreciate it.
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fantastic, mark. thanks for sharing this great find )
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Perfect for our class of ’57/’75, you know, Beth?
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I like! Anything that makes a long car ride easy-peasy is good tunage. Reminds me a bit (at least the song I listened to) of less goofy Monkees.
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Very less goofy, but it has the melody, yes, Liz. I feel it. 🙂
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The photography on the album cover with the faces half shaded is also a Beatles reference. I can’t remember the album on which the Beatles did that same photography but I remember the image clearly.
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Yes, they have that down, too, Marissa. 🙂
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I found the image but can’t figure out how to cut and paste into the comments. Oh well, so much for us Gen X-ers.
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I know. Putting photos into other people’s comment sections flummoxes me somewhat, too, Marissa. Videos I can handle more easily. Best way I can explain it is to pretend you’re loading the image on your own post but at the last moment, copy the photo URL instead and past that into the comment box. If you can understand that … Good luck.
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Sounds pretty clear to me. I’ll have to see if it actually works. Thanks Mark!
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I will have to borrow ear buds or ask my friend, Jenny, later on today to connect me to the new sound you are sharing… We worked a 10 hour day yesterday to earn our day off today. I am blessed to be heading to a neat place to poke around and see antiques and seasonal decorations with Jenny. Lunch or brunch at Bob Evans in a half hour…
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Enjoy your Friday off, Robin. I am glad to hear you are still working. You know what I’m talking about. I think you will catch us up.
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This is great, I hear the beach boys and maybe even the Kinks on some of the rowdier tracks. Love it! Thanks for the music this morning, hermano!
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They have the twin guitars and vocal harmonies down really well, sis, and that never goes out of style. I love the two bands that you took away from them, Sandra. I must listen to some Kinks today. The Davies brothers rule. Maybe ‘Celluloid Heroes’ before Oscars week is over. ❤
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Yes! I’m feeling a Waterloo Sunset. Must find my Kinks album now. Thanks hermano!
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What a pleasant way to start my day. Such a clean sound, reminiscent of an earlier time. It has a sense of innocence to it. A treat to hear real voices and sounds without all of the electronic assistance. Thanks for “turning me onto” these Guise.
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They remind me of when we were younger, Benson. I agree. Glad to put the link on here for you to enjoy.
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Nice Mark – love the sound. Thanks for the intro.
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You’re welcome, Paul. These guys are pros. Glad you like the sound.
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