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Entrain is back with drums blazing as furious as ever! You'll find it hard to sit still during this tour-de-force of percussive rock music from one of the longest running bands in the HGMN.
Rhythms literally overwhelm you as this ensemble incorporates a worldwide litany of influences into a freight train of sound! Just a Matter of Time is right on time!
Lee Crumpton, , Homwgrown Music Network, http://www.homegrownmusic.net/news-and-views/entra
COTUIT - It's been 15 years, one island, five studio albums, two live albums, close to 2,000 shows, 22 states, three countries (including China), four vans, three recreational vehicles, approximately 750,000 miles, and more than 23 band members.
Through it all, Entrain, arguably the most successful band in the Cape Cod area's music history, has persevered. It plays two shows today, this morning at the 22nd annual WMVY Big Chili Contest in Oak Bluffs, and tonight at the Cotuit Center for the Arts on Route 28.
The darlings of Martha's Vineyard released their fifth studio album in late December, seven years after their previous studio effort and two years after their second live album.
Titled "Entrain 7, Just a Matter of Time," the album features an entirely new lineup from previous recordings.
Now, according to band members, there is more energy and enthusiasm in the group than ever before.
"When someone leaves the band, its always difficult," band drummer and founder Tom Major said by phone this week from Florida. "Sometimes you feel like giving up, but that feeling usually lasts about a day, because this is too much fun. Entrain has become almost like an entity. It's larger than me or Sam (Holmstock, the only other member left from the band's original lineup) or anyone else. It just wants to keep going."
Entrain now features Major and Holmstock (on conga/djembe/trombonist), both from the Vineyard, and newcomers Lenny Bradford from Pottstown, Pa., on bass; Phillip Young from Georgia on saxophone, keys, and percussion; Boston journeyman Johnny Trama on guitar; and Jeff Clark, the new 27-year-old lead vocalist from Key West, Fla.
And with the new blood, Entrain has new songs, new sounds and what is arguably its strongest release to date, maintaining its classic "Entrain sound" of heavy, rolling percussion complemented nicely by deep rhythmic horns and feel-good vibes, which is most evident on the inaugural track "Turn it On."
In addition to pleasing hard-core fans by staying true to its roots, the six-piece band has expanded its musical horizons further into world music on "Rollin' On," jam music on "Just a Matter of Time," reggae on "A Long Time Ago," funk on "All That Good," blues on "Got to Get Through to You," horn-fused country on "Sad Joe Zydeco," and even hip-hop on "Drums for Peace."
"It's working like a charm," Holmstock said. "The band is sounding better than ever. We've got the best voice we've ever had up front, and more energy on stage than we've ever had. I'm incredibly encouraged."
While holding its Cape Cod roots dear, Entrain plans to expand its fan base by doing fewer Cape shows and by hitting the road.
"This is our best batch of tunes, overall vibe, and message," Major said, referring to the band's new album and politics of peace and love. "I really believe that this band is one of the best in the country and should have the recognition and notoriety it deserves."
Clark added, "I'm ready for things to take off."
Matthew Burke, , Cape Cod Times, Cotuit Center for the Arts
“Entrain is a band on the verge of happening big!”
Bruce Warren, Program Director, WXPN
Though deliriously upbeat Entrain’s sixth release is, in fact, superbly played and undeniably infectious.
The band was founded in the early 1990s by drummer Tom Major, and each member has a fine musical pedigree — Major himself was a longtime touring percussionist for rock ’n’ roll icon Bo Diddley. It comes as no surprise that this collection of premier players can kick out the jams with the best of ’em. From the undulating funk of album opener “Turn It On” and the slinky blues of the following track, “Got to Get Through to You,” to the island groove of “A Long Time Ago” and the heat-seeking Cajun shuffle of “Sad Joe Zydeco,” Entrain cooks a mean musical stew and shows considerable proficiency with each ingredient.
Dan Bolles, , Seven Days, Burlington VT
“That noise you hear eminating from New England is probably just the buzz about Entrain. They’ve been selling out shows and selling lots of CDs on their own. Can U Get It sports plenty of jam-happy, booty-shakin’ grooves, sure to keep the good fortune coming. Dancin’ in the Light (Tarbosh) is a party waiting to happen, as are River Run and Anyway.”
Friday Morning Quarterback (industry trade magazine)
“I can’t sit down when Entrain is on the radio! Every time I play them on WMVY, the chair goes flyin’ back and I’m up dancin’ in the air studio. We’ve been playing Entrain since their first CD in ‘94 and the music always makes the station sound great.”
Barbara Dacey, Program Director, WMVY, Martha’s Vineyard
“We’ve been seeing Entrain popping up on the WMVY and WXPN playlists for months. It’s been ringing phones where played. Hotcha!”
Gavin Report (industry trade magazine)
“Entrain plays joyous percussion propelled . . . chock full of invigorating, gyrating rhythms, catchy hooks and general good time groove music . . .”
Mick Skidmore, Relix Magazine
“Entrain zips along like a lively summit conference between the Dave Matthews Band and Little Feat.”
Steve Morse, The Boston Globe
“Entrain . . . merges funk, rock, reggae, swamp, and worldbeat rhythm into a sweaty good time . . .”
“On Friday, March 22 I saw perhaps the best live band I have ever seen. Entrain is a criminally unknown band from Martha’s Vinyard, Massachusets. In the past, they have backed Bob Weir and they are Bo Diddley’s backing band when he plays in New England.
The evening started with Portland’s Greg Goodwill Band. Though he is a talented singer-songwriter/guitarist, Goodwill seemed to have a hard time connecting with the audience until the last five songs of his set.
Entrain hit the stage at around 10:00 with all six members playing assorted percussion on a rousing rendition of Mo’ Drums from their second disk, Can U Get It. Before the last beat could fade out, each band member went to his respective instrument and went into the Grateful Dead-like River Run.
The band played for nearly an hour-and-a-half without a break. At one point, saxophone player Klem Klimek went out into the audience and took a solo from the floor.
Musically, the band flowed seamlessley from Funk to Ska to African to Afro-Cuban to Zydeco to Folk Rock—all with a groove so infectous that you had no choice but to dance.
During the intermission, I got to talk to trombonist/percussionist Sam Holmstock. He informed me that guitarist/vocalist Chad Hollister and keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Alex Howland had joined the band two weeks earlier. This is particularly amazing concidering how tight the band was. The band is rounded out by Tom Major on drums and Lenny ‘LB’ Bradford.
An Entrain show is a beautiful, tribal, positive, uplifting experience that shouldn’t be missed.”
Jayson Cornish, , April 2002 edition of Face Magazine
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