New Band Gives More Than A Nod To Classic Rock

Drummer Brian Doherty leads a new band with new songs and a new take on an old formula.

Westchester, NY (I-Newswire) October 8, 2012 - World-class musician, producer and session drummer Brian Doherty released his first solo effort with a new band, Treat + Release. The band and its music pick up the mantle of classic rock long forgotten by the music and entertainment industry, bringing back guitar solos, an LP sound and the right dose of power pop. “This record could easily fit in on any number of classic rock stations heard nationwide,” says Doherty.

Doherty feels that the time is right for Treat + Release. He continues, “I can’t help but feel that there are classic rock lovers out there that want new music without abandoning their genre and who have not yet gone over to the country music market. In my opinion, this is the forgotten class of music fans, and this album is for them.” The album is the antithesis of current protocols of market research, crunched numbers, manufactured celebrities, formulaic songwriting and protools which dominate much of today’s music world. True to form, Treat + Release was recorded onto 2-inch tape and hearkens back to the bygone era of analog rock. Real rock.

By the time the album was recorded Doherty, guitarist Todd Novak and bass player John Yates had been in the trenches of the NYC, Hoboken and Woodstock music scenes for some time. Doherty muses, “As far as I was concerned, I was grateful for my work as a drummer with bands like XTC, They Might Be Giants, Madder Rose, Chip Taylor, Lonnie Liston Smith, Ben Folds and Frank Black, but I could feel the ceiling beginning to lower. I felt confined and could not envision sustaining my drummer-for-hire life much longer. Also, the music business is at times tough, cliquish, full of whackos, narcissists and shameless self-promoters which can make you weary after a while.” Until then Doherty, Yates and Novak had been the backing band for other artists. They decided it was time to record some of Doherty’s music and make an album they way they wanted. The band Treat + Release was born.

The album consists of nine original pop/rock songs. Supporting musicians on the album are industry stalwarts Marshall Crenshaw, Robert Curiano (Mink DeVille), Mike Viola (The Candy Butches, Ivy) and Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu, Frank Black, Bob Mould).

“If You Love Me” was the single released on YouTube for streaming on September 19th, 2012. Viper/Universal Music Group acclaimed singer/songwriter PJ Pacifico remarks, “If Matthew Sweet and Ben Kweller jammed backstage at a Pixies show, you'd hear If You Love Me by Brian Doherty. Pure power pop ear candy! I love this song!”