The Stranded Local Q&A: The Cold Beat

This week's local Q&A comes from Boston's new(ish) and promising band The Cold Beat. The members are a close-knit group of friends consisting of Chris Amaral (vocals/guitar), Mike Vera (bass/vocals), Shep (guitar) and Dan Webb (drums, vocals) of which Amaral says, "We're a product of the inherently incestuous nature of any music scene/social group. It's filthy, really."

The Cold Beat has current members of Where the Land Meets the Sea and former members of Boston groups such as Lock and Key, The Call Up, inblackandwhite, The Losing Kind and The Murder Mile.

Incestuous? I think that only begins to describe their relationship. But in this case (and probably this case only that I can think of) is incest a great thing. The Cold Beat's sound reminds me personally of all the reasons why The Replacements are great while incorporating punk sensibilities from modern bands like California's Samiam.

Amaral took the time to answer the same five questions SIS always asks local bands. (Also if you don't know who Complete is, don't ask me after you get done reading this Q&A because we're no longer friends...)

Hailing from Boston, makes us better than all those non-Boston bands because
Everyone I know constantly talks about leaving, which implies that they're unsatisfied. I've never heard of a good song written about being satisfied.

Name at least three bands that are still around and touring that you'd love to be on a bill with, and think it fits well
Complete, CMPT, Hoogie Boogie Land.

Your favorite Boston venue to perform in is
Great Scott.

Are there any genres that influence your music conceptually, rather than sonically? (In that you can't hear from simply listening to the music, but from getting into the structure or mathematics of the song-writing, etc.)
Interesting question. Listen to the screams at the end of Husker Du's cover of "Eight Miles High", and you might get the idea.

Your favorite local bar to hit up when not doing the whole band deal is
The Silhouette. Multiple generations of my family have been kicked out.

[Myspace] http://www.myspace.com/thecoldbeat

Download: "I Want To Be Free" [mp3]

Catch them live: May 31st at the Middle East Upstairs with The Gaslight Anthem.