Team USA produced by peter wade keusch
TeamUSA started rockin’ St. Louis, MO in 1995 when art school pals Jackie Gendel, Mike Reddy and John Mathias joined up with local drummer Andy O’Neill to perform around town and campus. Originally conceived as an oldies cover band, Team USA quickly acquired enough material of their own and spent about a year playing local clubs and parties.
After a brief hiatus following graduation, all four Team members found themselves living in the New York City area and began to write and play local rock clubs such as the Mercury Lounge, the Knitting Factory and Brownies. A four song EP was recorded partly in Brooklyn by friend and Top 40 whiz kid Peter Keusch (J. Lo, Jessica Simpson!) and in Gloucester, MA by basement technician Tony Goddess of Papas Fritas. The EP includes: “Graduation,” a concert favorite with classic rock power chords and an addictive chorus, “Rome Wasn’t Burned in a Day,” a foot-stomping ode to breaking up, “She Don’t Know,” a humorous 60’s pop confection, and the bright albeit alcoholic title track “When does the Weekend?”
A tour in the Spring of 2000 with Minty Fresh Records’ Papas Fritas brought The Team and its EP down the East Coast and over to Texas, reminding indie crowds that Rock N’ Roll is all about cutting loose and having a blast.
After the tour, TeamUSA wrote more material and continued to play NYC and regional club dates including the CMJ Festival, two month-long residencies at the Parkside Lounge, and opening slots for both Alex Chilton and the Blake Babies at Maxwell’s in Hoboken. In April 2001, with a year of steady gigging behind them, TeamUSA hit the Brooklyn studio of producer Elie Massias, recording 12 tracks in a single week.
These sessions became StarTime International’s “Listen to the Night,” capturing the band playing with all the wild enthusiasm of their live show. The title track and the stalker/pack rat anthem “Saving Your Life” kick it off with pulsating bass and switchblade guitars. For a change of pace, The Team breaks out the acoustics and settles in for ballads “The Postcard” and “What Could Be Wrong?” And what party album would be complete without a cha cha, rock rumba, or disco track? TeamUSA doesn’t miss a trick.
The Fall of 2001 will find TeamUSA touring and playing locally to support “Listen to the Night” and, as always, writing new material.