Meet the band: Matt Pietrick (vocals), Stefanie Chips (vocals), Rick Pietrick (guitar/organ/vocals), Jon Chips (guitar/organ/vocals), Zach Panek (bass/vocals) and Jason Rubinski (drums)
A Family Affair: The group formed in 2012 and released its first album then. “It was a recording project between me and Jon,” says Rick Pietrick. “It’s a bit of a family thing. We recorded a couple of songs. We would be hanging out at parties and play a couple of songs. That’s how we started it. We had a good group of friends and people were floating in between. It just turned into a rock ’n’ roll thing.”
Influences: The band unabashedly embraces a retro ’60s garage rock vibe. “It’s rock ’n’ roll based,” Pietrick says. “Paul McCartney was a big influence. It’s more about energy. We don’t put limits on anything. If we like something, we go ahead and do it. We just enjoy the company of being in a band. That’s why we called the new album Social Club.”
The Live Show: The band’s live show is good fun as the group really revels in jamming. “The live show is the most fun and that’s rooted in how we practice and not having limits on anything,” Pietrick says. “Guitar-wise, Jon and I gravitate toward old-school garage rock.”
Why You Should Hear Them: Their new album, Social Club, is a ramshackle affair that alternates between garage blues and punk. With its cooing vocals and gritty guitars, “Ball of Light” opens the album with a fury and the raucousness doesn’t let up. Expect a new EP by spring. “We want to push the boundaries of our sound and refine things a bit more,” Pietrick says. “We want to keep evolving our sound and go on some regional shows.”
Where You Can Hear Them: teddyboysmusic.com
Where You Can See Them: Teddy Boys perform with Roosevelt, Johnny in the Grave, the Natives and the Moxies at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, at the Beachland Ballroom.
