By Michèle De Meglio
Don’t feel guilty about binging on chocolate on Valentine’s Day – you can dance off those calories the next night at a rock ‘n’ roll concert. The Courtesy Tier will hit the Trash Bar in Williamsburg on February 15 with a blend of rock, jazz, blues, hip-hop, and middle-eastern sounds. “There’s a lot of energy,” said bass player Jason Reichert. “It’s music where you’ll be breaking a sweat.” The band, which also includes guitar player Omer Leibovitz and drummer Layton Weedeman, has gained a dedicated following with its lively shows and catchy songs. The trio joined forces nearly two years ago when they were all students at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. “I knew the guitar player, we went to high school together,” Reichert explained. “The drum player was playing with the guitar player with another project at the time. We stared playing together just for fun, just improvising, and it started growing.” After deciding to become a band, the guys graduated and headed right to Brooklyn. As New Jersey natives, they were familiar with the borough and believed they could benefit from the thriving music and art scene. “We didn’t want to live in Manhattan because of the hustle and bustle. We wanted to be near Manhattan but not in it,” Reichert said. Then they found Park Slope. “We liked the neighborhood a lot and the atmosphere,” Reichert said. The band also loves playing at Brooklyn’s hot clubs, especially Trash Bar. “It’s a great room. The first time we played there was on Thanksgiving,” Reichert said. “It sounds great and everyone there is really nice.” Making the upcoming show even more exciting is the open bar during the band’s performance. “I think that should draw a lot of people,” Reichert said with a laugh. “Playing in the borough that we live in is always nice because our friends can come,” he added. “It’s just one train ride away.” At the show, Courtesy Tier will play songs from its first EP, some of which are straight instrumentals and others featuring vocals. The group started out with instrumental songs for a simple reason – no one could carry a tune. “None of us knew how to sing and we didn’t want to add somebody because that would make the dynamics of the band more difficult,” Reichert explained. Instead, they held rehearsal after rehearsal to get their voices ready for the stage. And the results couldn’t have been better. “People like it. People like something they can sing along to,” Reichert said. “It keeps people’s attention more.” The band is sure to grab some attention with the catchy “Hopes and Dreams.” Over a thumping bass and groovy lead guitar, the trio sings the lyrics together – “There’s hopes and dreams running around this room…they make these lights flicker.” Courtesy Tier will really get Trash Bar rocking with the song “C Section.” An instrumental piece, the song is a spirited mix of rock and power pop with some catchy blues riffs and great drum work. Songs like this are all part of the band’s plan to keep audiences on their feet. “We always give the crowd a lot of energy,” Reichert said. That’s what Courtesy Tier hopes to keep doing for years to come. “The main goal five years from now would be that we are touring and doing this professionally,” Reichert said. “That’s the dream.” Courtesy Tier’s show at the Trash Bar, 256 Grand Street, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6. Listen to the band’s songs at www.thecourtesytier.com.
