FAIRFAX, Va. - The sound of drums and guitar music seeps out the windows of a quaint house in a residential neighborhood of Northern Virginia. A woman, walking her dog along the street, doesn't seem to notice the noise or all the cars parked out front. In the basement bedroom, which doubles as a rehearsal room, rock band 33 West is practicing for an upcoming show.
33 West rocks the house with Andrew Gorski's vocals, Nick Hughes on drums, Ken Barnum on bass, Joe Nelson on guitar, Dave McGraw playing trumpet and Jacob Walters playing trombone. The band had been playing together since 1995, but became 33 West in 2000 with the addition of Nelson.
While the band is serious about their music, their songs are just plain fun.
"In music today there is an awful trend where ... lead singers, especially, take themselves way too seriously," Gorski said. "It's stupid to take yourself seriously."
33 West's sound is a mix of reggae, Latin, punk and rock, with a killer horn section.
"Bands come and go and there are a lot of bands that sound alike," Barnum said. "One thing we can honestly say ... is that we are unique."
The band draws from all of the members' musical backgrounds: Nelson's passion for metal, Hughes' training in Cuban hand percussion and Gorski's love for country and Frank Sinatra.
"So Far Off to a Bad Start," the band's first full-length album, will be released May 11. The band is thrilled about the release of the album and proud of the work that went into it.
"It's like two chicks at the same time, maybe three," Gorski said, likening the excitement of the release to that of the stereotypical male fantasy.
McGraw said he is happy to finally put something out for the fans.
"I feel like we've been in this band for a ridiculously long time and haven't put out anything we're really proud of and really happy to finally get out there," McGraw said. "I'm just really excited."
The diverse styles of music the band plays create emotional "ups and downs" within the album, Hughes said. Some songs are more serious while others are outrageous.
"The Same Ending" and "Teeth" are super-catchy tracks. "Teeth" has punk, jazz and metal styles all mixed within the same song.
"Roses," the most shocking track on the album, lets the band's id out on a killing spree. Gorski sings, "I don't care if it kills me/ It's your last night/...You're pretty when you choke." Barnum described the song as a "dark satire."
"The Price You Pay" is an upbeat reggae track that Hughes described as "danceable." The refrain, "4:30/ She's Dirty/ I won't wear women's underwear," makes it one of the most fun tracks on the album.
"Rust and Solder" is an "intricate" song, Barnum said. The intricacy makes it fun to play and shows that the band is not afraid to challenge themselves.
The band does not only challenge their album, but also their live show.
"The live show has a lot of energy," Hughes said. "Our live show is what sets us apart from other bands." The set is full of head-banging, jumping and Walters doing back flips.
The band has toured throughout the United States and is well-recognized in the D.C. music scene. Their upcoming tour dates will take them along the East Coast from New Jersey to Florida.
"The best part about being in the band is being on the road," Hughes said. 33 West relies on the hospitality of their fans who are willing to give them a place to stay when they are on tour.
The band is always accessible before and after their performances in order to meet the fans. They have played a lot of community centers and "all ages shows" in order to connect with the younger audience that buys their albums.
The members of 33 West are close friends and their songs are written collaboratively.
"If I wasn't in a band with these guys, I probably wouldn't play at all," Walters said.
When 33 West is not jamming together, Barnum and Nelson teach music lessons and Hughes attends college at George Mason University. In their free time, they play baseball and lots of Ping-Pong, or sit just around quoting Austin Powers and making crude jokes.
