The Heavy Pets new self-titled album features 12 rocking, head bobbing foot tapping hits. Jeff Lloyd (Lead Guitar, Vocals) and Mike Garulli (Lead Guitar, Vocals) play back and forth with ripping guitar solos thru-out the album. Jamie Newitt (Drums) and Justin Carney (Bass, Vocals) kept my foot tapping and head moving from the start to finish, at times it was even hard to write as my pen was dancing. Jim Wuest (Keyboard, Vocals) rounds up the mix with a great piano-keyboard sound, starting with the catchy into of the first track “Drenched”.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s The Heavy Pets are stylistic chameleons, blending sounds and styles seemingly without thought. The band seems to have an innate melodic sensibility that allows almost anything to work for them, a characteristic abundantly display on The Heavy Pets, the band’s self-titled third album. Sounding like something a jam session between Supertramp, Train and John Mayer, “Drenched” kicks off the album in fine style with a funky feel and soulful vocals. The song is catchy and laid back all at once; a monologue from a man trapped in sadness but seeing the light in a particular lady. It’s a great opening track and likely single. “Girl You Make Me Stupid” features a rapid-fire vocal/lyrical style and is highly danceable with a hip-hop feel. It’s a look at the inept feeling of being a fool in love and explores how it carries over once the relationship has passed away.

Ft. Lauderdale is the place that The Heavy Pets call home, but they have been hitting the southern road with recent stops in Athens, Savannah, and Atlanta before riding a certain Vermont band’s coattails into Charleston, SC, and making a stop at The Pour House. Dubbed as the “Official Phish After Party” for Saturday night, The Pets took the stage with their now 6 year old brand of what could perhaps be referred to as reggae and blues infused funk-folk.

The five-piece Heavy Pets based out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., may have just put out the best mixed tape of the year with their self-titled studio release (which is also available on 150 gram audiophile vinyl). The Heavy Pets roll through the 52 minute, 12 song album with such genres as folk, ’80s pop, acoustic hip-hop, reggae and good old fashion rock and roll.

The Heavy Pets will close out a highly successful 2010 with a tour along the northeast corridor including dates in New York, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland before heading back to FL for a final leg of New Year’s shows in their home stomping grounds.

Already known extensively for their touring prowess on the jamband and festival circuit, the Heavy Pets take a big leap forward on their eponymous sophomore studio CD. While the band’s studio debut, Whale, was a sprawling double disc of improvisational jams cultivated and recorded between 2005 and 2007, nothing here clocks in at longer than 5:21, eschewing the jams for a more polished—yet still raw—pop-styled sheen.

The Heavy Pets will close out a highly successful 2010 with a tour along the northeast corridor including dates in New York, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland before heading back to FL for a final leg of New Year’s shows in their home stomping grounds. The Heavy Pets have grown exponentially in a very short time and the tour marks a fitting end to an extraordinary year for the band.

On a night when U-Melt was performing their last show at the Highline Ballroom in New York City another band helped to celebrate the night with a bang. The Heavy Pets who are continually impressing crowds at festivals and music venues came in and played an excellent set of music. While the night belonged to Umelt the Heavy Pets got the crowd started and energized. Listeners were treated to the lead guitar work by both Jeff Lloyd and Mike Garulli. Each provides his own style live that really compliant each other and the band.

For those of you that were hoping to read another article extolling the corpulent measurements of the recently deceased mega-feline, Chunk…uh…the cat’s about to be let out of the bag.

But if you want the lowdown on a self-described “American rock and roll band whose contagious vibe blends rhythm and blues, jazz-funk and reggae fusion with homegrown rock and roll,” namely, The Heavy Pets? Well…read on.

After Phish’s “Little Feat” Halloween costume stomped all over the Boardwalk Hall on Halloween, The Heavy Pets laid down a powerhouse set of original music at Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City. The Pets took the stage about 2:15 am in the wild west themed casino where over 400 people gathered to enjoy the band’s blend of funky grooves and dance music. Setting the vibe for the rest of the evening, The Heavy Pets played a fun version of “Hedi Sigismondi” followed by a crowd pleaser, “No More Time,” off their recently released self titled album. The energy in the crowd was extremely high with Alice in Wonderland, Kenny Powers, a double rainbow, and a very authentic looking Blues Brother grooving to the music. Perhaps becoming their trademark jam vehicle, “So Thank You Music,” guitar players Mike Garulli and Jeff Lloyd dueled it out for 30+ minutes. Getting back to the funk, Jim Wuest struck the opening synth line to “Dewpoint,” a song which features his vocals and masterful ability to solo on keys.

Playing well past their allotted time slot of 4am, The Heavy Pets showed no signs of stopping and played another song off of the new album with “Jackie Bones”. Although the song is about Lloyd’s dog, it showcases the absolutely ridiculous skills Justin Carney has to offer on bass. Wuest asked Dr. James Dunstan to join the band on keys for the song “Bibbles”. He ripped a serious jazz influenced groove and was eventually joined by Wuest to finish the song out together. After taking a quick five minute break the band came back on to play a few more songs including a new original from drummer Jamie Newitt who truly served as the backbone driving force of the band throughout the entire show. They wrapped things up about 5:15am and were incredibly grateful for the fans that had danced all the way into the morning.

Kevin Anderson
Partyin Peeps

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