Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

Philly reggae artist climbing up the Treehouse ladder

There's something in the offbeat tropical rhythms and laid-back attitude of reggae music to warm any winter-weary soul. Philadelphia-based Jay D Clark is heading south to team up with local act Treehouse for a roots reggae/funk jam designed to inspire hot Caribbean vibes, and a chilled out night of thinking man's music - both acts have plenty to say if you listen closely.

Jeremy Anderson's Treehouse trio will once again take the stage at Drink! at 10 tonight to open the show for indie-reggae act Clark, who saves bucks and hassles by using local acts, such as Treehouse, to provide his back up. It's a formula that Clark has successfully employed in other markets.

"It's very hard to get five or six guys together and go away for two months," said Clark from his home in Philly. "A lot of times there's not enough money involved and/or the ability to rehearse," he said. "A lot of nationally touring acts go on the road and come home broke. So I developed this style to play with really good musicians. Live on stage we create unique versions of my songs. It's a very creative, interactive process. A lot of people have said 'You can't do it that way,' but here we are. I'm excited to play with Treehouse - they're good. Jeremy's a cool cat, and I look to play with people like that all over the country."

Anderson, the North Myrtle Beach native who fronts Treehouse, connected with Clark via ReverbNation online. The growing Web site now boasts more than one million artists' profiles, along with tools for musicians, and the venues that book them. "[The Web site] has all these opportunities and resources - it's a network for musicians," said Anderson, who recently returned from an extended working vacation in Nashville, Tenn. "Jay D Clark actually found me [on the Web site]. He's set up a useful archive of information on venues all along the East Coast. His novelty is using local bands to back him. It's like live theater - you never know what's going to happen on stage; it keeps it fresh and exciting for everybody involved."

Treehouse is spending lots of time in rehearsals in preparation for a February recording project at Jam Time Music studio in Myrtle Beach. "Joe [Scrofani, the owner,] is really about everybody on both sides having their stuff together," said Anderson, "to put out a project that represents everybody well." Anderson and Clark are both intellectual artists, and thinking men, whose original music is sometimes the only outlet for less-than-mainstream views. Anderson, 22, is a former Philosophy major, and Clark, 36 a skeptic of the motives behind world powers.

Message Behind the Music

Beyond his music, Clark dabbles in moviemaking in Philadelphia, having written, produced and acted in the underground indie flick "Order of the Quest," which purports to shed light on the dark world of the Illuminati, and other Revolution-era conspiratorial fare. Clark played a young Benjamin Franklin in the movie, clips of which may be seen on YouTube. In the process he met producer Chuck Treece (Sting, Billy Joel) who performed on "Fall of the City," Clark's CD released last summer. "He's a masterful musician," said Clark, of Treece. "He played every instrument that I didn't on the entire project."

A student of government cover-ups, secret societies, and new world orders, Clark explores his philosophies, political leanings, and conspiratorial suspicions in his music. "I'm an artist, and there's a lot of ways I creatively put stuff out, but music...it can just connect with someone. Music can heal; it can change people's lives. My mother wanted me to go to medical school, I said 'Mom, I can heal more people with music.'"

Drink! is at 503 8^th Ave N. in Myrtle Beach. Treehouse will take the stage around 10 p.m., with Clark to follow. A $5 cover will be charged at the door.

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