by Jason Howell
Cinema 8
www.cinema8.com
“If art, be it a pop song or a symphony, can connect with that place in yourself that needs filling, then that’s great!”
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- Michael Sauri
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The gift. Everybody’s got something they do well, something they do without effort but to everyone else, it’s an amazing feat. One of life’s many tragedies is that sometimes these gifts are so well hidden, that they go to waste. What do you do? In the mid-Atlantic we are witnesses to groups of people whose gifts are thankfully exposed profoundly. One of these groups is the Richmond, Virginia based band Cinema 8 (www.cinema8.com). Frontman Michael Sauri’s undeniable gift is playing guitar and leading this band of merry men. His merry men include the venerable Buddy Speir (guitar/back up vocals), Tom Kirk (bass, vocals) and Tony McGee (drums, vocals).
Formerly the lead guitarist for regional sensation Fighting Gravity, Michael has started the aptly named Cinema 8 with what’s been described as having “wow appeal” for its big surrounding sound and engulfing live performance. Their posters proclaim the “return of the guitar solo,” but before images of Bill and Ted playing air guitar pop into your head, understand that bands don’t bring back anything unless they’re good at what they do. And Cinema 8 is good. And cool. Just to take a look at their website for their band photo. Though some of those band members have left, Michael is still front and center. He’s one of the few musicians who you can pick out of a crowd without doing anything special. Just walking around the gift is apparent.
So when did this all get started? Well, according to the band bio, just last year. According to Michael, this all started when he was not quite yet a toddler and Mother Sauri would dance and sing while cradling him in her arms. In some ways, the foundation of the Cinema 8 sound dates back to those days in the early ‘70s. Undoubtedly, this is guitar driven modern rock, but what separates this band from every single band on the radio is a subconscious commitment to the original soul of rock and roll which is rhythm and blues. James Brown, Eric Clapton and Chubby Checkers are as much rock gods as Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix and Kip Winger. Just kidding about Kip –gotcha!
Listening to Cinema 8, especially live, there is this presence, the aforementioned “wow appeal.” All five of the current line-up give off an attractive “energy” that pulls in your senses and as Madonna would say, “gets you into the groove.” There’s FEELING here. You don’t even notice the guitar solos –gotcha again! Of course you notice the solos, it’s one of the defining distinctions of this band and it’s nice to see it done well. Look at the faces and you’ll see these guys sing songs like it’s the first time they shared these lyrics with anyone. Much like a “light bulb moment” these guys share the excitement always like its fun for the first time.
On their self-titled LP, the track “Faster Than Today” is a little bit new Bon Jovi and a little bit old Bruce Springsteen. It’s a fun song that’s perfect for driving if you’re into speeding. The video for “Faster Than Today” should be fun to watch. Lest you think there’s nothing to play for a slower paced mood, Cinema 8’s sixth track “Garden” is a tearjerker that will tug a hug out of anyone with a heart.
Like most musicians who play for the love of it all, Michael couldn’t see himself doing anything else. It’s Michael’s commitment that’s kept the group going during its early line-up changes. He believes that “the deeper the commitment is to the music, the more people are going to get it.” Michael’s commitment to songwriting has been exemplified with his secondary education in English and Music. An early appreciation for lyrics and writing came one day listening to a song by “The Police” back in their “hey” day. It was the invitation to philosophy set to rhythm and beat that has inspired Cinema 8 to be as pleasing to sing along with, as they are to sit and silently read their lyrics. On “Piece of You” the crooning chorus line “Everybody wants a piece of you,” instantly reminds you of you. This is Cinema 8: a band that invites you into their performance, and for an hour or two a night, allow you to feel everything around you. Check out Cinema 8 at the Eastport Clipper in Annapolis, Maryland on Thursday, May 30th.
In other Washington, DC news, the modern rock band Pushstart (www.pushstartmusic.com) has singed on with Chad Bell Management, the company of choice for previous Capital Groove artists Urban Style (www.urbanstyleband.com). Urban Style’s newest EP will hit the streets in June/July including the new track “Stop,” a rock ballad with the classic Urban Style twist. Out of Vienna, Virginia, the distinct vocal styling of breakout vocalist Cher Spedden (no, not that Cher) will soon be gracing concert venues up and down the mid-Atlantic while Baltimore natives Mary Prankster have recently finished up work on their newest full-length album with Palace Coup Records. Stay tuned for Capital Groove’s review of Jennifer On Sunday’s (www.jenniferonsunday.com) newest album “Paper Covers Rock” to be released nationally on XM Satellite Radio later this summer. And that’s news you can use.
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