Biography
A heartfelt new sound has emerged from the NY indie music scene. On his first solo recording, ''Straight Answer in A Crooked Town,'' Chds Merola not only taps into the roots of great American rock, he picks up where his influences left off. Growing up in the Hudson Valley just north of New York City, music has always been his passion. Chris honed his soulful tele style by playing out before he was old enough to even enter a bar. While he''s played in more bands then he can remember, the one that made a difference came along in 1994, the Rain Deputies. After placing an ad in The Village Voice, he hooked up with a NYC transplant, guitarist Marc Jacoby. Marc was signed to Columbia Records and toured nationally with Pilgrim Souls. With both Chris and Mare having a deep connection to American roots music and hungry to put together a guitar driven band, the Rain Deputies went on to become one of the most successful indie acts north of NYC, mixing their fiery brand of straight between the eyes roots-rock with keen observa- tional lyrics. in March 1994 their debut CD made CMJ''s Jackpot Pick as well as being named Best New Artist and snagging Best New CD by Westchester Weekly''s Wammie Award. Even Coca-Cola heard something in their sound using Chds'' song ''Somewhere In Between'' for their ''Make A Little Noise'' national campaign in 1995. They went on to release an all acoustic album ''Backporchindeliblesunburstfinish'' which garnered national reviews and attracted fans as far away as Spain and Italy. Marc left shortly there after and while briefly performing as a trio, the band eventually split. '' Everyone wanted to do other things,'' said Meroia. ''After the Deputies part- ed ways 1 didn''t want to start, or be in another band for a while. 1 wandered around a bit and began playing solo acoustic gigs. The whole lime 1 was working on songs.'' Satisfying his wanderlust resulted in a full CD of new material ''Straight Answer in A Crooked Town,'' available on Cropduster Records. Chris''CD highlights his unique guitar playing and throaty vocals which compliment this collection of dark Americana folk rock. Recorded on a 4- track cassette in his apartment, Meroia has cultivated a leaner, starker sound while incorporating new instruments--badtone guitar, violin, tenor banjo-- into his musical palette. From the painfully autobiographical ''Last Ride,'' to the tour de force power of ''Junkyard Balladeer.'' With eyes wide open he paints a landscape of characters seeking escape in ''Eden''s Bridge,'' ''Weight of the Wind,'' and the emotionally gripping ''Hole in the Road.'' In support of his release, Chris has put together a band that reunites him with Mare Jacoby on guitar, banjo and lap steel, and Peter Wilson on drums, whose playing you can hear in the movie soundtracks ''Something About Mary'', and ''Dumb and Dumber.'' Filling out the line-up is former member of tabulaRASA and currently of the Other 99, Sean Seymour on bass. Aside from per- forming with his group at such New York City clubs as Mecury Lounge, Brownies, and Ariene Grocery, Chris has logged numerous studio hours as an in-demand session guitarist. He sang and played guitar on Procul Harum''s Zoo/BMG release ''Prodigal Stranger,'' worked with aftema- tive heroes Too Much Joy on their Giant/Alias debut record, produced demos for the Aquanettas and Birdy''s Stephanie Seymour, and has shared the stage with members from Joan Jett, Billy Joel and Hall & Oates. A visual artist as well, Chds embraced the D. 1.Y. ethic, designing and cre- ating the artwork for his CD, as well as other Cropduster releases. Straight Answer in A Crooked Town not only chronicles the journey of an artist and poet, it signals the direction in which he is headed. Each listen confirms Chris Merola is on the right path.
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