REVIEW - Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal (www.progressiverockbr.com)

"The progressive rock band The Tea Club has it's beginnings in Deptford, New Jersey in the late 1990's, where Patrick McGowan, then a young teenager, began to teach himself guitar. Growing up in a family where music was so incredibly important, it was inevitable; Patrick's father was himself an accomplished guitarist and songwriter, and had retired from pursuing a professional career in music in the 1980's to raise his family. After years of teaching themselves to write and play listening to mum and dad's record collection, which included such monsters as "Yes", "King Crimson", and "The Beatles", Pat and Dan decided the wanted to form a band. Long time friend and drummer, Kyle Minnick was a natural choice since they shared similar musical influences and Bassist, James Berger rounded out the quartet. The band's first show was to a small crowd in an abandoned peach factory. Word spread fast about the bands talent and this earned them rave reviews. Since then the band have been playing regular shows at Venue's throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania and have developed a loyal following. After two years with the band Bassist Jim Berger decided that this was the right time to pursue other interests. Between the inception and Fall 2006, the band independently recorded four EP's. With the tracking of the record behind them, The Tea Club once again went in search of a bass player, and another long time friend Becky Osenenko fitted the bill. The Tea Club is a North American Progressive Rock band, strongly influenced by early seventies guitar, drum, bass and vocal-oriented Progressive Heavy Rock. The band offers all kind of instrumental elements found in the years 70', adding modern arrangements, originaly composed by amazing four young musicians, that together developed a special way to play an impressive and modern Progressive Rock music, always exploring different influences, full of creativity and energy. From symphonic to thunderous arrangements, but always precise into an unique kind of musical line, the music from The Tea Club, captures a wide range of expressions through amazing melodies but with dynamic instrumentation. The Tea Club successfully combines the sounds of "Yes", "King Crimson", "Porcupine Tree", "Gentle Giant", "Frost", "Paatos", "OSI" and "Pain of Salvation", mixing many different styles into one extremely captivating piece of music. "General Winter's Secret Museum" was produced and mixed by Tim "Rumblefish" Gilles, Engineered by Kevin "Iceman" Neaton, Matt "Dasher" Messenger. Recorded at Big Blue Meenie Studio's Jersey City, N.J. Mastered by Alan Douches with Tim Gilles at West West Side Music, including nine tracks, almost 50min of pure musical emotions. A special and particular attention to and my favourite songs are: "Werewolves", "Cool Smack" and "Big Al" (true songs that leads us to the beginning of the glorious seventies), "Castle Builder", "Will O' the Wisp" and "IceClock" (I think are the best songs on the album), "Purple Chukz" and "The Moon". Overall, "General Winter's Secret Museum" is a very well done album and I can consider The Tea Club a true "Progressive Rock band with an amazing musical talent, full of originality and great potential. The Line-up on the band are: Patrick McGowan - Vocals and Guitar, Dan McGowan - Guitar and Vocals, Kyle Minnick - Drums and Becky Osenenko - Bass. Brilliant and indispensable work, highly recommendable... (Comments by Carlos Vaz)"