Daily Collegian Story - Press Club Emphasizes Dance Music
The Press Club
As appeared in the Dec. 7, 1984 edition of The Daily Collegian
On a Saturday night not long ago I found myself drinking too much beer and listening to a Theta Chi brother talk about why the fraternity has almost turned the band the Press Club into their mascot.
"They're awesome, just awesome. Last time they played here I danced every dance. I'll tell you something — this morning, somebody woke me up with their radio and a song by Berlin was playing on it. I thanked them for waking me up with the Press Club — that's how great their (Berlin covers) are."
As the band played and the night wore on, Theta Chi packed more and more of 'em in, and the stage became indistinguishable from the dance floor. Listeners felt bold enough to manhandle the musicians and their equipment. As I watched, I tried to analyze what the Press Club had that inspired such devotion.
Conclusions? Ultimately, it must be said that as a "new-wave" dance band they're practically picture perfect. They affect a group "look" that's a panorama of rock and roll, from singer Kathy Howard's seamed stockings and spiked heels to guitarist/singer Mark McCollum's spiked hair. Musically, whether they play Scandal's "Goodbye to You," The Vapor's "Turning Japanese" or anything by A Flock of Seagulls or U2, they get every note in place without mishap.
In addition, they have a two-guitar lead that punches up the impact of every song considerably. And it's the songs themselves — virtually all of them non-originals and chosen for maximum danceability — that are the stars of the band's performance. The Press Club seems to exist solely as a vehicle for the relics of modern pop-rock — and although their play-list fits them like a glove, its homogeneity makes clear that much of current "new-wave rock" is a case of old wine in new bottles. This is a band concerned with being contemporary — should ballroom dancing come back into style next year, you can bet the band will be playing "Begin the Beguine." And ballroom enthusiasts will be right behind it.
The group's tactics seem to be working for them. Formed gradually over the last three years, the Press Club's sets were initially quite eclectic, featuring both old and new cover material. According to McCollom, they found themselves "popular among the fraternities but not the clubs" — supposedly because of a lack of commercial potential.
The addition of guitarist Rob Emery brought with it the decision to streamline the playlist. Says he, "When I came in, we got rid of the old stuff. Other bands have a problem in that they will play a couple of really neat songs, but then they'll play an old dead song. You can get away with this in State College, but you won't cut it in other clubs in Pennsylvania."
"Cutting it" on a broader level inside and outside of Pennsylvania became the band's goal, and for the most part it is succeeding at it. Emery claims that "since we've gotten up a good repertoire of new stuff, we have had a lot of avenues opened up."
These avenues include not only an ever-more crowded schedule of dates throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but the acquisition of a manager who has helped make these dates possible. Chris Cain said he was working for the management of the bands Kix and the Sharks when he was encouraged to see the Press Club in Millersville this past summer. Noting its lack of work at the time, he "suggested that I could promote them." According to McCollom, Cain's tireless efforts on the band's behalf have included not only promotion but "utility work" — as roadie and light and sound man.
Both Cain and the group members are pleased to have the services of sound specialist Dave Anthony and professional lights man Mike Brey. Emery reports that Anthony produces "a sound that hits you in the chest. He's added delay and echo, and keeps it all finely tuned. It's a challenge to maintain."
The members of the Press Club (including John Leister on bass guitar, Mike Long on drums and percussion, and Mark Zeswitz on keyboards and vocals), largely originating from the Lancaster area, also double as job-holders and/or students. McCollum is pursuing a degree in accounting at the University, Emery one in electrical engineering. Both see music as primarily an outlet for fun, for role-playing. McCollum says, "I really like performing because I can be cocky, do whatever I want, and it's all within the boundaries of my stage persona. Being onstage gives you a rush. None of us need drugs or alcohol to perform — we all rely on adrenalin. But offstage, I like to be able to play college student."
Neither has long range plans for the Press Club, as it seems most members of the group "realize that any band has a finite life span." If the band were to go on to greater success, then McCollum feels that "we will take time out from our other plans to pursue it." But the main concern of all seems to be that there is no financial stability to be had in a musical career. They do have short-term hopes, however — including a summer of playing 20 to 25 dates a month and possibly some recording.
Cain is positive about his band's future. "Playing out is best for this band," he notes. "They've come very far since July, and I know they'll continue to grow."
Written By Pat Grandjean