Beverage (Rock Band)
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Beverage was a rock band that played in the Boston area from 1994-2000. Headed by Matthew Magne, it included four incarnations in its 6 year history culminating in a a song heard on MTV Roadrules and finally succumbing to the aging of its members, marriages, relationships and children.
Beverage History
- 01/94 Amidst the general malaise of their mid-20's Matt and Mark start the "idea" of Beverage. Matt learns to play guitar. Mark learns bass. Mike moves up from NY with his Strat Squire and is pretty much the only one that actually plays guitar and writes songs. (Mike and Matt begin to follow Dad's footsteps who was in a NY band called ChainGang) Fred Gracely "loans" Matt his Ibanez Artist; a thing guitarists don't often do.
- 09/94: The boys move into the House of Beverage (HOB) at 723 Washington St. Oak Square Brighton, MA; a house uniquely created and situated to have parties and foster the growth of the band. 11/99 Kliner sends his high-school drums to HOB. Adam brings his keys. Matt finally buys an electric not unlike the one Fred gave him. A band is formed before mine eyes. Asbestos doesn't deter the boys from practicing.
- 04/95: First Gig: Basement of HOB w/Adam (AKA Johnny Brick on keys), Mark G. on Bass, and Kearney Klein on Drums (maybe short on skills, but big on creativity) *Release First Tape "Two Down" . Matt learns to bend strings. Ben Lorch and Dave Dirsa intermittently SpaceJam with the boys. Bob E. suffers but loves us anyway.
- 03/96: 31st, First Basement Gig w/Josh Semeter(Citing "creative differences", Beverage loses Adam and Mark) The band develops a roots-based pop/rock sound. (What the heck does "roots-based" mean ?!)
- 05/96: 16th, First "REAL" Gig @ Club 3 (now Lilly's) opening for Larry O & 7Acres(w/Josh Semeter on lead vocals/guitar/bass Beverage finally gets out of the basement, takes a major leap forward in technical abilities, and releases a CD in 1/98)
- 08/96: First "Boston" Gig: Hard Rock Cafe opening for Canine Guru ! (now Canine)
- 09/97 - Record our first CD in Watertown Square in 30 hours, 9 songs.
- 01/98: Released First CD "Memory Scars" as JoshKlineMattMike to 450+ audience at Middle East Downstairs. Courtesy of Orlando West of ChinStrap. (Thanks Orlando!) Josh leaves for Germany. Kline leaves for B-School.
- 06/98: RJ Lavallee (lead vocal/bass/songwriting) And Stick (Jeff Greenberg on drums) join us as Stick convinces Matt to not let Beverage die. Stick spends most of year carrying Matt's amp.
- 12/98: The "new' Beverage rocks Mamakin for the first time in a show that reportedly "took it to the next level" of stage performance. The band delevops more of a powerpop edge.
- 07/99: "Head" is released on MP3.Com Best 103 Songs Vol. 3 (over half a million copies go out)
- 09/99: "Head" airs on MTV RoadRules through Good Citizen Radio Hour compilation. (GCRH v1) RJ has a kiddo and starts a movie production company. (Thanks to Andrew and Chris at Chin Ho! and Good Citizen!)
- 11/99: Mike "Rubes" Rubin (Allagash4) and Pete "Hell in a handbag" Engols (Science Park) join the ranks. Judy Mullins jumps in on B/U Vox. (She is available for weddings. serious. ) Dan Millen fills the bass/vocals void for a few gigs.
- 03/00: "PeterPan" is licensed by MTV Road Rules and ABC-TV's "Making The Band" (GCRH v2)
- 07/00: Beverage plays its last gig at Union St., Newton Centre.
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