Artist description 'certainly rough' has several goals. However, one of our goals best sums up the efforts of this duo: to utilize the constantly serene sounding cello of Matt Jarrard and the sometimes harsh acoustic guitar and vocals of Brandon Pfeiffer to create our version of indie/folk/rock. Even though our sound is frequently soft, often loud, and always amature, it is our attempt at blending the earthy instruments with God-given lyrics that cover life's everyday topics. We strive to produce a soothing sound that relaxes, yet captivates the listener who's constantly searching for a little more.

Music Style indie-folk-rock, alt-pop, alt-folk

Musical Influences Bill Mallonee & Vigilantes of Love, Over the Rhine, Mark Heard, Sarah Masen, Danielson Family, Sam Phillips, the Promise Ring, Pink, Buddy & Julie Miller, Randy Newman, Beth Orton

Similar Artists Matt Jarrard, Brandon Pfeiffer, Certainly Rough, Brown James, Joel Weir, Lucas Allen, John Liquids Band

Artist History certainly rough's Matt Jarrard and Brandon Pfeiffer began playing together in the fall of 1999. Since then they have played numerous concerts, festivals & various events.

Group Members certainly rough's Matt Jarrard has been playing cello since the age of five. Brandon Peiffer has been singing in public since the age of six and has played guitar since 1998.

Instruments acoustic guitar & cello

Albums ...here and in between, [special people cd], SCRATCH TRACKS, LAR: split ep1

Press Reviews BNL graduates score third place in talent contest By ELEANOR HIMEBAUGH, Times-Mail Staff Writer The two players say their music is mellow stuff for the most part, relaxing and quiet. They also say their music is far from perfect, so they call their band Certainly Rough. “Certainly Rough describes us, performance and musicianship,” said Brandon Pfeiffer, a May graduate of Bedford North Lawrence High School. “The deeper side is, as humans, we are far from perfection. We are rough in that way. I’ll not stop trying for perfection.” Pfeiffer and his fellow musician, Matt Jarrard, came a little closer to perfection when they won third place in a National Beta Club talent competition in Cincinnati earlier this summer. No one fell asleep during their performance. “At convention, every kid in the place was screaming when they finished,” said Selma Cobb, BNL Beta Club sponsor who accompanied the students to the national event. Pfeiffer plays acoustic guitar while Jarrard plays cello. Jarrard also is a May graduate of BNL. The group sometimes performs with Dustin Reynolds on drums and Katie Chastain on vocals. Followers of the band call themselves Rough Heads, Cobb said. But at convention, it was just Pfeiffer on guitar and harmonica and Jarrard with his strings. The original song they won their honors with is called “A Week from Now.” “They were first in the state last fall at the Beta Club convention,” their teacher said. “They earned the right to go on to the national convention. There were 13 entries in the (national) competition and they were the only school not from the South in the finals.” She said a piano duet won first place and second was a fiddler playing “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” On Monday, the first teacher day at BNL, Pfeiffer and Jarrard will play for the teachers’ luncheon, then present their Beta Club trophy to Gary Conner, BNL principal, for the school trophy case. Music performance has always been a big part of the two young men’s lives. “It started when I was 6 and I sang a song at church,” Pfeiffer said. “Ever since then, I’ve been singing, but I’ve only been doing original songs for the past two to three years.” The guitar player said he grew up in Hillcrest Christian Church and was hired as worship leader last year at Old Union Christian Church in western Lawrence County. “I’ve been involved in other churches, worship-leading big time, thanks to what was impressed upon me at Tulip Street Christian Church,” Pfeiffer said. “I learned a lot about worship-leading and worship music. I ended up getting a job I really enjoy.” Jarrard said he has been friends with Pfeiffer since junior high school. “I really enjoy music,” the cellist said. “I’ve been playing classical music since I was 7. And of course I loved orchestra with Mr. (Guy) Rumsey as director. “I love the kind of music we play, acoustic folk rock,” he added. “It gives me a lot more freedom to make up what I play and change what I like.” Pfeiffer said Certainly Rough’s purpose is fun. “We got involved in playing together going on two years now,” the guitarist said. “Somebody needed a band. We did a few cover songs, other people’s songs. Then we started doing our own songs.” Although he has been playing three to four years, Pfeiffer said he was not happy with the music until the last couple of years. He began playing the acoustic guitar while he was hanging around with some friends who played guitar. He said it rubbed off on him. “I could be better if I worked at it more,” he added. Jarrard said he makes up the cello part while Pfeiffer writes the words and guitar music. The two play mostly for church groups and in a coffee house atmosphere. They often appear at the Lions Den coffee house in Mitchell. “It’s basically a relaxing place to go and hang out, listen to poetry, see original local art work and hear original music,” Pfeiffer said. Now that the two are headed for college, their “folky-rock acoustical music” will have to take a rest, unless the two can get together on weekends and holidays. Jarrard will be a freshman at Franklin College where he plans to major in journalism. Huntington College will be Pfeiffer’s destination. He intends to major in Bible and religious studies and take music on the side. The two don’t miss a chance to promote two CDs they have produced. Jarrard said they have sold more than 300 copies of their latest recording. The CDs are $10 apiece and are available by calling Pfeiffer at (812) 275-8960 or by visiting the band’s Web site at www.certainlyrough.com.

Additional Info Special Thanks to...Jay Wilson, Joel Weir & Scott Salm

Location Bedford, IN - USA

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