Artist description Cloud Party is smart passionate guitar based indie rock that’s just a little cutting, music that’s driving and that plumbs the depths of the soul. They’ve been called a cross between REM and the Wallflowers. Indeed, the internet zine Berks Alive says “If REM was more bitter than it actually is, it’d be called Cloud Party. And critic Al Walentis has compared Cloud Party to the “Graham Parker old school” that “recalls the vintage-age vinegar of Elvis Costello.”

Music Style rock

Similar Artists pink floyd, rem, neil young, elvis costello

Artist History Jim Speese, lead singer/songwriter of Cloud Party, confesses to having written “well over” a hundred songs in his career. He has played all over, from New York City to Montana to San Francisco. Jim has also hiked several months on the Appalachian Trail, lived and worked in Yellowstone National Park and written several (unpublished) novels. In addition to Cloud Party, Jim also writes a music column for his hometown daily paper (The Reading Eagle, circ 120,000) as well as play the occasional solo show.As musical influences, Jim cites “whatever I last heard” as well as a host of films and novels. If pressed, he’ll reluctantly mention John Lennon, Sinead O’Connor, The Clash, Pink Floyd (with Roger Waters) and Concrete Blonde. Mark Steffy responded to Jim’s classified ad a looking for a lead guitarist a few years ago, and the two have been inseparable since. Mark’s passionate, growling guitar has become a Cloud Party signature. He is an aficionado of Mark Knopfler, Hendrix, David Gilmour, and The Stones, just to name a few.Rounding out the recent incarnation of Cloud Party are drummer Joe Donato and bassist Pete Scarano. Both are professional musicians with loads of live and studio experience, and give Cloud Party a solid and driving rhythm section.Literate guitar-based indie rock compared to Pink Floyd, REM, Neil Young and Elvis Costello, Cloud Party's newest album "Real" is a thematic, virtual "live" album. The album was recorded during a live internet broadcast and heavily augmented in the studio. Searing, tasteful guitar-work, reminiscent of David Gilmour or Mark Knopfler, highlights this CD, along with intelligent and emotional lyrics that read as poetry. There has been a lot of talk lately about "a return to guitar-based rock'n'roll" but most of that is just watered-down punk or grunge. Cloud Party, however, is the real deal. This album is full of emotion, feel, touches of folk. And while some tracks are certainly radio-friendly, there is nothing watered down or edited for television here.Cloud Party has released two other CD’s regionally, 1997’s “These Streets” and 1998’s “everything and nothing”. All have garnered airplay on college and commercial stations regionally. Cloud Party wrote and recorded a single celebrating Reading PA’s 250th anniversary that was subsequently released as a cassette single giveaway by radio station WRFY FM (Y-102). The band plays regionally on the east coast, including Philly, NYC and Baltimore. “Shadow of an Angel” (track 5 from “Real”) is the present single.

Group Members Jim Speese, Mark Steffy, Joe Donato, Pete Scarano

Instruments guitar, bass, drums, vocals

Albums "Real", "everything and nothing", "These Streets"

Press Reviews PRESS QUOTES FOR CLOUD PARTY[“Real” is] a remarkable work, with truly great guitar (reminiscent of David Gilmour or Mark Knopfler at times) and melodic songwriting with some depth behind it.”--Unsung Hero MagazineThe whole album [“Real”] seems to be Jim [Speese, singer/songwriter] baring his soul, both the light and the dark halves. The lyrics are not just words thrown together; they have real meaning and emotion behind them…”Real” is a collection of deep emotional outpouring. If the rest of the “well over a hundred” songs Speese has written are anything like these, Cloud Party has a long illustrious future ahead.”--PennAvenue.com“Cloud Party’s third record [“Real”] is an outstanding slab of guitar rock, reassurance that that kind of thing still exists in this strange musical world of ours…Speese writes mature, sophisticated, structurally sound songs…If there is any justice, “Real” should get Cloud Party off the Millenium circuit and on to bigger things.”--Harrisburg Patriot-News, Kira Schlechter“…shining guitar work and smart lyrics…”--Voices, Reading Eagle/Times

Location Reading, PA - USA

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