Music Style Rock

Musical Influences Fugazi, Radiohead, Black Sabbath, Three Mile Pilot, Pinback, Tom Waits, Jane's Addiction, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Built To Spill, Blackheart Procession, and on and on and on.

Similar Artists The Pixies, Fugazi, Radiohead, Black Sabbath, Jane's Addiction

Artist History Doug Wortel - Vocals, Guitar John Tona - Drums Anthony Navarro - Guitar, Keys Michael Case - Bass Combining exceptionally crafted lyrics with the raw energy of bands like "The Pixies," {public-domain} produces infectious melodies over cleverly sculpted melancholy. They have firmly established themselves as one of NY's most exciting and well rounded acts. The group is comprised of four neighborhood friends who have been playing music together on and off for years. In 2001, the then uncommitted rock quartet made their union official. They began by organizing a benefit for local bars that were being penalized by publishing houses for allowing local bands to play cover songs in their sets. Upon hearing that these companies were sending agents into Brooklyn clubs to enforce these fines, the band decided to play that benefit under the name, {public-domain}. It soon became permanent. Soon after their conception, {public-domain} co-produced an outdoor benefit in Brooklyn's Prospect Park to help aid restaurant workers who were not eligible for city benefits after the tragedy of September 11th. It's that candor and dedication that has endeared them to New York fans, as well as hundreds of devotees around the world who've discovered {public-domain} on the internet. They've garnered respect from tough audiences and critics alike by settling for nothing less than an absolute devotion to the art of creating music. This is clearly evidenced by the sheer number of fans who turn out to see them perform live and regularly visit their Website. Recently the {public-domain} song, "Adopt A Highway" was chosen to appear on the current Kid Antrim compilation CD. And on September 27th of 2003, the band released their second EP entitled, 'Last Summer's Parade.' This composition is a four-song musical mood swing, celebrating experience, observation, and the landscapes in which they co-exist. It is a very personal work that showcases {public-domain}'s ability to capture raw emotion with well-crafted songwriting and arrangement.

Group Members {Doug Wortel vocals/guitar} {John Tona drums/percussion} {Anthony Navarrro guitar/keyboards} {Mike Case bass}

Albums This Stretch (E.P.), Last Summer's Parade (E.P.)

Press Reviews I recently received a copy of {Public-Domain}'s latest EP entitled "This Stretch..." after I successfully begged them for a copy under the pretenses that I would dust off my old reviewing skills, give the disc a twirl, and post my thoughts on it here. Three words...Public-Domain rawks. The band takes some serious subject matter such as the tribulations of facing life as a single parent and slams the topics up against some driving rock and roll that is relentless in its presentation. Three songs make up the EP, bringing the whole experience home in less than fifteen minutes. Kicking off the disc is "Adopt-A-Highway", a paean to the single mother with an infectious chorus that rumbles around in your head immediately after the first time you hear it. The despair of the situation that some mothers face comes to the forefront of the song as vocalist Doug Wortel alternates his point of view from a narrative stance to the voices of the children in the back seat of a car wondering "how much further" and if they're "almost there". It's a tight rock and roll number that sounds like something Chuck Berry would have written if he had been born 40 years later than he was. "Angels Don't Write Things Down" features some beautiful piano work from Anthony Navarro, which buoys the song every time it rears its head to kick ass and take names. Documenting the grapple that some people have with religion, Doug's voice alternates between a sedate croon and a roaring bellow with both tones getting the point across with a desperate sense of urgency. The aural equivalent of a nervous breakdown at times, "Angels" reminds me of Guns 'n' Roses, circa the "Use Your Illusion" period, capturing both beauty and venom in the same song. The final track "Dead On My Feet" features some killer guitar work in a post-punk ditty telling the story of the toll it takes to be in love with someone harboring a self-destructive personality. When Disco violently screams "Shake me!", the music takes a pause to reflect on just how badly this relationship is crippling him. The angst that he's experiencing is well conveyed in both John Tona's driving beats and Doug's pained yelps and will leave you as emotionally drained as the protagonist in the song. If you want a free copy of the disc, tough titty. I'm special, you're not. But if you want to get a copy for yourself, check out Public Domain's site. I know they're charging $5.00 a disc plus shipping and handling which is a helluva small price to pay for what could very well be a collector's item someday when these boys hit it big. The band has already been landing some high profile gigs in the NYC area and if they keep on coming up with killer music like this, it'll be sooner rather than later that you'll be seeing them at a concert near you. Uncle Bob http://unclebob.diaryland.com http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com {public-domain} "this stretch..." Four guys, three songs, and what a imagination. Public-Domain's "this stretch..." is a realistic look at life spiked with a guitar. The powerful vocals of Doug Wortel will stay with you long after the CD stopped turning . Satire laces the lyrics and is bound to leave you feeling cheated that there are only 3 tracks on the CD. More than worthy of a listen, it's money well worth spending for any music lover. Two Favorite tracks: Angels Don't Write Things Down Adopt A Highway Joey Cuppa 12% BEER http://cuppajoe.diaryland.com

Location Brooklyn, New York - USA

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