Recovery Council

Link to the excerpt from CMJ New Music Report for a pdf of the 1/22/13 Loud Rock charts. - CMJ New Music Report

Link to URL for excerpt from 1/15/13 CMJ New Music Report for charts. - CMJ New Music Report

Recovery Council appears on an episode of "Brutally Delicious with Bruce Moore" on ifood TV where they interview about their new album and tour then bake Middle Eastern pastry, Ma'amoul. - ifood TV

Plan-Do-Check-Act is 3rd Most Added 1/8/13 CMJ Loud Rock Charts. Follow link for excerpt from CMJ New Music Report. - CMJ New Music Report

Video interview and cooking show as Rebeca from Recovery Council prepares Middle Eastern pastry Ma'amoul - Brutally Delicious

5 Questions With... is your chance to get to know a new or up-and-coming band. Recovery Council are from New Jersey, and their debut album is Plan-Do-Check-Act. Vocalist/guitarist Rebecca Qualls introduces us to her band.

Give us a brief history of Recovery Council.
Recovery Council actually started as almost a polar opposite of what it is today. Although I had started out as a classical pianist turned metal bassist in my earlier years, I began writing some geeky lo-fi space rock and eventually recorded an album using acoustic and electronic instruments more out of utility since it was a solo effort. I wanted to evolve the music into something a little more organic and heavier-sounding, so while writing new material I was playing bass in another band with Jeff (Trenholm, drums) and asked if he'd be interested in recording some drums on a new Recovery Council album.

Together we recorded Gentle Stories and began playing live as a duo in 2011 (I played guitar with an octave pedal while looking for a bass player). That summer we found Isidro ("Sid") Santos - he was the missing piece of the puzzle on bass. Because the music is very bass-centric, his fluid melodies really complemented it well. With a full band in place, my writing took a slightly heavier turn, and our sound as a band really meshed together playing live and recording Plan-Do-Check-Act in the summer of 2012. I'm happy with the end product considering where it began - it has really evolved into a more focused direction with an edge I want to explore further.

How would you characterize the style/sound of Plan-Do-Check-Act?
The album has a heavy rock nucleus but there are some subtle tinges of other genres on the rock spectrum, including metal, college rock/post-punk, and a tiny pinch of progressive. I sometimes call it "alloy rock" since the music pulls from a combination of those elements while being its own entity. Sure, anyone could say, "they're grunge/garage rock/post-punk" because this album is primarily distorted guitar, bass, and drums, but there's a bit more going on in the music than just that basic rock element. And listeners often notice those subtleties - we've had people come up to us after a show and say, "How do you categorize yourselves? I can't quite place it".

In some ways, that's an interesting place to be because it's not easy to describe with a cookie-cutter point of reference, but not because what we're doing is so out there that it can't be classified. It just pulls from different areas in indirect ways without pretending to be any of those genres or sounding like a carbon copy of our influences. As a result we've found this album has resonated well with fans of hard rock, metal, and college rock - and a lot of them are also just passionate about music like we are, so we're in good company.

Describe your songwriting/recording process for the album.
I started writing by working up the music and lyrics, then recording the basic song structure with a scratch guitar/vocal tracks and beats. I'd show the drafts to the rest of the band, and then together we would sharpen it up live. But while I may essentially write the music and lyrics, it wouldn't be what it is without each member's individual contributions on bass and drums. I am conscientious of their freedom to work out their parts within the space of the song so that they bring their own identity into the music and enjoy what they're playing. With that said, the musical chemistry in this band is something we're really lucky to have, and it makes the whole process flow that much easier.

As far as recording, we'd use the tempo of the rough draft's beat to record to. I'd record new guitar and vocal tracks if necessary, then send the song electronically to Jeff and Sid. They'd record their parts, send them to me, and I'd drop them into the song, mixing as we go and using each other's input as a team to strive for the best possible sound we can create with what we have.

What has been your most memorable Recovery Council live show, and what are your upcoming show/tour plans?
The show that stands out the most for us, and probably because it was one of several Spinal Tap moments we've had, was a show we played in 2011 in NYC. The venue where we were supposed to be booked had closed for renovations, and at the last minute our gig got moved to a jazz club. That alone should say it all. Everything that could have blown up that night really did so in grand fashion - from going on after a performer singing jazz standards (while we love jazz, those fans understandably did not appreciate us), to clearing the room with our loud, mismatched set, to the rusty skeleton of a drum kit Jeff had to try playing on without it falling apart, to breaking a string on a Floyd Rose, to the strange drip from the ceiling on my side of the stage that I prayed wasn't coming from a bathroom upstairs. It was a disaster, but we still laugh about it to this day. How's that for memorable?

This year, though, jazz clubs aside, we will be playing more appropriate local and regional venues to support the new release. We have a string of dates through March and will continue to book into spring.

Anything else you'd like to mention or promote?
Now that Plan-Do-Check-Act has hit the streets, a highlight of the release will be our CD release show/party which will take place January 25 in an unconventional venue: we're playing live with a laser light and star show at the RVCC Planetarium in North Branch, NJ. It's an interesting change of pace for a show that we think fans will really enjoy. For more details, news, and all our upcoming dates check out our website as well as our Facebook and Twitter feeds. - Chad Bowar: About.com

All systems go for New Jersey-based heavy rock trio RECOVERY COUNCIL as they prepare for the release of their third studio album, Plan-Do-Check-Act, January 15th on Dot Ultra Records.

Today the band has teamed up with AOL Music to take part in their Full Album Listening Party Series. Head HERE and be one of the first to listen to Plan-Do-Check-Act in its entirety. Be sure to pick up a copy of Plan-Do-Check-Act on Amazon.

In its first week at specialty and college radio, Plan-Do-Check-Act was the #3 most added on the CMJ Loud Rock Charts

The band has confirmed a special CD Release Show on January 25th at the RVCC Planetarium in Branchburg, NJ, where they will play the album in its entirety to a laser show under a dome of night sky. Their mission was to find a venue that would support the geek caché befitting of an album entitled Plan-Do-Check-Act. Frontwoman Rebeca Qualls explains: “We wanted to celebrate the release with a bit of sparkle, but in a way that also reflected on our nature as a band. I thought the planetarium would be perfect because it exhibits a type of scientific creativity that everyone can appreciate. Putting on a laser light show along with live music makes for an audiovisual experience like no other, and it quite possibly may be as close as we’ll get to a concert in space!”

RECOVERY COUNCIL is Qualls on guitar and vocals, along with New Jersey native Jeff Trenholm on drums and Dominican Republic-born Isidro Santos on bass. Since becoming a band in 2011, their collective influences across the spectrum of post-punk, metal, progressive, and grunge genres have lent themselves to their rhythm-driven, melodic style. Plan-Do-Check-Act captures a moment in time where the three musicians’ unique styles and backgrounds perfectly intersect as a cohesive whole.

RECOVERY COUNCIL will be hitting the road throughout the winter showcasing music from Plan-Do-Check-Act. A current listing of shows can be found below.

RECOVERY COUNCIL Live:

1/17: Levittown, PA @ Roadhouse Inn

1/25: Branchburg, NJ CD Release Show @ RVCC Planetarium

2/2: Allentown, PA @ Jimmy’s Place

2/7: Philadelphia, PA @ JR’s Bar

2/16: New York, NY @ Desmond’s Tavern

3/1: New London, CT @ El N Gee

3/2: Haverhill, MA @ RG’s Pub

3/7: Garwood, NJ @ Crossroads

3/24: Gloucester City, NJ @ ICAC Club - Amp Magazine

Today Recovery Council guitarist/vocalist Rebeca Qualls tells us about the song "Reform" from their brand new album "Plan-Do-Check-Act," which is being released today (1/15). Here is the story:
It started as a couple of guitar parts for a previously untitled song I had written back when I was an undergrad at NC State. I was playing in an alt/rock band with a couple of guys, and guitar was still new and different to me, as I was primarily a bassist in metal bands. So the bass player in me would try to reproduce rhythm notes/chords on the top strings while the hack guitar player in me would strum the bottom strings in reverse to create sustain and texture. It was one of the first songs I used an alternate tuning on, and it was also one of the first songs where I threw an occasional wrench in the time signature. Somehow those two concepts stuck and have become part of my somewhat lopsided foundation as a guitarist.

Now comes the serious part…the lyrics to "Reform" are pretty personal. They stem from a period of time where I had to put music and writing on hold to get other parts of my life together. I had been questioning my path and where I wanted to be, all the while noting that time was just ticking away. I usually would tangle through all these thoughts and feelings to clear my head by creating music and writing because, truth be told, I think too damn much as it is. And at the time I was doing neither. This was never how I imagined being, and it was depressing. As a result, I struggled with my own reservations, and was well on my way to becoming the polar opposite of the rational me who refused to postpone joy. I knew I needed to start rebuilding music and writing back into my life and do what I love, regardless of odds, adversity, or outcome. I've never been the type of person who is content with the status quo, and the easy road has rarely if ever been an option. I was thinking about this one day and the image of "flying a kite along some power lines in a thunderstorm" came to my mind. It eventually became the refrain of the song, and the rest of the lyrics were built around it to describe the catalyst for the change that I needed to bounce back.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album right here! - Altsounds.com

Recovery Council are a three-person rock outfit headed up by Rebecca Qualls. While this is their third release, ”Plan-Do-Check-Act’ is their first full-length project – albeit only just, at seven tracks in length. Coming with a post-punk college rock edge, the music has a strangely melodic air, which is accentuated by Rebecca’s vocals technique. In fact, such is the impact of the vocals that they lend this release a hate-it-or-love-it feel.

While the solid drums and lead bass work act as a strong spine for the band’s sound, it is Quall’s sharp guitar riffs and quirky vocal delivery that stand out. With a voice that never seems to stretch to breaking point, this is not the usual heavy-rock fire and fury, instead the angst is carried through the tracks in a more subtle delivery.

Certainly unique among their peers, Recovery Council’s sound takes a little while to get accustomed to, as you may be wishing that they will let loose of the constraints that seems to hold them and bring a harder edge. However, it is this chained-down feel that adds an edgy appeal to their music.

The personal lyrics demonstrate a battle against disillusionment, yet bring a highly introspective tone, such as on ‘Bromide,’ where Qualls questions, “Why try when hard work doesn’t get you anywhere, why work when nobody else pulls their share.”

This release is a low-key slice of post-punk, that offers a leftfield edge which may appeal to fans of acts like Sonic Youth, but without the harder punk edges. Interesting and certainly not towing the line, Recovery Council bring a college rock feel to this release, yet all wrapped up in a layer of delicate complexity. Try before you buy… - Popculturez

All systems go for New Jersey-based heavy rock trio RECOVERY COUNCIL as they prepare for the release of their third studio album, Plan-Do-Check-Act, January 15th on Dot Ultra Records. The band has confirmed a special CD Release Show on January 25th at the RVCC Planetarium in Branchburg, NJ, where they will play the album in its entirety to a laser show under a dome of night sky.
- Pittsburgh Music Magazine

New Album Plan-Do-Check-Act Due Out January 15th on Dot Ultra Records

"...Thought-provoking yet raucous"
-Sea of Tranquility

All systems go for New Jersey-based heavy rock trio RECOVERY COUNCIL as they prepare for the release of their third studio album, Plan-Do-Check-Act, January 15th on Dot Ultra Records. The band has confirmed a special CD Release Show on January 25th at the RVCC Planetarium in Branchburg, NJ, where they will play the album in its entirety to a laser show under a dome of night sky.


Their mission was to find a venue that would support the geek caché befitting of an album entitled Plan-Do-Check-Act. Frontwoman Rebeca Qualls explains: "We wanted to celebrate the release with a bit of sparkle, but in a way that also reflected on our nature as a band. I thought the planetarium would be perfect because it exhibits a type of scientific creativity that everyone can appreciate. Putting on a laser light show along with live music makes for an audiovisual experience like no other, and it quite possibly may be as close as we'll get to a concert in space!"

The first single from Plan-Do-Check-Act entitled "Recourse" is available for streaming HERE, courtesy of Noisecreep.

RECOVERY COUNCIL is Qualls on guitar and vocals, along with New Jersey native Jeff Trenholm on drums and Dominican Republic-born Isidro Santos on bass. Since becoming a band in 2011, their collective influences across the spectrum of post-punk, metal, progressive, and grunge genres have lent themselves to their rhythm-driven, melodic style. Plan-Do-Check-Act captures a moment in time where the three musicians' unique styles and backgrounds perfectly intersect as a cohesive whole.

RECOVERY COUNCIL will be hitting the road throughout the winter showcasing music from Plan-Do-Check-Act. A current listing of shows can be found below.

RECOVERY COUNCIL Live:
1/17: Levittown, PA @ Roadhouse Inn
1/25: Branchburg, NJ CD Release Show @ RVCC Planetarium
2/2: Allentown, PA @ Jimmy's Place
2/7: Philadelphia, PA @ JR's Bar
2/16: New York, NY @ Desmond's Tavern
3/1: New London, CT @ El N Gee
3/2: Haverhill, MA @ RG's Pub
3/24: Gloucester City, NJ @ ICAC Club

For More Info Visit:
http://www.recoverycouncilmusic.com/
http://www.facebook.com/recoverycouncil
- Fingers Metal Shop

New Jersey-based heavy rock unit Recovery Council have set a January 15th U.S. release date for their new full-length record via Dot Ultra Records entitled, Plan-Do-Check-Act (preview a few tracks below).

Recovery Council will also embark on a handful of Tri-State area shows this winter in support of the new effort. You can catch Recovery Council in NYC at Desmond’s Tavern on February 16, 2013. - Next Mosh

Artist: Recovery Council
From: New Jersey
Song: "Recourse"
Album: Plan-Do-Check-Act
RIYL: Helmet, Rush, Hum

About the song:

"'Recourse' is hands down one of my favorite songs on the new album. The music captures an intensity that matches the indomitable spirit of its lyrics. It's heavy and you can even waltz to it, in a hurried and drunken sort of way."

- Recovery Council singer/guitarist Rebecca Qualls

Listen to 'Recourse'


Recovery Council started out as a lo-fi space rock solo project for Qualls, but on the upcoming Plan-Do-Check-Act album, she is joined by bassist Isidro Santos and drummer Jeff Trenholm. "While you can bring energy to recording and playing solo, it isn't the same as having the raw, organic power of a band around you. Besides, I suck at drums," laughs Qualls. "In all seriousness, I'm really thankful to be surrounded by such talented musicians who are equally great friends. I'm continually amazed at the instant life they breathe into the music – I'll bring in a song, and it will seem to congeal in no time because we get each other musically and we have a blast playing together."



Plan-Do-Check-Act will hit stores on Jan. 15.
- Noisecreep.com

Geek chicks sure can rock out and Rebeca Qualls is living proof. New Jersey-based RECOVERY COUNCIL began as Qualls’ nerdy lo-fi space rock solo project in grad school but has evolved into a power trio juggernaut with a heavy rock nucleus and a new album Plan-Do-Check-Act to be released January 15 on Dot Ultra Records.


Album Due Out January 15 on Dot Ultra Records

Plan-Do-Check-Act is RECOVERY COUNCIL’s third full-length studio album but the first release since becoming a full band in the summer of 2011. While the band’s sound has taken a more raucous turn, Qualls continues to exude her inner geek with lyrical introspect and technical allusion.

Fans can hear the first single from Plan-Do-Check-Act entitled Recourse, HERE.

RECOVERY COUNCIL is Qualls on guitar and vocals, along with New Jersey native Jeff Trenholm on drums and Dominican Republic-born Isidro Santos on bass.

Since becoming a band in 2011, their collective influences lent to their rhythm-driven, melodic style. Qualls cites post-punk influences such as Husker Du and Helmet, but relies on her metal and rock roots dating back to her childhood, beginning with Iron Maiden, early Metallica, and Rush. The latter also made a big impact on Trenholm in his formative years, in addition to The Cure and Pink Floyd. Meanwhile, Santos found his niche in early-mid ’90s rock, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, and Dominican-based Toque Profundo. Plan-Do-Check-Act captures a moment in time where the three musicians’ unique styles and backgrounds perfectly intersect as a cohesive whole.

RECOVERY COUNCIL will be hitting the road throughout the winter showcasing music from Plan-Do-Check-Act. A current listing of shows can be found below.

RECOVERY COUNCIL Live:

1/17/13: Newportville, PA @ Roadhouse Inn

2/7/13: Philadelphia, PA @ JR’s Bar

2/16/13: New York, NY @ Desmond’s Tavern

3/4/13: New London, CT @ El N Gee

For More Info Visit:

http://www.recoverycouncilmusic.com/

http://www.facebook.com/recoverycouncil

Related articles

NJ Rockers RECOVERY COUNCIL Announce Album Release (theweldingroom.com)


About these ads
- The Welding Room

When discussing the creative process that goes into making their music, artists often focus on the more artistic and philosophical aspects, but for Rebeca Qualls it's the mechanical side of that process that interests her, “writing music is, in many ways, the organic distillation of thoughts, feelings, and melodies into a cohesive end product.”

The primary songwriter and vocalist/guitarist for Recovery Council (who has a background in scientific systems engineering) goes on to say that “like building a system, creating music can take a few iterations to sharpen and guide that focus into a desired result.”

This may sound slightly complex coming from someone fronting a rock band, but for all of the focus, engineering and refinement that goes into their music, Recovery Council come off more like a college-rock band who could have graced the stage of 120 Minutes than some knotty or abstract post-punk outfit. What began as a solo lo-fi space-rock project while Qualls was still a grad student has now evolved into a cohesive trio with the addition of New Jersey native Jeff Trenholm on drums and Dominican Republic-born Isidro Santos on bass in 2011.

Recovery Council's sound has also evolved from spacey lo-fi into something more raw and melodic that is indebted to everything from 90s alternative and heavy metal to hints of post-punk. But the band aren't simply molding their music after their influences so much as they are utilizing the best components of each to create their own cohesive end product, Plan-Do-Check-Act. Despite this being their third release, it's their first full-length as a band and it's evident how much Qualls benefits from the collaborative environment. Their chemistry feels fully realized throughout the album: Qualls's sharp and melodic chords are given added texture and color by Santos's fluid lead-style bass while Trenholm's precise drumming gives the music an explosive punch.

LISTEN // Recovery Council - 'Outclassed'

https://soundcloud.com/recoverycouncil/recovery-council-outclassed

Qualls writes from a personal perspective that borders on confessional at times without giving in to melancholia. Her expression of struggle and disillusionment and the lessons learned from it all are given an analytical and introspective tone and her vocals are expressive and honest but never self-pitiful, even if her lyrics sound bitter or resentful at times. Over twisting bass and the buzzing warmth of the guitars on 'Outclassed', she confronts the self-consciousness of being passed over for a pretty face.

On 'Bromide' the tightly-wound interplay between Qualls' jagged chops, Santos' winding riffs and Trenholm's charging drums create a fist pumping momentum that at first, stands in contrast to the frustration expressed over hard work not paying off, “Why try when hard work doesn't get you anywhere/Why work when nobody else ever pulls their share”, that ends with the backhanded reassurance that “Somewhere some day I'll have something to show for all this useless diligence.” Yet it winds up being the perfect song for releasing pent up emotions to at the end of an ungratifying day.



Near the end of Plan-Do-Check-Act, Qualls regains her footing on the lurching, five-and-a-half plus minute lead single 'Recourse', where she seemingly puts everything into perspective, “Stop speculations in their tracks/Leave in their wake nothing but facts.” As a whole her lyrics aim to demonstrate how perseverance can be gained through enduring struggle and disillusionment, which she elaborates on in a typically refined but honest matter,“The will to accomplish something against any odds comes with highs, lows, assessments and reassessments along the journey. It’s as much about self-discovery and experience as it is about determination and improvement.” Yet for all of the complexities and introspection that have gone into their music, Recovery Council never let their ambition get in the way of writing a catchy melody or sticky hook, and with the chemistry they display on Plan-Do-Check-Act, it's possible they have even more ambitious ideas in mind for the future.
Read more at http://hangout.altsounds.com/reviews/155416-review-recovery-council-plan-check-act-album.html#3mgz7x9osxHVHY0V.99 - Altsounds.com

When discussing the creative process that goes into making their music, artists often focus on the more artistic and philosophical aspects, but for Rebeca Qualls it's the mechanical side of that process that interests her, “writing music is, in many ways, the organic distillation of thoughts, feelings, and melodies into a cohesive end product.”

The primary songwriter and vocalist/guitarist for Recovery Council (who has a background in scientific systems engineering) goes on to say that “like building a system, creating music can take a few iterations to sharpen and guide that focus into a desired result.”

This may sound slightly complex coming from someone fronting a rock band, but for all of the focus, engineering and refinement that goes into their music, Recovery Council come off more like a college-rock band who could have graced the stage of 120 Minutes than some knotty or abstract post-punk outfit. What began as a solo lo-fi space-rock project while Qualls was still a grad student has now evolved into a cohesive trio with the addition of New Jersey native Jeff Trenholm on drums and Dominican Republic-born Isidro Santos on bass in 2011.

Recovery Council's sound has also evolved from spacey lo-fi into something more raw and melodic that is indebted to everything from 90s alternative and heavy metal to hints of post-punk. But the band aren't simply molding their music after their influences so much as they are utilizing the best components of each to create their own cohesive end product, Plan-Do-Check-Act. Despite this being their third release, it's their first full-length as a band and it's evident how much Qualls benefits from the collaborative environment. Their chemistry feels fully realized throughout the album: Qualls's sharp and melodic chords are given added texture and color by Santos's fluid lead-style bass while Trenholm's precise drumming gives the music an explosive punch.

Qualls writes from a personal perspective that borders on confessional at times without giving in to melancholia. Her expression of struggle and disillusionment and the lessons learned from it all are given an analytical and introspective tone and her vocals are expressive and honest but never self-pitiful, even if her lyrics sound bitter or resentful at times. Over twisting bass and the buzzing warmth of the guitars on 'Outclassed', she confronts the self-consciousness of being passed over for a pretty face.

On 'Bromide' the tightly-wound interplay between Qualls' jagged chops, Santos' winding riffs and Trenholm's charging drums create a fist pumping momentum that at first, stands in contrast to the frustration expressed over hard work not paying off, “Why try when hard work doesn't get you anywhere/Why work when nobody else ever pulls their share”, that ends with the backhanded reassurance that “Somewhere some day I'll have something to show for all this useless diligence.” Yet it winds up being the perfect song for releasing pent up emotions to at the end of an ungratifying day.

Near the end of Plan-Do-Check-Act, Qualls regains her footing on the lurching, five-and-a-half plus minute lead single 'Recourse', where she seemingly puts everything into perspective, “Stop speculations in their tracks/Leave in their wake nothing but facts.” As a whole her lyrics aim to demonstrate how perseverance can be gained through enduring struggle and disillusionment, which she elaborates on in a typically refined but honest matter,“The will to accomplish something against any odds comes with highs, lows, assessments and reassessments along the journey. It’s as much about self-discovery and experience as it is about determination and improvement.” Yet for all of the complexities and introspection that have gone into their music, Recovery Council never let their ambition get in the way of writing a catchy melody or sticky hook, and with the chemistry they display on Plan-Do-Check-Act, it's possible they have even more ambitious ideas in mind for the future. - AltSounds/Jeremy Daniel

ToddStar: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule for 100% Rock. If it is okay, I would love to jump right into discussing your newest release, Plan-Do-Check-Act. I find myself intrigued the more I read about it. What can you briefly tell us about that disc, that most people may not know on the surface?

Rebeca: Thank you! Well, there may be a good bit that people may not know on the surface, but probably the most prevalent – and pretty nerdy – thing is the album title. Plan-Do-Check-Act is actually a process improvement cycle that is popular in quality engineering. But it’s not as stuffy as it sounds. It can apply to any undertaking that can be executed and improved upon and can really keep things honest. To me, it’s a lot about self-discovery through the journey of continuous improvement – not just as a musician or a writer but as a person. It’s about living and accomplishing goals, with which comes growth, assessment and reassessment, highs and lows – and hopefully as a result some lessons learned to keep making things better moving forward. This is where some may roll their eyes or say “wow, that’s pretty cool” – but I’d rather act on the things I want to and am fortunate enough to do than sit around and wonder “what if”. This album hopefully reflects that spirit.

ToddStar: Will the new disc have any of the same basic components as your earlier releases? In your opinion, in what ways does it vary from earlier releases? What elements from other discs did you intentionally carry over to this effort?

Rebeca: Wow – where to begin on that! Recovery Council has evolved so much since the first release, Advent 619, which was just me writing geeky lo-fi space rock and just getting acquainted with the recording process. So while a lot has changed, I think the use of technical imagery in the lyrics has been a constant, along with an element of darkness that comes through in different degrees on different songs, but still is also a thread through each album.

I did purposely carry over the heavier guitar-oriented components of Gentle Stories to the new album. I grew up listening to a lot of metal and progressive rock, along with what was considered the “alternative” music of the ‘80s and ‘90s, and later on expanding into jazz and other types of music. I wanted to create music that combined something from all those influences – heaviness and intricacy with an interesting twist. But in more of a solo capacity I didn’t feel like I was equipped to fully convey that organically. By Gentle Stories I got to build a little more on what I envisioned having as a band with the guitar songs, and with Plan-Do-Check-Act I’ve been able to sharpen that focus a bit more.

But the most prevalent concept I think we’ve brought over from Gentle Stories to Plan-Do-Check-Act is the very rhythm-driven nature of the music. The bass and drums are such a dominant unit of it, and that is totally by design – I was originally and primarily a bass player, and would always write songs that played a lot with rhythm while focusing on the bass as more of a lead instrument. Sid’s bass playing and Jeff’s drumming work so well within this construct. They run a very tight ship in the rhythm department, and that complements my style as a guitarist because I like to create an atmosphere with guitar that lays over a solid rhythm foundation, while also intertwining with it, kind of like a glue element. Then the vocal melodies have room to sail over top of the music and it all just fits together.

ToddStar: How do you describe the difference in sound, sonically, in the band between your three releases?

Rebeca: Each release is definitely its own animal and represents a separate phase of development for Recovery Council. For instance, Advent 619 is mostly acoustic and clean guitars interlaced with Moog noises, string synths, and electronic drums – it was very much a lo-fi, dreamy, dark atmospheric rock album with a lot of sonic and production limitations.

For Gentle Stories I had learned a lot more about recording and really started applying what I knew. I still used the string-synths and other keyboards on that album, but I had also started working with Jeff, who provided the acoustic drums on the album. As a result I lessened the use of electronic drums and started writing and recording more organic, guitar-driven songs. So in a lot of ways, Gentle Stories is like a sonic bridge between Advent 619 and Plan-Do-Check-Act with the piano and keyboard-laden songs coexisting alongside the heavier songs.

Plan-Do-Check-Act is wholly focused on heavier guitar songs and has given a definitive shape to our sound as a band. I think of it as also a baseline of sorts from which we will move forward together. That’s not to say we’ll never use keyboards again, but if we decide to incorporate them in the future they will be more of an accessory to our sound than a defining element.



ToddStar: What types of writing, production, and studio experiences that you learned while making previous discs did you know you wanted to carry over to this disc? Which did you know to scrap and move on?

Rebeca: Writing and production between each of the three discs has been a building and growing process, all part of a larger journey in defining and refining the hallmarks of Recovery Council’s sound. Because the evolution has been a bit drastic and so much has happened since the first album, I think it was hard to find something to carry over in writing, production, or recording until during and after Gentle Stories.

If anything I learned a lot from the recording of Gentle Stories. Where I had not let the vocals stand out enough on it, I tried increasing their presence on Plan-Do-Check-Act. Additionally, I used what I learned from Gentle Stories to improve upon the sound engineering aspect of the process this time around; on this album I really tried to make the recording more dynamic by allowing each instrument to have more space in the mix.

ToddStar: Of the tracks recorded for the disc, are there any favorites of yours that you find yourself going back to? Any you wish came out sounding different?

Rebeca: I’ve found myself going back to “Reform” and “Recourse” – both songs have their own intensity. “Reform” is a little more subtle and introspective, while “Recourse” is right in your face. I’m not sure though if there are any I would have wanted to come out sounding differently – I think that the way the songs came out represents a particular point in time that I couldn’t go back and change.

ToddStar: Regarding Plan-Do-Check-Act, were any of the songs easier to write than others? You often hear about an artist that sat down to write a song and that essentially the song wrote itself. Were any of the songs difficult to get out? If so, which?

Rebeca: The songwriting process for me always begins introspectively and abstractly – this big whirlwind of thoughts and feelings stirs up what eventually becomes a melody, a rhythm, a chorus, a bass line, a guitar riff…and these become building blocks for a song. Sometimes there are bigger blocks, sometimes smaller. In the end it all gets whittled down into an end product that I think conveys the idea. I don’t know if one song is harder to write than another, but some have taken more rework than others. The songs on this release were relatively easy because the ideas kept flowing, and some had already existed. For instance, “Reform” came out of the ashes of a song I wrote years ago but never found a place for. One song I did struggle a little with was “Always Sunny” – I couldn’t find a way I wanted to take it out of the second chorus, and I kept going over it with different ideas, but I persevered until the right thing stuck.



ToddStar: Having been at this for a couple years, do you still feel and hear the growth in this band?

Rebeca: Absolutely. Beyond the evolution of Recovery Council as an entity, I think that both as individual musicians and as a band we have already grown a lot in a short period of time. But I’m also excited about the potential that remains yet to be tapped into, and as we play and grow more together, I feel we will continue to reach further into that area. I’m really fortunate to play with such great musicians, and personally I am of the mindset that I can always learn more and improve.

ToddStar: If you had to describe the sound of Recovery Council to someone who had never heard of you, how would you do that?

Rebeca: I think of us as heavy rock with bits of grunge, progressive, and metal thrown in – we’re not completely any, kind of like an alloy of them. Others have described us as part Pixies, part Smashing Pumpkins, part Helmet, part Rush. I’m not sure I totally agree since there are some giant shoes to fill in those names, but it’s not totally off the mark.

ToddStar: When performing live, do you find that you mix the material evenly from your earlier albums, or do you tend to play more of the newer material? Are there any songs from your earlier releases that you feel will always be a part of your live show?

Rebeca: Although our focus for 2013 is to play material from the new release, we always throw some of the older material in to mix things up. The more guitar-oriented songs from Gentle Stories will probably always make their way into the set, and from the first album we’ve hung on to “Mean Time Between Failures”. It’s much better since we’ve heavied it up.

ToddStar: If you had to pick possible pairings for an ideal tour, what other bands would you like to see Recovery Council out on the road with?

Rebeca: Wow, I have to admit that realistically I haven’t thought about who I’d like us to tour with as much as us just getting together a reasonable tour ourselves! We’ve done a few of what I call nano- or pico-tours, but I think we would do well with heavy grunge or crossover/experimental metal bands. We’ve gotten positive responses from the metal audiences we’ve played in front of, so that kind of combination could work well.

ToddStar: Do you find any of the other arts affect your music or the way you approach writing, recording, or playing live with Recovery Council?

Rebeca: I guess this is where geek meets freak, so to speak (and I totally didn’t intend the rhyme!). I find influences and inspiration in both art and science. I am pretty evenly divided between the two – I actually have an academic background in science and technology, and I get a lot of inspiration from engineering concepts. I also love to read, and not surprisingly, sometimes the books I read can become influences for a song. As for recording and playing live, I’d have to say the same inspirations apply since recording and playing live are extensions of writing.

ToddStar: Are there any bands that are currently releasing music or touring that influence you personally or professionally? What is the last CD/mp3 album you listened to?

Rebeca: One band I really got into over the past couple of years is Intronaut – I got hooked on Valley of Smoke. They are a breath of fresh air in progressive metal and I’m looking forward to their 2013 release – hopefully I’ll get to see them this time around.

As for the last album I’ve listened to, I admittedly haven’t gotten into much newer stuff lately – the absolute last album I listened to was Hold Your Fire by Rush – and that’s when I was running this morning.

ToddStar: If there were one piece of music in the history of time that you wish you had written, what would it be and why?

Rebeca: Since I don’t have forever to contemplate this one, sometimes I think I would have loved to have written the song “Wichita Lineman”. Then I could have actually written and arranged the parts that were supposed to sound like Morse code in real Morse code.

ToddStar: What is the meaning of life?

Rebeca: If I said “42” that would be the biggest cliché ever. I’m now going to quietly retreat with my face in my palm.

ToddStar: Other than making sure everyone checks out your website (http://www.recoverycouncilmusic.com) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/recoverycouncil), are there any other current projects or sites you would like to promote?

Rebeca: Besides @recoverycouncil on Twitter, I think you have it all covered there – we try to keep things relatively simple!

ToddStar: Thanks again for taking the time and we look forward to 2013 and more Recovery Council!!! - 100% Rock Magazine

Virtual one woman band Rebeca Qualls – she not only sings the vocals and plays such instruments as the guitar, bass, and keyboards, but even recorded, mixed, edited, engineered, and produced – delivers 12 tracks worth of snazzy alt-rock on this cool and soothing album. Artfully blending elements of punk, jazz, metal, New Wave, and Easy Listening, the insanely eclectic array of musical influences keeps things quite tasty, harmonic, and enrapturing throughout. There’s a nifty soft and melodic buzz evident here, urgent without being too pushy, laid-back, yet not soporific, with a pleasing sense of appealing calm and a steady succession of gradual tempos and relaxed beats crawling along at a constant clip. Qualls’ expressive voice and bright songwriting are both likewise up to speed. A very solid and comforting album.
- Jersey Beat: Joe Wawrzyniak

Marshall alumni headlines show at Shamrock’s

By Shaun French
The Parthenon

Shamrock’s Pub was bumpin’ as three bands rocked their place Saturday night. The Transmissions, Sly Roosevelt, and Recovery Council brought their unique musical talents to the stage.
The Transmissions have been performing at Shamrock’s Pub for the past year, according to Matt “Hoss” Pauley, manager of Shamrock’s Pub. Sly Roosevelt said they used to play a lot and have recently returned to the bar’s stage. Recovery Council was a new band that the bar had never heard of before.
Pauley said Shamrock’s Pub hosts many forms of music, but it is mainly a rock ‘n roll bar that brings in punk, metal, and other sub-genres.
“Basically, it seems like the music scene has died down a little bit in Huntington, and that pulls away from the night life,” Pauley said. “People will still be in bars, but music and bars or clubs go hand-in-hand. Getting bands to come in, no matter what music it is, adds to the atmosphere.”
The Transmissions came from Ashland, KY to display their styling of progressive old-school punk with Shannon Lee on vocals, Noodles playing the bass, B-Rad strumming the guitar, and Preacher beating the drums. B-Rad said the band came up with the name based on the transmission of a car and how it speeds up.
The Transmissions caught the attention of Cheyenne Tomblin, who said she never heard their music before but liked it.
“I dig their style and music,” Tomblin said.
Sly Roosevelt from Huntington then jammed to its raw indie experimental style, with Sean McDaniel singing lead vocals and playing guitar, along with Joe Sanders playing the guitar as well. Alexander Durand played the bass, his wife Megan played the keyboard and Matt Marshall played the drums.
“I wanted something American sounding,” McDaniel said. “I first thought of The Dead Kennedys, but thought it was harsh and very politically motivating. Then I thought of a child running around the White House and getting into mischief, and I also liked the Roosevelt name as masculine but also possessing intellectual qualities too. It attaches the two meanings together, and I like that idea.”
Lastly, Recovery Council, from New Jersey, performed their style of “yacht-core” with Marshall alum Rebeca Qualls on the guitar, keyboard, and vocals, Sid Santos on bass, and Jeff Trenholm on the drums.
The band started as a vision in 2003 when Qualls was working toward her master’s degree. She spent years playing for other bands but desired to produce music with her individual creativity. Qualls said her band takes the melodies of 1970’s yacht rock and combines it with a 1980’s post-punk element.
“We really wanted to play a show with a good friend of ours, Trinity Hurst, whose band Fivertherabbit was to play with us,” Qualls said. “They had played at Shamrock’s before, and the venue came recommended for its environment. Sadly, their band had dissolved as we were planning the show, but Trin still came through and set up the gig for us with Sly Roosevelt and The Transmissions, who are two excellent bands as well.”
Recovery Council recently released their new album, “Gentle Stories,” and returned to Huntington to promote it by performing at Shamrock’s Pub for friends and family.
“I thought it was great and really unique,” said Paul McComas, friend of Qualls. “I think they have a sound of their own. I can gather little bits and pieces from stuff I knew she listened to in the past. The stuff they played didn’t sound like anything she listened to, but you can sort of hear bits and pieces of it.”
After playing at Shamrock’s Pub, Recovery Council will then take its show to Fat Baby in New York City.
“Fat Baby is one of the hosting bars of the College Music Journal (CMJ) event which happens every October,” Qualls said. “Prior to CMJ we will be playing there.”
Shaun French can be contacted at french25@marshall.edu
- The Parthenon

HUNTINGTON — Former Ashland resident Rebeca Qualls will bring her music to the Tri-State on Saturday when her band, Recovery Council, performs at Shamrock’s on Third Avenue in Huntington.

Currently based in New Jersey, Qualls started Recovery?Council in Ashland in 2003.

“Our music is primarily alternative rock with a twist we call ‘yacht-core:’ the lilt of ’70s yacht-rock crossed with the sucker punch of ’90s-style post-punk,”?Qualls said.

The band’s current album, “Gentle Stories,” has been featured on more than 100 college/web radio stations in the United States and Canada. Qualls played all the instruments on the album except acoustic drums, performed by drummer Jeff Trenholm.?On stage, Trenholm and bassist Isidro Santos will join Qualls.

“I?feel blessed to be surrounded by superb musicians,”?Qualls said. “At first, I wanted the live show to come off like it sounds on the album, but these guys are really taking it to the next level.”

Qualls said she is enjoying touring but is especially looking forward to playing in the Tri-State to a hometown audience.

“We’re excited to bring the music home and reconnect with old friends, family and hopefully gain some new fans,”?Qualls said.
- The Daily Independent

Recovery Council is an eclectic mix of genres, ranging fromeasy listening dreampop to heavy alternative rock, along the lines of The Breeders or Smashing Pumpkins.The band visionary is Rebeca Qualls, who played almost all the instruments on the latest release,Gentle
Stories, which came out earlier this year. I caught up with Rebeca to ask about the new album and their upcoming area shows.

Who are the band members on Gentle Stories?
I was a one-woman band; I was the guitarist, vocalist, bassist, keyboardist, electronic beats-and-programming person,
and sound engineer, but the dynamics of this album couldn’t have been possible without the help of drummer Jeff Trenholm, from Clash Of Influence, who recorded and engineered all the acoustic drums.He’s
an excellent drummer and a great guy, and will be part of the live band when Recovery Council takes to the road. In the live band I’ll be focusing on guitar and vocals with possibly some keys.I nowhave
expanded froma duo to a power trio, with me on guitar, keys and vocals, Jeff on drums and Isidro “Sid” Santos on bass.

How would you describe the varied
musical styles of Recovery Council?

The definition of our sound: Bouncing around the “what the hell do we call this combination of easy/heavy stuff?” question brought us to come up our own genre. “yacht-core.” On the whole, it combines elements of easy, breezy ‘70s “yacht-rock” with ‘90s post-punk.

How does the songwriting process work for you?
The songwriting process is also a mixed bag. Sometimes songs begin around a melody, a phrase, some other external stimulus or something I come up with on guitar, bass or keyboard.What I also find is that what I come up with seems to inadvertently get filtered through by the
music I’ve been listening to at the time, which, you guessed it, is quite varied. During this album I was cycling through ‘60s and‘70s librarymusic, such as Apollo Sound and kpm,WesMontgomery,Helmet,
Hüsker Dü, Steely Dan,Gang of Four, the Budos Band, Prong, Idris Muhammad and Yaz.

Are those your primary musical influences?

As I’m sure is the case for lots of musicians and bands, influences are so many and all over the place.What I just mentioned are only a few. I love to listen to, and experiment with, a lot of different types of music but often findmyself leaning toward two opposite ends of the spectrum,
such as jazz, easy listening and metal. Abstract, schlocky and heavy seem to be particular preferences!

What are your goals,both professionally and musically?
We are rehearsing and I’mpitching the album with the goal of quality over quantity with gigs, although more is usually not a bad thing.What I mean by that is getting into the right venues where we can reach
the right people, hopefully opening for or even sharing a billwith some other great bands in the near future.With the music, I see it continuing to evolve. I think it takes time to come into your own and this album
definitely included some experimentation.But both musically and
professionally, I plan to take this as far as I possibly can. Creating music is what I love to do, I’ve been doing it since I was a wee little kid, and have no plans of stopping. At the same time I realize the
challenge of the business end of it and have become more interested in the strategies behind getting themusic to the right ears, finding the peoplewhowill really enjoy it and become loyal listeners.

Where did the name come from?

The band name was actually kind of a fluke! Many moons ago—2003-ish—this building caught my eye while going through rural Ohio.It was a small, nondescript white building with signs on the front and sides
that just said “Recovery Council.” There was something kind of intriguing about this building, not really because of what it was. It was just an image that stuck with me. And even though I had an idea of what it was I had never heard it called aRecovery Council before. I later joked about starting an alt-country project kind of in the vein of Jay Farrar and calling it Recovery Council. But, like the imagery of the building,
the name just kind of stuck, even if the music never came out thatway. Of course, it can mean just about anything to anyone. If you look at it as a refuge for what ails you,maybe you’ve come to the right place.
I guess it’s no secret that music is a multipurpose outlet so it makes sense.

How did the recording process work, since you played most of the
instruments yourself?

Although two people played on this album,we neverworked in the same room together during thewhole thing.Everything was done over the Internet. Jeff sent me his recorded/engineered drumtracks, and I just dropped them in with my tracks and mixed it all down.

How can people find you?

The website is recoverycouncilmusic.com, and you can find me on Facebook at facebook.com/recoverycouncil, and Twitter at @recoverycouncil.

Recovery Council will be performing on Oct. 12 at Fat Baby in NewYork, on Nov. 1 atTrash Bar in Brooklyn and Nov. 19 atThe Loop Lounge in
Passaic Park,NJ. - Aquarian Weekly / Hal B. Selzer

Recovery Council – Gentle Stories, FREE MP3 “Evacuate!” here. - Jukebox Heroines / Electrik Emily!

The Jim Santora Show featuring interviews from Jon Davidson and Rebeca Qualls (Recovery Council). - The Jim Santora Show

Recovery Council, featuring WV girl Rebeca Qualls, brings their smooth Yacht Core stylings to Shamrock's in Huntington on Oct. 8. Check out the video for "Runner-Up," a song from the album, Gentle Stories. - Graffiti

For Immediate Release

Contact: Byron Qualls
e-mail: byron@dotultrarecords.com

May 23, 2011
Somerville, NJ

Radio promotion has recently concluded for Recovery Council's 2nd studio album, "Gentle Stories". During the eight week campaign, the record landed on over 100 college and web radio stations throughout the US and Canada. Here are a few of the stations that added "Gentle Stories" over the course of the campaign:

WXIN- Providence, RI
WESS - East Stroudsberg, PA
KJACK- Flagstaff, AZ
KSJD- Mancos , CO
WSCA- Portsmouth, NH
CILU- Thunder Bay, ON
WLOY- Baltimore, MD
WLHS- Liberty Township, OH
KANM- College Station, TX
WIDR- Kalamazoo, MI
KMNR- Rolla, MO
WXPN- Philadelphia, PA
KRCX- Denver, CO
WAKE - Winston-Salem, NC
KURE- Ames, IA
KWUR St.Louis, MO
KZMU- Moab, UT
WASU Boone, NC
WBGU Bowling Green, OH
KRSC- Claremore, OK
KRUI- Iowa City, IA
WUNF- Jacksonville, FL
KMSU- Mankato, MN
WMPG- Portland, ME
WSIN- New Haven, CT
KSLU- St. Louis, MO
WUVT- Blacksburg, VA
WVAU- Washington, DC
WNSU- Fort Lauderdale, FL
WSBU- St. Bonaventure, NY
WVYC- York, PA
WWHR- Bowling Green, KY
WXLV- Schnecksville, PA
WARG- Summit, IL
WRTC- Hartford, CT
WCCX- Waukesha, WI
WCWP- Brookville, NY
WLUR - Lexington, VA
WGMU- Fairfax,VA
WHRW- Binghamton, NY
WHUS- Storrs, CT
WOUB- Athens, OH
WPPJ- Pittsburgh , PA
WMUC - College Park, MD
WMXM - Lake Forest, IL

Recovery Council is now booking dates through the summer and fall to support the album and continue the momentum of the radio campaign. For booking information, e-mail bookit@recoverycouncilmusic.com. - Dot Ultra Records

For Immediate Release

Contact: Byron Qualls
e-mail: byron@dotultrarecords.com

March 25, 2011
Somerville, NJ

In the third week of radio promotion, Recovery Council's 2nd studio album, "Gentle Stories" has now landed on 75 college and web radio stations nationwide. This includes chart positions this week of #11 on WXIN in Providence, RI as well as #19 on WESS in East Stroudsburg, PA. The song, "Wool" hit the #3 position on Boston's UNregular Radio during the week 3/10 and "Runner-Up" is currently being featured on Underground Radio 3WK. "The radio campaign is off to a great start, and I just appreciate everyone's support" says Recovery Council's Rebeca Qualls. "I'm really excited about taking the band on the road to the cities where it's getting airplay."

Recovery Council is the product of one female vocalist/musician Rebeca Qualls, who shakes up opposing genres to create a unique cocktail of alternative rock with sprinkles of post-punk, metal, new wave, jazz, and easy listening throughout. Althogether she creates an intoxicating concoction of dynamic guitars, bold bass, symphonic string synths, and driving beats, which is topped off by her deep, disruptive, yet seductive vocals. Rebeca is working with a supporting band and looking to book dates in the coming months. For booking information, e-mail bookit@recoverycouncilmusic.com. - Dot Ultra Records