Pete RG

Living in London means one thing, you are always surrounded by live music. If you’re lucky and choose correctly, you could have a decent feast almost every night. If your choices fail you might end up in a need of ear plugs in a pub that charges you more than a fiver for a beer. So choose wisely. If you notice Pete RG is playing in your town, do not hesitate, grab a ticket, take your mates and experience real music at it’s finest.

American singer-songwriter Pete RG came to London’s Underground venue in Camden to support fellow American band Candlebox and to promote his first full-length album Tender Souls. His deep, warm baritone and catchy melodies are hard combos to resist. Joined on stage by Kevin Haaland (guitar), Adam Kury (bass), Scotty Kormos (drums) and Brina (keys), Pete RG put on one of the best performances I ever witnessed and let’s be honest, you don’t expect the support act to be that good! The set kicked off with album opener Our Escape, the air filled with something more than just music.

It was the experience of a journey. You could close your eyes and feel the sun and the wind on your skin, feel the road beneath your feet. It’s a very rare ability to paint such clear imagery images with music and Pete RG mastered it. His songs are almost physical, by the end of the set he completely got me. With his album’s title track Tender Souls and I believe closing the set, one thing was certain: he owned The Underground that night. - Rock Shot Magazine

It’s an all American affair tonight, as LA based singer/songwriter Pete RG and his band open the show before handing over the reigns to the northerners from Seattle. At times RG (short for Argy, an abbreviation of his surname Argyropoulos) has me scratching my head thinking of who he reminds me of, but then photographer Dave hits the nail on the head with a comparison to Neil Diamond. The same lush, deep, soulful voice that makes you stop and pay attention. Musically, in places (‘Divine’ and ‘Reload’), I catch an almost Springsteen vibe, or maybe even Don Henley? ‘Heaven Knows’ has a great guitar tone to it… simple, effective, and catchy as hell. It’s a short set, but the band do more than enough to gain some new fans, and more importantly, have those new fans turning around and dropping some money at the merch table. - Devil's Gate Media

It’s a truism that has held since the beginning of rock and roll. There are certain artists that just pack more of a punch on stage than on their records. Pete RG is definitely one of those. There’s no doubting the fact that songs like “Reload” are harder edged here than on the “Tender Souls” record that came out last year. What hasn’t changed though, is the quality of the songs he has put together. “Heaven Knows” would be middle of the road in lesser hands, here it soars. The title track benefits from some fine guitar and the understated keyboard work of Brina Kabler adds to the sound too. RG is a more energetic performer than you might expect as well, taking a couple of opportunities to get up close and personal with his new friends, including the sweeping last song, “I Believe”. Apt really, as there’s nothing to doubt here at all. - Maximum Volume

Pete RG’s rich baritone voice is at the center of his distinct sound, one that has reached fruition on his debut full-length, Tender Souls (out now). He hits the UK mid-January 2017 to showcase his latest album Tender Souls in support to fellow U.S. band Candlebox. The band features Adam from Candlebox (double duty) and also Dave Krusen (Pearl Jam, Candlebox).

The album has received some ecstatic responses: In its review of one club date, Pancakes And Whiskey pretty much summarized all that RG offers to his audiences: “high-quality rock with honest and engaging lyrics, a hammering backbeat plus gorgeous harmonies”

RG says: “As a songwriter, I’m always trying to express myself as best I can, lyrically and musically. On Tender Souls I feel I was able to do that without cutting corners or falling back into ambiguity. It’s a really good picture of where I’m at, with a lot of experience under my belt but also a lot of optimism.” He credits Brina Kabler for helping him raise the bar on Tender Souls and on the road. “She’s my engineer, co-producer, mixer, keyboardist — and my fiancée ,” he notes. “Whether onstage or in sessions, we’ve established a great give-and-take, where we learn from each other. We’re very much on the same level in terms of taste and inspiration. She helps me focus on what I do best. Brina is a huge part of everything I do.”

Born in Los Angeles to Greek immigrants, Pete RG (nee, Peter Argyropoulos) grew up in a musical household. As working musicians, his parents inspired him to learn a variety of instruments and start playing band gigs while in college. Beginning in 1998 and up into 2007, he was the principal songwriter and lead singer with the popular indie band, Last December.

During that time he also laid the foundation for his solo career, with years of live shows that most recently included a 25 show, Spring 2016 US tour with Candlebox. Now he brings this brand of rich melodic rock to the UK. - Maximum Volume

Once in a while I’ll make the trip out to Bushwick to see a band, but it takes a special act to get me to do so. Enter Pete RG and his fantastic band on a cool early fall night, in the dimly lit back room at Kings County Saloon. Having caught Pete RG’s set last spring, and interviewing him this summer, I was more excited than usual to shoot a gig. Add in the fact that one of the worlds best drummers in Dave Krusen is part of the band, made it even more promising.

Watching the five member band set up on such a tiny stage was almost comical, but they managed to squeeze in and started the night off with “Our Escape,” the first song off the new EP, ‘Reaching For The Moon’. From the start, it was a generous offering of high-quality rock with honest and engaging lyrics, a hammering backbeat plus gorgeous harmonies. Not long into the set, Pete decided the stage was too small to groove out on and stepped off to be with the crowd, never missing a beat, he serenaded a young lady before hopping back with his band.

They continued with two more songs off the new EP called “Divine” and True Love,” which sounded even better than the recording and am really excited for the EP to be released on October ninth. The rest of the set went by to fast with numbers like the upbeat “Let It All Go” and the closing song “I Believe.” Being that it was a Tuesday night in a sparsely-populated part of the city, the crowd was thin, but you wouldn’t of noticed as both band and audience had a great time.

Word has it Pete RG will be back in the spring, we’ll be sure to keep you updated beforehand so you too, can catch this fast rising act. - Pancakes & Whiskey

Pete RG is one of those few blessed individuals that boasts a truly distinctive rich baritone voice. It is an instrument that he carefully positions at the centre of his stunning debut album, Tender Souls.

Currently on tour in the UK supporting Candlebox, he calls in at Sheffield's Plug on January 20. We caught up with him to find out what song makes him...

Smile

"On The Road Again" by Willie Nelson. The lyrics, "the life I love is making music with my friends," says it all for me. Being a touring musician is a very blue-collar life. It's tough. It's not for the faint of heart. But, there's nothing like the camaraderie of life on the road. I know I'll be an old man thankful for all the adventure.


Contemplate

"Ghost Town" by First Aid Kit. The words "I swear I can be better" live with me every day. I hope they always do. Challenging. Brina and I were fortunate to see FAK perform at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. Absolutely amazing.


Cry

"The First Day Of My Life" by Bright Eyes. The lyrics to this song are so good and they're performed with so much heart. It's a once in a lifetime song. It kills me every time. My heart rises and falls. Kudos to you, Conor Oberst. Thank-you.


Want to work out

"Young Men Dead" by the Black Angels. It's the intro song for our European tour. I get so bleeping psyched when the band kicks in. My head instantly starts rocking. The sound of that snare drum makes me wanna pump some iron. Rock!


Reminisce

This one's a tie between "All My Days" by Alexi Murdoch and "Northern Sky" by Nick Drake. I discovered these songs at a time of great change in my life. I played them both over and over. They helped me persevere. When I hear them and reflect back on that time, I'm thankful.


Relax

"Stardust" by Nat King Cole. Without a doubt, he's the greatest singer, ever. His voice sends chills down my spine every time I hear one of his songs. Brina and i play this song almost every night to help us unwind. It never fails. It's perfect. It's genius.


Feel Determined

"Backstreets" by Bruce Springsteen. The energy behind his vocal is so amazing. Untouchable. He could be singing about ice cream and walnut toppings for all I care and he'd still get me pumped. I want to conquer the world every time I hear that song.


Dance

"Tainted Love" by Soft Cell. It always make me want to dance '80's style. Swing my arms wide, open mouth, smiling. You know you've done it. It's a rite of passage." - Yorkshire Times

With a rich baritone voice and a distinct sound, Pete RG has all the right ingredients to become one of the most successful musicians and performers the world has seen.

Recently releasing debut full-length album, ‘Tender Souls’, we got the opportunity to catch up with Pete and the band to find out a little bit more about them. So, without further ado, here are 25 things Pete RG wants YOU to know about THEM!

Pete speaks Greek as well as some German and Spanish. Then again, everyone from Los Angeles speak some Spanish.
Pete's diehard Los Angeles Lakers fan and was at the 2010 Finals Game 7 that they won.
Pete has a 19 year old cat named Bootie. She sleeps by his side every night when he’s home.
Pete is a Wheel of Fortune game show champion.
Pete was an American football quarterback when growing up.
Adam (bassist) was born in Scotland.
Brina (keyboardist) played soccer in at the University of California, Berkeley.
Pete’s family is from a village in southern Greece. He’s visited there every summer since a kid.
Kevin (guitarist) is 6’4” and makes Pete, 5’ 11”, look short.
Dave (drummer) is the official coffee and doughnut connoisseur of the band.
Pete and Brina are engaged. But, they haven’t had the time to tie the knot since they’ve been on tour so much. Paris, perhaps?
Pete lives in Venice Beach, California, where he grew up. He was a skater kid.
Brina was born in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Congo). Her mom’s from Tanzania.
Adam and Pete love to argue politics. No one ever wins.
Scotty (drummer filling in for Dave) has a dachshund named, Angus.
Brina records and mixes every Pete RG song.
Kevin is a guitar pedal junkie.
Adam lived in Hawaii. He wants to move back.
Kevin’s favourite phrase is, “I’m not mad at that.”
Dave is a Seinfeld junkie.
Pete lives for Sidecar Doughnuts. If you don’t know what they are, you should travel to Southern California to have one no matter what the cost.
Dave was the original drummer for Pearl Jam. He’ll be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with the band in April 2017.
Pete’s favourite band is U2 and his favourite food is pizza.
Brina is an amazing swing dancer.
Pete was a history major in college and almost went to work in Washington, DC, before choosing a career as a musician. - Female First

Debut solo record is an understated triumph.

He was the singer in Last December, but now Pete RG is striking out alone.

For this, his first solo release, he has gathered together a live band including Adam from Candlebox and drummer Dave Krusen once of Pearl Jam and the latter is particularly important as “Tender Souls” does occupy a similar type of space to those arena dwellers.

Much of this to be fair, is because RG’s wonderful, rich voice does have echoes of Eddie Vedder, which when it is mixed with the brilliantly understated music here, makes “….Souls” a thoroughly compelling thing.

There are records that work entirely on bombast alone. Not this one. This is totally reliant on subtlety. The album is bookended by a couple of cuts, “Our Escape” with its widescreen intentions and the ending “Magic”, which lilts in on delicate acoustics, that are what the album is about in microcosm.

This is, if we may call it that, thinking man’s rock n roll. Less “I Want Action” than “I’d like to talk about it”, but everything about the ten songs here is extremely well thought out and executed. “Divine” has a touch of Augustines about it, “Heaven Knows” adds a soulful groove, but the clever lyrics and interesting melodies are ever present.

There is nothing here that isn’t of top quality, as RG and his fiancé Brina Kabler (who plays keyboards, is Engineer and co-producer here) have constructed something that sees the singer truly stretch himself, even allowing for that, though “Reload” which has hints of The Police about it, is a real highlight.

“Fighting Fires” is another of those gentle ones that worm their way in, and the keyboard work on “True Love” keeps that as being one of the more interesting ballads, that said “Tender Souls” is a record that is at it’s best when it eschews the obvious lyrical theme as it does on the title track and “Bigger Than Today” which is surely destined to be a radio hit for all those looking to fill the Gaslight Anthem shaped hole in their lives, and it builds to one of the more impressive crescendos on this album.

And speaking of radio hits, “Here And Now” has those words writ large right through it, and it is an eminently classy piece of work – words that sum this entire collection up pretty nicely.

Whilst it is thoroughly modern and outward looking, this a record that is old school too, in that it is a real grower of a record. Its charms do not reveal themselves to you in one visceral hit, but slowly and over time. That is always the mark of fine songwriters and there is plenty of reason to think that “Tender Souls” - Maximum Volume

With a booming voice that could put the Crash Test Dummies’ Brad Roberts to shame, Pete RG turns in another solid solo record with ‘Tender Souls,’ his second full length after a number of EPs. Combining influences as varied as The National and classic U2, he delivers a lush soundscape that is big on swirling guitars and keyboards. But it’s RG’s voice that really makes the music, punctuating the lyrics with a sound that would come off as too earnest from just about anyone else.

The only downside is that the songs tend to blend into one another after a while with each sounding pretty familiar to the one before it, with a few exceptions.

Pete RG (born Peter Argyropoulos) fronted the band Last December before going solo. He’s also produced a number of other groups and founded his own label. - Innocent Words

Born in Los Angeles, Pete RG (AKA Peter Argyropoulos) grew up surrounded by music—his parents encouraged him to experiment with various instruments, which led to him developing a far wider range of experience than he might have otherwise. Currently working with Brina Kabler, his "engineer, co-producer, mixer, keyboardist—and ... fiancée," he fashions a volatile rock noise that immerses you in a musical embrace that's often shrouded in a haze of rugged and ragged melodies. With the forthcoming release of his new record, "Tender Souls," Sept. 23, he'll continue to cling to these rigorous and guitar-driven theatrics that fans have come to expect and revere.

With "Heaven Knows," he drops a pop-influenced burst of cowpunk ferocity that's sure to rattle the bones in your body and inspire some truly wild dreams. His voice is wrapped in a fog of slithering bass lines and chugging guitar riffs that form the boundary of this unique musical landscape. As notes bend and careen around the mountainous rhythms, he stands alone at their peak, a man comfortable with a certain altitude and swagger. "Heaven Knows" is a brash, energetic slice of rock that draws your eye toward the heartland of America, even as it stirs up the grime of dark back alleys in an undisclosed cityscape. He fills each line with such intensity and fervor that it's easy to imagine him standing on the corner of some street, howling about fire and brimstone and The Rolling Stones. - Nooga

With a soulful and rustic rock sound, Pete RG’s latest EP Reaching For The Moon, celebrates the splendor of life, it is five tracks of pure sonic goodness. GroundSounds recently caught up with the singer/songwriter who gave us an exclusive in-depth look at the inspiration behind his latest project, which is available now. Check out Pete RG’s Reaching For The Moon track-by-track below.

“Our Escape”

This is the song that started it all for Reaching For The Moon. I’d had the chorus guitar riff sitting around for several months. During a rehearsal for the Lightning Strikes tour, I played the riff and a chorus melody idea for the band. They really liked it and pushed me to finish it ASAP. They wanted the song to open our set. No band; just me and my guitar. Great idea, I thought, but finishing the song was somewhat laborious. I tried a bunch of different ideas, a number of good ones, but none of them were appropriate. Along the way, though, I realized that some of these ideas were strong enough to be songs of their own. Songs like “Divine”, “True Love” and “Fighting Fires”; that’s how they had their beginning. As such, it’s very siting that “Our Escape” is the first song on the EP.

“Divine”

As I mentioned, “Divine” was one of the songs inspired by “Our Escape”. The chorus melody as well as lyric idea came first. I played the bit for Brina [Kabler, multi-instrumentalist/co-producer] and she immediately added some ideas of her own. I was so inspired by her ideas, I finished the song on the spot. At that moment, we quickly recorded a demo of the song. When we played the demo for our guitarist Kevin Haaland a few days later, the first thing that rolled from his fingers was the song’s signature guitar riff. It was a very exciting, not to mention relieving, moment. Brina and I had high expectations for the song. We couldn’t have been happier then when Kevin’s ideas exceed our hopes for the song and raised the bar.

“True Love”

Again, one of the “Our Escape” inspired songs. I remember playing all of the songs on the EP on acoustic guitar for my dad one evening. It was just a few days before we were to begin recording. He commented how he thought the EP was going to be a really good collection of folk songs [HA!] “True Love” struck him, in particular, because of the simple fingerpicking pattern played underneath the vocal. That’s how most of the writing was done on “True Love” as well as the other songs, just me gently plucking away on acoustic guitar while searching for the melody, lyrics, the syllables and vowels that felt just right.

unnamed“Magic”

One morning I woke up with a melody and lyrics in my head. I rolled out of bed and started playing “Magic” as if it were already written. Brina was up and in the kitchen having breakfast. She heard me and shouted out how she really liked it. I kept playing while she sang some counter melody ideas. Our usual method of capturing such initial ideas on our iPhones wasn’t enough. We got cleaned up, went to our studio and recorded a demo of the song. Nearly everything about that demo was recorded in one pass and nearly all the parts made it to the final recording; including drum loop, keyboards and rhythm guitars. Likewise, as is often the case with our recordings, Brina’s original melody ideas evolved into key guitar parts.

“Fighting Fires”

I didn’t think this song was going to make the EP. I didn’t think it would even get recorded. Brina and I liked the lyrics and aspects of the melody, but we couldn’t find the right groove or mood to match. We tried a fast tempo and an even faster one. We tried slow. We tried grooves from retro rock to hip hop. Nothing hit us. Finally, two days before recording with the band was to begin, we came across an arpeggiated synth sound on our Dave Smith Pro-2. For those of you who don’t know what an arpeggiated (arp, for short) sound is, it’s a sound that has a built-in rhythm of its own. You hit a key and a tone comes out in a repeating, rhythmical pattern. Brina and I instantly knew we’d found what we were looking for and started recording it. At that moment, one of those glorious and fortunate studio mistakes happened. By accident, the keyboard I was playing also triggered a drum machine to play. The drum machine played a hi-hat and percussion part that perfectly accompanied the vibe of the keyboard. Even better, the drum machine “mistake” inspired our drummer, Dave Krusen, to immediately play his two-snare drum part on drums. Very serendipitous! - Ground Sounds

In life and romance, we’re always looking for the ying to our yang; in Brina Kabler, artist Pete RG found something even more valuable—the engineer to his singer/songwriter.

LA born musician Peter Argyropoulos, who goes by Pete RG, is gearing up to release his latest album, Tender Souls on September 23rd, on his own label, 4L Entertainment. He says of the effort, “as a songwriter, I’m always trying to express myself as best I can, lyrically and musically. On Tender Souls I feel I was able to do that without cutting corners or falling back into ambiguity. It’s a really good picture of where I’m at, with a lot of experience under my belt but also a lot of optimism.”

When he says experience, he means it—he grew up in a musical household, the son of Greek immigrants who worked as musicians and pushed him to learn as many instruments as he could. He started gigging himself in college, and for over a decade, served as the principal songwriter and lead singer with the popular indie band, Last December. The recent wave of optimism he speaks of likely comes in the form of Kabler, his fiancé and musical partner, who not only encourages him in his craft, but also fills in as his engineer, co-producer, sound mixer and keyboardist.

Listening to “True Love,” it’s not a stretch to imagine that Kabler might have inspired his songwriting as well. Today, Elmore is premiering the lyric video for the single, a stream of lyrics overtop a swirling, watercolor-collage with a white outline of a guitar playing RG and his paramour.

His soulful baritone delivers the catchy, pop melody fleshed out with understated, female harmonies. The track is driven by a propulsive, uplifting interplay of drums and guitar, which carries a message of hope and love: “True love is a vision, a vision of hope/true love is determined, determined to grow.”

Watch the video for “True Love,” and check below for a list of Pete RG’s upcoming tour dates. For more info, and to purchase tickets, head to his website. - Elmore Magazine

Not many can say that they’ve worked with Pearl Jam’s Dave Krusen, but for singer/songwriter Pete RG, that’s just another day at work in the studio. With the addition of Dave Krusen on drums, Pete RG is releasing his new single, “True Love,” from his forthcoming EP, Reaching For The Moon, which drops on October 9th.

Riding off of the energy of his Lightning Strikes tour, RG went straight back into his Santa Monica studio with a determination to one-up his previous effort, creating this new album, Reaching For The Moon.

With rich, passionate vocals, RG takes us through what he believes true love to be. Speaking about the inspiration and process behind “True Love,” RG said that “it was one of those instances where you briefly think you’ve found the missing piece, only to realize you’ve discovered something entirely new. There’s often a lot of soul-searching involved and the process is very cathartic, sometimes painful. In the case of “True Love,” I discovered that the words “true love” were a substitute for passion.”

Give a listen to Pete RG’s new single below, and look out for his upcoming tour dates across the country, including stops on September 12th, 19th and 26th at Piano’s in New York City as part of a month long residency. Find more information about the rest of the tour and the album at Pete’s website. - Elmore Magazine

For his follow up to the acclaimed Lightning Strikes EP, Pete RG once again recorded in his personal Santa Monica studio. This time, though, RG found himself working even closer with multi-instrumentalist/co-producer Brina Kabler, bassist Adam Kury, guitarist Kevin Haaland and drummer Dave Krusen (an original member of Pearl Jam), all of whom he toured the better part of the year with.

RG and his band kicked off an extensive tour in support of Reaching For The Moon this month, which includes a residency at New York City’s Piano’s. Upcoming dates can be found below.

Ghettoblaster recently caught up with Pete RG to discuss the record. This is what he said about it.

When did you begin writing the material for Reaching For The Moon?

I began writing the songs for RFTM at the beginning of this year, shortly before we began our spring tour in support of the Lightning Strikes EP. I’d had the main guitar riff for “Our Escape” sitting around for several months. I was messing with it at rehearsal one afternoon. The band liked it and pushed me to finish it up ASAP so we could play it on the tour. Frankly, the reason the riff had sat around for a while was because I didn’t know what to do with it. So in trying to rise up to the band’s challenge, I began busting out idea after idea. A number of those ideas became the rest of the songs on the EP. As a consequence of being conceived from the same spark, they have a cohesive quality which I’m really happy with.

What was the most difficult song to take from the initial writing stage through recording and mixing? Why was it so troublesome?

Without a doubt, “Our Escape” was the most difficult. As I mentioned, the main guitar riff was the spark for all of the songs on the EP. But as a song itself, it took me several weeks to write. The troubles continued during recording. Our first tracking session went well. We got the drums and bass in a few hours. But Kevin [Haaland, guitarist], Brina [Kabler, multi-instrumentalist/co-producer] and I recorded and re-recorded the guitars at least 4 different times. And those were long days, lots of hair pulling. Add to that the lead vocal cost me a set of headphones. Brina and I were working 12-14 hours a day, 7 days a week in order to meet our 6 week deadline. I sang most of the lead vocal to “Our Escape” in one afternoon, saving the high stuff in the last chorus for another day.

Unfortunately, a day or two later, my voice began to crap out on me due to fatigue. We only had a few days left before our deadline. We moved on to mixing. Those lines were still missing. It was time to sing them. I got behind the mic and my voice wouldn’t go there. Arrrrgh!! The headphones I had on were smashed. I’d never done that before. Brina sat me down, told me to go home and take a day off. When I returned the next day, my voice was good and the singing smooth. Kind of silly looking back on it, but I just wanted to get it done and put it behind me.

Which of the songs on the record is most different from your original concept for the song?

“Fighting Fires” is the most different. I thought it was going to be an uptempo tune, but when the story within the lyrics was getting lost at the faster pace, Brina and I decided to slow it down. However, we were uncertain of what groove we wanted from the band and weren’t having much luck in solving the problem. Fortunately, we stumbled upon the percussion loop while recording the arpeggiated keyboard. A studio glitch caused a drum machine to be triggered by the keyboard I was using to play the arp. At first we were like, “WTF, where’s that loop coming from?” Once we realized what was happening, we were like, “Yes, that’s the missing groove!” When we played it for the band, Dave [Krusen, drummer] was particularly inspired. He immediately swapped out his rack tom for a second snare drum. Hence the two, swinging snare drums. He’s hitting his main snare for the backbeat and the second snare for the off beats. So cool. The band did a few extended takes. That’s when Kevin and I came up with our guitar parts and Adam [Kury, bassist] with his bass. We just kept going and left the heavy lifting to Brina to sort through everything for the best stuff. She’s great at that.

Did you have any guest musicians play or sing on the record?

No, we didn’t have any guest musicians. It’s Brina and I on vocals, guitars and keys. Kevin Haaland on guitars, Adam Kury on bass and Dave Krusen on drums. Frankly, I’m not a big fan of guest musicians on my stuff or anyone else’s. I find them to be a distraction from the essence of the song and the artist. Kind of like when an ensemble cast in a film distracts the viewer from its story.

Who produced the EP? What input did that person have that changed the face of the record?

Brina and I produced it. We’ve done a lot of producing and engineering of other artists and we’ve produced all of my stuff. Why pass off the most fun part to someone else? Plus, while I’ve had the good fortune to work with some very big name producers in the past, both as an artist and as a co-producer, I can say without hesitation that Brina’s better than anyone of them. She’s a great musician in her own right as well as an excellent engineer. She has a fantastic sense of melody. For instance, she “sang” several of the key guitar parts on the EP for Kevin or myself to play. Add to that, she’s really good at bringing together many seemingly disparate pieces. Most importantly, she and I really enjoy working together.

Is there an overarching concept behind your new EP that ties it together?

There wasn’t an overarching concept to begin with, but what emerged was a thematic sense of redemption, optimism and a feeling of coming to peace with the past. In a musical sense, what’s interesting is that all of the songs are in the same key, the key of C, because they all began within the attempt to finish the same song, “Our Escape.”

Have you begun playing these songs live and which songs have elicited the strongest reaction from your fans?

We’ve just begun touring in advance of the EP’s release on October 9. As of now, “Our Escape,” “Divine,” “True Love” and “Fighting Fires” kick off our set in that order (“Magic” is in our acoustic set). Quite promisingly, they’ve all elicited a strong response. For me, though, my faves are “Divine” and “Fighting Fires,” especially the latter. We’ve begun exploring new and exciting places with it within just a few shows. No ideas of recording it again, though! - Ghettoblaster Magazine

In my preparations to interview Pete RG before his four-show run this month in NYC, I took the time to listen to his newest EP “Reaching For The Moon” a handful of times and reread my review from his show at Pianos in March. Digesting the five song album, I concluded that the EP is tight, danceable and at the same time really good rock n’ roll. In looking back at the review of his live show I cringed a little as I likened him to a “Neil Diamond on steroids,” but Pete ended up assuring me that it wasn’t the first time in the chat below.



Pancakes And Whiskey: Thanks for speaking with us today, what have you been up to since the last time we chatted in March?

Pete RG: After the tour we were glad to get back and got right to finishing the new EP working 14 hour days, seven days a week for two months. Then Brina and I went on vacation to Greece as I have family there and is a great and inexpensive trip. Now that we’re back we’ve been rehearsing and cramming to getting ready for the northeast run and October dates after.



Talking about the new album, ‘Reaching For The Moon’, what I took from it is a sense of big time love and redemption, but little loss, care to talk about that?

I think that would be pretty accurate. To be honest with you, I haven’t had a lot of time to reflect on it. These songs came out really fast in two weeks or so regarding lyrics. They were all written in the same time frame and while working on the first song, I basically came up with the other four. A lot of it is about love and redemption, and it’s also about promise and really looking forward as this is an exciting time for me having moved into a new home and my recording studio is flourishing.

What is it like working with established veterans like Dave Krusen (Pearl Jam) and Adam Kury (Candlebox) on the new EP?

First things first; It’s always good to work with top-notch musicians. I’ve had the good fortune of producing a number of indie acts and even Disney acts. One thing I learned along the way is that working with people who are good musicians, I’m not just talking about how they play their instruments or their proficiency, it’s their whole vibe and their approach: it really frees you up as a writer and as a producer.

Guys like Dave and Adam bring the proficiency; they bring the openness and experience and have tons of ideas. Although they’ve doing it for a while, they also bring a love of music that’s completely undiminished like they are still fifteen years old. They are great guys who are really good friends; if you’re going to be making good music, you have to do it with people you enjoy being around. They also instill a little extra confidence in you because you know when you’re laying it down, this is as good as it gets.



You’re about to go on tour, is there a certain city or venue you are looking forward to the most?

NYC is always at the top of the list, it’s one of my favorite places in the world. I’m an L.A. boy, but I’ve always loved going to New York, even wanted to live there for a period of time. It will be nice to get in a van and travel up to Boston, to go down to Philly, to go upstate and see the small towns along the Hudson River and even Vermont. The bottom line is, we’re really excited for our shows in NYC.



While we’re talking about NYC, is there a difference in music scenes between here and L.A.?

I’ll be honest with you, I love L.A., it’s my home, but I really don’t like playing here that much. I don’t know any bands or artists who really do. There are great venues and there are some excellent audiences to be found, but the nature of L.A., because it’s spread out and there are so many bands here – the audiences tend to be a little less enthusiastic. For instance, I once saw U2 at the Meadowlands and again here on the same tour at the Staples Center; the audiences were like day and night. The east coast show was far more energetic and enthusiastic for the audience which was more willing to be part of the show.



Long trips in the van need a playlist, how does that work out with the band; do the choices rotate, what’s the game plan?

That’s the ultimate question! Brina is usually the DJ, but are all on the same page musically. We love a lot of indie, the old-standards like Nat King Cole, even a little jazz. We don’t listen to much classic rock anymore because we’ve heard it all you know. Sometimes we’ll make a Spotify playlist or find a Pandora station to check out.



Besides your instruments, what are the essentials when heading out on tour?

I gotta have earplugs and a sleeping mask.



So, you’re playing a handful of shows in NYC this month, will the sets differ for each, what’s the plan?

Yes the shows will differ. We are playing three shows at Pianos – the 12th, 19th and the 26th. The set on the 19th will be an acoustic set with brinna, the guitarist and me. We are also playing Kings County Saloon in Brooklyn on the 22nd – which was originally scheduled for the 18th, but had to change it around due to a conflict in Philly as the Pope had a speaking gig a few blocks away. I got a text while on vacation informing me it had to moved and I just laughed, because we just got blocked by the Pope!



If you could have one musician (past or present, dead or alive) join you on stage, for one song – who would it be, why and what song would you play?

It would have to be Bruce Springsteen – everyone knows, at least in the rock world that he is the greatest, ever. I had a friend one time that got invited back stage to a U2 concert and Springsteen showed up near the end. He rehearsed with the band for two minutes in between encores backstage and went out and performed the song live. Immediately after, Bono turned to my friend and said “he’s the best ever.”

The song would have to be “Glory Days,” – would be perfect if it were in the NYC/NJ area.



Since we are called Pancakes And Whiskey, it’s obligatory I ask – Do you drink whiskey, and if so, do you have a favorite hooch?

Red Breast 12. My story behind that is really simple – I was at a whiskey bar in L.A. and told the bartender that I’m not really a whiskey guy and need your help. He lined up 8 mini-shot glasses and told me to pick my favorite, and that process continued a few times and in the end every single time I picked Irish Whiskey and picked Red Breast more often than not, so that’s my favorite.

At this point we made some small talk about the shows, the fact that Pearl Jam is playing on the same night as him on the 26th and my reference to him sounding like “Neil Diamond On Steroids.” He told me a story about working with Neil Diamond’s original producer Jeff Barrian, who once remarked that Pete reminded him of Neil. I guess I’m not the only one.



Be sure to hit Pete RG’s shows at Pianos and Kings County Saloon and watch for our coverage of the shows here. Also be on the lookout for the new EP due out October 9th. - Pancakes & Whiskey

HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, California

CURRENT LOCATION: Los Angeles, California

AMBITIONS: To have a simple, healthy, long and fulfilling life and to always grow.

TURN-OFFS: Narrow mindedness, laziness, negativity.

TURN-ONS: Open mindedness, hardworking, entrepreneurial, creative thinking, optimism combined with realism.

DREAM GIG: Playing a small, packed club in New Jersey with Bruce Springsteen.

FAVORITE LYRIC: I’m too young to be so fed up with the world

SONG I WISH I WROTE: “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”

5 PEOPLE I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH: Benjamin Franklin, Kobe Bryant, Albert Einstein, Sam Glaze (Elementary School Home Room Teacher), Mark Twain.

MY FAVORITE CONCERT EXPERIENCE: My favorite concert experience was at a U2 show. I was standing beside the stage, right in front of the Edge. The second or third song into the set, Bono comes over and puts the microphone in my face. I sing along for a bit before he goes back to center stage. Wow, I think, very cool! Next thing I know, he comes back, grabs me by the shirt collar, puts the mic back in my face and we sing together for a bit more. For the rest of the show, he kept coming over every couple of songs and doing the same thing. It got to a point where the people standing around me were asking if he and I were friends! Too funny. No, we’re not, BTW. I also happened to noticed that the Edge was doing a lot of singing during the show. Huh. In the days after the show, I asked a few insider industry friends what up with all of this and learned that Bono’s voice was shot that night. He was looking for all the help he could get!

I WROTE THIS SONG BECAUSE…: It was a moment of inspiration that fell into my lap. - American Songwriter

Meet Pete RG who is readying his Reaching For The Moon EP on October 9, and we bring you a listen to the bright shining divinity of “Divine”. The warmth of a troubadour brought up on the traveling spirit songs of The Boss, and other canonical idols brings about a spark that rests in a kind of a warm subtle glow with a brightness to entrance the glass windows of a lantern.

“Divine” brings about the song that you imagine being brought on every road trip traveling state to state across the country’s interstate lines and passage ways. Pete RG takes on the years spent “reaching for the moon” through description of clear skies, sincere loves, and mountain top climbing triumphs and cheers that push with the heartbeat progression. A message of embracing the day and the now finds something of a genuine divinity in the state of modern times, that looks to the host of things that make life wonderful, and worthwhile. And though times are often far from ideal, and life presents a host of many struggles; “Divine” takes that moment of pause to really reflect on things that matter to us as a people, from the presence of loved ones, the kindness shared between people, marvels of nature, and a variety of things to feel thankful for even when it feels like the odds are stacked against your favor.

Pete described the divinity behind “Divine” ,and some words and insights into the making of the upcoming Reaching for the Moon album::

If you’ve ever had the experience of jumping in your car and arriving at your destination without remembering what happened in between, then you’ve got an idea of what the writing of Divine was like. I stumbled on the chorus melody and lyrics one evening while working on the song, “Our Escape”. It was one of those instances where, as a songwriter, you come across a new song while trying to find the missing piece to another. Anyway, I played the bit I had for Brina. She was really into it and pushed me to finish it up right away. Without hesitating, I grabbed my guitar and out poured the verse melody and some key lyrics within about 15 minutes. Boom, the song was there. We quickly recorded a reference for the band to learn and tweaked some ideas here and there over the following couple of weeks. But, for all intents and purposes, the song fell into my lap without much thought. In fact, before recording the vocal, I had to practice and learn the lyrics. It was almost as if someone else wrote them! Reflecting on the inspiration, I can see that the song came at a moment when life was on a high. In addition, the Lightning Strikes EP was just released. The press and feedback were really good. The supporting tour was about to begin. I was excited. That’s where the song came from. I must admit, I was a little reluctant to sing the ‘divine’ lyric. But, once I realized where it came from, I embraced it. I was cool with it.

Lightning Strikes was recorded over the course of the year, making the recording process less organic since we were in and out of the studio numerous times. When we began recording Reaching For The Moon, we were fresh off the road and restless to get into the studio. I was determined to work at a faster pace to maintain the band’s momentum. - Impose Magazine

On a dreary midweek night in the LES upstairs at Pianos, I witnessed a new act to the city in the form of Pete RG, a singer/songwriter from LA. Pete RG is not your typical “Singer/Songwriter” however, as his forty-five minute set proved to all in attendance. If I had to compare him to anybody, I’d say he’s Neil Diamond on steroids, but let’s nix that idea as Pete RG has his own thing going on, and it’s really great. With his intelligent but not stuffy lyrics, and a full band behind him, his songs were all well thought out and composed.

We may not know much about him here (yet), but he obviously has some west coast pull in recruiting Dave Krusen on the drums (Pearl Jam, Candlebox), and Candlebox bassist, Adam Kury to form one hell of a rhythm section. The live band filled out with Brina Kabler on the keys/vox and guitarist Noah Lebenzon who added masterful licks to everything. The sound the band formed as a whole was vibrant, deep, and incredibly tight.

Despite the extremely talented cast surrounding Pete RG, the focus was all on him as his energetic and enthusiastic style was infectious and noteworthy. His deep voice, tinged with the perfect amount of static, filled the room and silenced those previously talking during the opening band. You can hear and purchase some of the songs he played here, off the new EP – “Lightning Strikes,” which I am a fan of after listening to it once.

Pete RG is one to look out for, we heard he will be back in the fall, and we’ll be sure to catch up with him before he does to fill you all in! Until then you can check out his website, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

If you’re lucky enough to live near one of his upcoming tour dates, treat yourself and go check him out. - Pancakes & Whiskey

We are addicted to new music. I know that sounds cute and/or akin to something a teenager who just discovered that music exists beyond the radio, but it’s absolutely true. We spend hours every week sifting through the unknown talents of the world, and every so often we find one we cannot deny. This week that talent is Pete RG, and today we have a killer lyric video to share with all of you.

If you are not familiar with the work of Pete RG yet, don’t fret. His talent is one the world is still very much discovering, and anyone hopping on the bandwagon now is still considered an early adopter. As for his sound, I think it can best be describe as a cross between pop, folk, and the slightest bit of modern alternative rock. It’s rustic, yet feels entirely fresh at the same time. “Let It All Go” is our favorite song in his catalog, and below you can view the world premiere of that song’s official lyric video. Check it out. - Under The Gun Review

Lightning Strikes, the latest EP from California singer-songwriter Pete RG (Argyropoulos) is a brief and enjoyable listen that makes one anxious for RG’s next full-length. The EP opens with “Still Here,” a moody, enveloping and deeply moving song about romantic perseverance. Ostensibly the title track, “Still Here” also serves as an introduction to RG and his inimitable bellowing vocals. Speckled with hints of Neil Diamond, Leonard Cohen and Matt Berninger, RG is blessed to have a voice so unique, so enchanting and so captivating. It is that voice and its intrinsic charisma that will carry RG forward in the months and years to come.

Much of Lightning Strikes is built around RG’s romantic and musical partnership with producer and multi-instrumentalist Brina Kabler, who also co-produced RG’s last effort, 2012’s New Eyes. Leaving behind the Americana and folk stylings of New Eyes, Lightning Strikes veers more towards Pete Yorn than that of say Pete Yarrow. Kabler’s influence is felt in spades on the trembling “Patient Hearts,” another delicate study in celestial atmospherics and synth-driven luminescence. RG attempts Brit-rock melancholy on the freeing “Let It All Go,” which digs deeper than its two predecessors and makes for arguably the EP’s strongest effort. Like countless others, RG tries his hand at Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire,” and draws on Kubler’s breathy coos. At this point, “I’m on Fire” has been covered so many times, it is hard to approach a cover of it with an open mind, but RG and Kubler’s version is definitely unique. Sparse, inward and a bit more introspective the song has decidedly less passion than Springsteen’s but does have a sense of uniqueness, a hallmark of RG’s sound.

Lightning Strikes ends with an acoustic version of “Still Here” and if the song serves a purpose at all it is that it magnifies RG’s vocals in a way none of the previous four songs ever could. Voices like this are ones that should be treasured and are ones that can convey emotions in a way many of his contemporaries cannot. But for all of its charms and delights, Lightning Strikes still leaves the listener slightly underwhelmed. If RG releases an album by year’s end, then that position will have to be vacated, but if this is all RG has in his arsenal for this year, then he needs to know, he can do better. That and that alone is enough reason to keep Lightning Strikes as a reminder of what could be. Here’s hoping RG delivers with a full-length by year’s end. - Absolute Punk

To start, Pete RG offers a wonderful surprise to those who give this duo a try. From the first track, it’s easy to fall in love with the music featured on “Lightning Strikes.”

I have to say that I was completely captivated by the first track on this album, “Still Here.” The vocals are so unique and different that it wasn’t hard to listen to this album in its entirety.

Pete RG’s voice is rustic and soulful. In a way, RG’s voice sounds like an alternative version of Frank Sinatra. Along with co-producer Brina Kabler, this duo puts their listeners in a sort of trance with their music.

“Still Here” is the track that caught my attention the most. Because it’s the first track, it opens the listener’s ears and makes them not want the song to end. Not only are the words sweet and emotional, but the instruments pair so well with RG’s voice that it creates a calming and happy effect that makes you want to sit down and listen to the track over and over.

Later in the album, there is an acoustic version of the song that is just amazing. I’ve made it known in previous reviews that I love acoustic tracks, but I’ll reiterate it once again. There’s something magical about taking out all instruments besides a guitar that makes a song tug at your heart strings.

The other great song on this album is “I’m on Fire.” This song allows listeners to get a taste of the duo singing together on another acoustic track. This song captivated me just as much as “Still Here,” but my only complaint is that it’s two minutes shorter than the rest of the songs on the album.

While these songs hit it out of the park, the rest of the album couldn’t get me quite as excited. For instance, the track entitled “Patient Hearts” seemed to have a disconnection that made it difficult to enjoy.

Overall, this Los Angeles native duo is worth looking into, especially with such a unique vocal aspect. If Pete RG’s sound is one you enjoy, check out other groups like Rachel Mac & the Revival, Valeri Lopez, and Avi Vinocur. This group gets four stars out of five because, as I mentioned before, listening to this group has been a pleasant surprise. I would recommend them to fans of alternative, as well as fans of heavier music. - WSUS The Signpost

Here’s a sweet song with an arpeggiated finger-picked accompaniment. It’s “Still Here” from Pete RG.

Full, resonant vocals delivery a dreamy landscape of straightforward heartfelt sentiment.

The band version of the song originally appears on his new release, Lightning Strikes, which came out February 10.

RG shares, “‘Still Here’ was written on acoustic guitar, as are most of my songs. I was messing around one evening while Brina [Kabler, multi-instrumentalist/co-producer] was cooking us dinner and stumbled across the chorus, lyrics and melody. Brina chimed in with her background vocal right away. We looked at each other and knew we had something special.

"During that time, I was experimenting with alternate guitar tunings. I would grab the tuners and randomly tune a few strings up or down. I was looking to break comfortable writing habits. I did so while developing those first ideas for ‘Still Here’ and came across a tuning that allowed for the droning, finger picked part. The tuning is E-A-D#-F#-B-D#.

"Brina and I originally intended for there to only be an acoustic version of the song. No band. But, as we were recording the acoustic guitars, we created a loop for me to play to. The loop inspired some additional guitar ideas, and with that, we were off and running with the band version.”

At the core of Pete RG’s rustic yet soulful sound is a voice that reflects on the passing of time. “The fleeting preciousness of it is always my biggest lyrical inspiration,” reveals the singer-songwriter. “We all seem to find a way to waste time away, and it really frustrates me.” It’s a revelation that’s present within each song off of Pete RG’s latest effort, Lightning Strikes, which released on February 10.

Recorded and mixed primarily at RG’s personal studio in Santa Monica, CA, additional tracking and mixing was done by renowned engineer Brian Scheuble (U2, Elton John, Sheryl Crow).

Helping further bring Lightning Strikes to life was multi-instrumentalist/co-producer Brina Kabler, who RG refers to as his, “musical Swiss Army Knife,” and a massive influence musically.

Getting his start in music as the frontman of L.A. indie pop/Americana outfit Last December, RG wasted no time finding his own voice as a solo artist, with a debut full-length (2013’s New Eyes) and a slew of singles under his belt. However, Pete RG’s solo efforts have proven to be an even stronger collaborative effort, working closely with drummer Scotty Kormos and bassist Adam Kury along with Kabler.

“I wanted Last December to capture all the feelings and subtleties that I felt when I played the songs by myself,” recalls RG. “Now, I want to reveal as little as possible about myself while working with a band. I want Scotty and Adam to run as far as they can and take me somewhere else. It’s a much more fun and rewarding process than the earlier days.”

RG will be touring extensively in the U.S. in support of the EP with Kabler, Kury and Noah Lebenzon on lead guitar. While Kormos won’t be able to join RG on the road due to previous commitments, filling in will be Pearl Jam’s original drummer Dave Krusen. - Guitar World

Pete RG‘s post-rock sound packs enough power for him to be considered an arena rock contender while still remaining smooth and sophisticated. Today (Jan. 8), the singer-songwriter has released a lyric video for his song, ‘Still Here,’ off of his upcoming ‘Lighting Strikes’ EP release — you can check out above.
The song has a country edge to it while producing a U2-esque vibe, which is not surprising, given that engineer Brian Scheuble — who has worked with the likes of U2, Elton John and Sheryl Crow — was recruited for this release.
Lyrically, the song reflects on the passing of time, with RG stating, “The fleeting preciousness of it is always my biggest lyrical inspiration … We all seem to find a way to waste time away, and it really frustrates me.”
The ‘Lighting Strikes’ EP is due out on Feb. 10. Get more details at Pete RG’s official website here. - Diffuser

Pete RG strikes eardrums and emotions with his new musical effort ‘Lightning Strikes.’

Singer, song-writer Pete RG recently released his latest disc Lightning Strikes which was recorded in his personal studio in California. We got to talk to him about the creation of his new musical effort, what inspired it and bringing his deep, smooth, post rock sound out on the road for music fans to listen to live.

Check out a full list of tour dates where you can catch Pete RG as well as the lyric video for his new song “Still Here” at the bottom of the interview.

Talk about Lightning Strikes and what this title means to you?

Lightning Strikes is drawn from the song, “Still Here”. It refers to a moment of awareness, understanding and acceptance. Effectively, it’s an epiphany. In this particular case, it’s a moment of recognizing all the BS in life for what it really is and discarding it.

What usually inspired your lyrics for this EP?

I was inspired by feelings and events in my life. Writing lyrics is a cathartic and clarifying process. Cathartic, in that I am getting to, and letting out, my emotions. Clarifying, in that I am forced to hone in on the fundamental meaning of those emotions. Some people meditate. Some people drink beers. I write songs.

How was the recording and creative process for you to making this EP?

Because Brina [Kabler, multi-instrumentalist/co-producer] and I have our own recording studio, we have endless hours to create and explore. This is a blessing. But, it can also be a distraction. So we’ve learned that we’re better served by having me get the writing of a song well along before recording begins. The writing and creative process for Lightning Strikes followed this routine.

The melodies, chord changes and most of the lyrics for each song were written before recording began. Once a song was well developed, we brought in the band to collaborate on where to take it.


You’re gearing up for a tour in March, what for you is the most challenging and rewarding part about hitting the road?

There are a lot of moving parts involved in putting a band on the road. Keeping all those parts moving in sync is the most challenging. This is especially true with travel arrangements. But, staying physically and mentally healthy, while overseeing those moving parts, is a close 2nd! The most rewarding part of hitting the road is the “Mr. Toad's Wild Ride” adventure it brings!

What is one non-electronic that you must have on tour with you? Why?

Earplugs, for sleeping!

What are some dream artists of yours that you would love to tour with?

U2, The National, Arcade Fire, War On Drugs, Radiohead, My Morning Jacket, Band Of Horses, Leonard Cohen, Bruce Springsteen and Heartless Bastards to name a few. I love all these artists. They’ve all inspired me in one way or another. Plus, I’d love to see them live from the edge of the stage.

With Lightning Strikes released, what can we expect from you for the rest of 2015?

I’ll have a follow up EP in the late summer; probably August. Some of those songs are already recorded while others are still in the writing stage. I’m sure we’ll be touring in the fall in support of the follow up EP. - CHARGED.fm

Pete RG is a thoughtful and gifted singer-songwriter who has been making a name for himself in the world of music with his chilling voice, truthful lyrics and intrigue. Having recently finished a run of dates across the U.S., we had a conversation about what he appreciates about New York City and Los Angeles, meeting fans, finding himself as a musician and more.

Alex Obert: You’ve been playing in New York City as of late, what did you take out of that whole experience? I sense that someone like you would really appreciate it.

Pete RG: As an individual, I love being in New York City. I’m fortunate to go there a lot, playing shows for our fans in New York. Building new fans too. It’s just always great. It’s a nice change of pace from not just LA, but pretty much any other city. The energy on the streets, the energy in the venues, the people just have a very unique approach. It’s special to play there and nice to get great feedback and great support. It really is the same for the band too, everyone loves being there. Spending time there is just really inspiring.

Alex Obert: What goes through your head while walking around New York City? What does it mean to you?

Pete RG: I first went as a little kid to tag along with my dad on business trips. We don’t have buildings like that in Los Angeles. It’s just like this epic feeling. My family, they’re Greek immigrants. When they first came to the U.S., my dad and his siblings were in their teens. They landed at the Port of Manhattan and that was their first experience in the U.S. It was their first experience in a major city because they had grown up in a small village in the mountains of Southern Greece. They had never really seen running water, electricity, cars, for the most part. They have these stories how they were walking down the street and they were looking at the buildings and they were like mountains to them. They all have the same story, so I know there’s not a lot of embellishment going on. I always reflect on that too.

Alex Obert: How do you feel growing up in California helped shape you?

Pete RG: Venice is an odd place. (laughs) It’s changing tremendously right now. It’s getting gentrified, as are a lot of other formerly run-down neighborhoods across the U.S. Cleveland is going through a major overhaul. Growing up in this artsy, beachy, hippie community, there’s nowhere else I’d really rather be. I love to visit other cities and spend time there, but this is where I like to be permanently. This is home because the people are very open here for the most part. They like to think outside the box. There’s all these pop-up shops up and down every street. People have little shops in their garages. They’re making different kinds of clothes and little accessories for your phone. It’s just really kind of an entrepreneurial spirit, man. I enjoy that.

Alex Obert: When finding yourself as musician, did you ever take the opportunity to set down your guitar case and perform in the beach area for those passing by?

Pete RG: Crazy enough, I never did that here. But I did do it back on the East Coast. I did it in Baltimore. I used to play Fell’s Point a lot. It’s an old waterfront in Baltimore and a lot of the old buildings that housed the different businesses and warehouses on the docks, they were converted to bars and restaurants. They’re pretty small fifteen foot wide storefronts and they all have a Minstrel or a small band in front. I’ve done some busking there. I did some in Washington D.C. as well. So that’s where I experienced it, but actually never in LA. When I was home, I would just play venues.

Alex Obert: Through playing different venues across the country, what do you take out of meeting fans from all over?

Pete RG: Going to different towns and meeting different fans, that is, hands down, the most rewarding experience of being on the road. We were recently in Mississippi and it was like going to a foreign country. It’s hard to understand what the people say. (laughs) They speak with such a heavy southern drawl. You get to see how they live and how their manners are. They’re just incredibly polite. They are really appreciative of the efforts of musicians. It’s great to meet so many people within our own country who have such different ways of life. There’s different cultures, different ways in which they dress, different ways in which they speak. It’s interesting because music really is something that bonds everyone. People come up to me and they’re like, “You remind me of Neil Diamond.” I’ll get that everywhere I go. But then someone in each town will throw an off-the-wall one, someone I’ve never even heard of. A local artist or something like that.

Alex Obert: When you first started experimenting with music, how did you determine the vocal style that fit you the best? There’s those who establish themselves with high-pitched screams and others who go way down low.

Pete RG: Funny you should mention high-pitched screams cause we recently played Tucson last week and Randall Dempsey from The Desert Beats, he had the most incredible screech I’ve ever heard in my life. The whole band was talking about it. We want to fly him in and sample some of his screams. Regarding me, it’s pretty simple. I have a deep voice. I’m pretty much a bass. I can sing higher; I can sing baritone. That is what I often do. I can get up into a low tenor range. The fact that I’m a bass determines what register I sing in. Within that, it determines what I do stylistically. For instance, if I push my voice, which a past record label actually tried to have me do, it will sound okay. It sounds a little nasally, a little harsh at times. Ultimately, the big downfall is that it’s nothing special. “Okay, yeah, he sounds like another rock guy pushing his voice hard.” When I stay more relaxed, I sing within myself. That’s where I’m best and it sets the tone of where I should always be trying to be.

Alex Obert: As a fan of music, have you ever listened to a song that was so powerful that it brought you to tears?

Pete RG: I think that would have to do with timing. There have been times where I’ve heard a song and it shook me because it hit at a particular moment. There’s the Bright Eyes song, First Day of My Life. It’s a melancholy reflective love song and how he misses someone and wanting to make sure he stays with that person. I can’t say there are songs that consistently move me to tears, but there are songs where they play at just the right time. And then there are other songs where I hear them and I’m like, “Wow, I can’t believe someone actually wrote that. That’s amazing.” It’s not even a matter of wishing I had written that; I just appreciate the sheer genius of the writing. Revealing and so touching.

Alex Obert: Where do you draw the inspiration for your own lyrics? Do you rely more on real-life situations and influences or ideas you make up in your head?

Pete RG: The lyrics, phrases and a melody will come out at the same time. It will be something that just hits home with me and I don’t often even know where it came from. That’s the majority of the time. Then I sit with it and I’ll work it over and over again and I’ll hunt for the rest of the melody. I’ll hunt for the rest of the music that’s beneath it and whatever’s missing. I’ll work on the chord progression and the rhythm. The lyrics come out of me and it’s like I’m searching for the right word that matches the spirit of that moment. That’s when the melody and the lyric and the music meet at just the right spot. It means something to me. That comes from a personal experience and I will usually fill in the gaps with stuff that’s in my head or just hyperbolize to make the point that I feel simply because I’m having so many feelings in such a short amount of space.

Alex Obert: It’s important to reach out to those who buy your records and come out to see you perform, but what’s equally as important is reaching out to your friends and family. When you released Reaching For the Moon, how was their reaction?

Pete RG: It was really good. I think the first person we gave it to was my dad on the day I got it back from mastering. My dad happens to be a musician. We were actually on a family vacation and so I gave it to him. He got up the next morning and he was like, “Hey, I listened to it like two or three times. It’s great! The songs are really good. The lyrics are strong. Musically, you went in a completely different direction than I expected.” I had played him the songs just on an acoustic guitar and a keyboard right before we recorded them. In his mind, he thought that they were going to be a batch folk songs because of the way I played them. The songs were really influenced by the drum machine that we had written the songs with, as well as the keyboard parts. And there was the poppy electric guitars. That took him back, but he really enjoyed it. Across the board, family and friends were really into it. That’s always nice.

Alex Obert: One year from now, how do you hope to evolve as a musician and as a person?

Pete RG: As a person, I want to continue to push myself and challenge myself to be a better person. That means something as simple as eating better, especially when you’re on the road. Exercising consistently. And I want to learn to understand myself better. I sometimes have a tendency to get a little frustrated with things and get a little whiny. I want to try to temper that a little bit. I want to relax a little bit because right now, I’m seeing it myself and with everyone I talk to, we’re just inundated on a moment by moment basis. We’ve got these blips and bleeps and phones ringing at us and computer screens and everything, let’s keep that at bay a little bit. Let’s just step back and relax; let’s close things down. How that translates to music is that I want to do the same thing there. We have a lot of things going on right now with having our own label we’re setting up. We’re basically managing ourselves out of choice, not a necessity. We’re booking a lot of our shows out of choice. I want to take that and evolve with the foundation we’ve developed. I want to really hone in on what’s important, simplify it so we can keep our lives a little less hectic. I think that will manifest itself in that we’re gonna just let things come at us a little bit more with the music. We’re gonna be focusing more on what the music means to be played live, as opposed to what it means to be played recorded. We’re going to relax on the recording and push things more a little bit with the live show.

Alex Obert: A live performance can make it a completely different song in the best way possible.

Pete RG: Exactly. It’s like the recording will be the template, some basic tools you use to pull it off. Then we’re just gonna run with it live. That’s where it’s at these days and I don’t think that’s gonna change anytime soon. And it’s really a lot of fun.

Alex Obert: It makes you look forward to a live show every time because you never know what’s gonna happen. It can really be something different every time and each song can take on a new life.

Pete RG: A hundred percent.

Alex Obert: On that note, I’d love to thank you so much for your time and sharing a piece of your story with me.

Pete RG: Definitely. I really appreciate it, Alex. - Journey Of A Frontman

Formerly frontman of Los Angeles indie-pop/American band Last December, Pete RG broke out as a solo artist in 2013 with his debut full-length New Eyes. The follow-up, Lightning Strikes, came out last month and features this very enjoyable song. Reminds us a bit of The National, albeit with a more uplifting message than those angst-ridden Brooklynites are known for. Must be the California sun. Check it out. - The Big Takeover

Two interesting acts are coming to Philadelphia on March 26 — Pete RG at the North Star (2639 Poplar Street, Philadelphia, 215-787-0488, http://www.northstarbar.com) and Title Fight at Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com).

Pete RG, a singer-songwriter from Venice, California, writes songs that are deep and insightful and sings them with a voice that is deep and mellifluous. In 2012, he began his solo career with a debut album called “New Eyes.”

Prior to that, he was the lead singer of the L.A.-based indie-pop band Last December and performed using his birth name — Peter Argyropoulos. When he departed Last December, he brought his musical partner/life partner Brina Kabler along with him.

Pete RG is now touring in support of his new EP “Lightning Strikes,” which was released in February. The EP was recorded and mixed primarily at RG’s personal studio in Santa Monica with the assistance of multi-instrumentalist/co-producer Kabler, who RG refers to as his, “musical Swiss Army Knife.”

“We recorded ‘Lightning Strikes’ over the last year,” said RG, during a recent phone interview from his home in southern California. “We recorded all of it at my home studio except for the song ‘Still Here.’

“In the past, I’d work on music at home and then would bounce around different studios. I decided I want something more permanent here on the West Side. An opportunity with space came up so I decided to go for it.”

RG has music in his DNA.

“My parents were musicians — struggling musicians in the 60s and 70s,” said RG. “They gave me the itch. I started playing in bands when I was in college. I never played guitar growing up — instead I was playing drums, clarinet and keyboards.

“In my senior year in high school, I was bored so I started taking guitar lessons. In college, I met another guitarist and he needed a singer for his cover band.”

RG’s music career started with Last December 16 years ago — a band most known for its highly-acclaimed album titled “Hailstorm.”.

“Last December started in 2009 and was my project,” said RG. “I was the leader of the band. We had a really successful indie record. We signed with a major label and had different sessions with different producers. Once the band was done, I started producing different acts.

“And, I was writing music for television. After doing that for a couple years, I looked at the changes in the music industry and decided it was time to be an artist again. My first solo project was ‘New Eyes’. It actually did pretty well. I was going to tour it in 2012 but I got busy with my studio instead.

“The songs for ‘Lightning Strikes’ were all brand new songs. We wanted to keep it simple. I write all the songs but it was a collaborative process with Brina. Now, we’re touring in support of the EP and we’re coming east.”

RG is very familiar with eastern Pennsylvania.

“I went to Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster,” said RG.”I had a great time. Coming from L.A., Lancaster County was sleepy but the people were great.”

The show at the North Star will have co-headliners — Dave Parnell and Peter RG, whose band features Dave Krusen from Pearl Jam and Adam Kury from Candlebox. Tickets are $12 at the door. - Unionville Times

Pete RG will release his new EP Lightning Strikes on February 10th. RG got his start as the frontman of Last December, and released his debut solo album in 2013. The first single from Lightning Strikes is “Still Here,” which you can watch the lyric video for below. His voice is absolutely incredible and should appeal to fans of everything from Johnny Cash to folk rock. Additional details are below.

At the core of Pete RG’s rustic yet soulful sound is a voice that reflects on the passing of time. “The fleeting preciousness of it is always my biggest lyrical inspiration,” reveals the singer-songwriter. “We all seem to find a way to waste time away, and it really frustrates me.” It’s a revelation that’s present within each song off of Pete RG’s latest effort, Lightning Strikes, to be released on February 10. Recorded and mixed primarily at RG’s personal studio in Santa Monica, CA, additional tracking and mixing was done by renowned engineer Brian Scheuble (U2, Elton John, Sheryl Crow).

Helping further bring Lightning Strikes to life was multi-instrumentalist/co-producer Brina Kabler, who RG refers to as his, “musical Swiss Army Knife,” and a massive influence musically. Yet it was the two’s personal bond that directly inspired the track, “Still Here.” “In a close-to-heart sense, it’s an allusion to the early days of my personal relationship with Brina. We had to go through our share of struggles. But, we made it through,” reveals RG. “One evening, while we were having dinner, I was messing around on guitar and stumbled on the chorus lyrics and melody. Brina immediately joined in with her haunting background vocal and boom, the song was there. In many ways, that moment defined us. The bigger-picture theme of ‘Still Here’ is about sincerely listening to another person; the purpose being to understand and communicate with them in spite of our knee-jerk fears and reactions.”

Watch the lyric video for “Still Here”:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZniHPpdM5ps

Getting his start in music as the frontman of L.A. indie pop/Americana outfit Last December, RG wasted no time finding his own voice as a solo artist, with a debut full-length (2013’s New Eyes) and a slew of singles under his belt. However, Pete RG’s solo efforts have proven to be an even stronger collaborative effort, working closely with drummer Scotty Kormos and bassist Adam Kury along with Kabler. “I wanted Last December to capture all the feelings and subtleties that I felt when I played the songs by myself,” recalls RG. “Now, I want to reveal as little as possible about myself while working with a band. I want Scotty and Adam to run as far as they can and take me somewhere else. It’s a much more fun and rewarding process than the earlier days.”

RG will be touring extensively in the U.S. in support of the EP with Kabler, Kury and Noah Lebenzon on lead guitar. While Kormos won’t be able to join RG on the road due to previous commitments, filling in will be Pearl Jam’s original drummer Dave Krusen. Regarding what fans can expect from the band in a live setting, RG explains “It’s a certainty that every song will be somewhat different every night. The changes aren’t planned, they’re just felt. It could be the venue that sways us one way and the atmosphere of the crowd that sways us another. Whichever way, nothing’s ever quite the same. That’s the most fun part about it for us; it’s always a little adventure.” - Cosmos Gaming

At the core of Pete RG’’s rustic yet soulful sound is a voice that reflects on the passing of time. “The fleeting preciousness of it is always my biggest lyrical inspiration,” reveals the singer-songwriter. “We all seem to find a way to waste time away, and it really frustrates me.” It’s a revelation that’s present within each song off of Pete RG’s latest effort, Lightning Strikes, to be released on February 10. Recorded and mixed primarily at RG’s personal studio in Santa Monica, CA, additional tracking and mixing was done by renowned engineer Brian Scheuble (U2, Elton John, Sheryl Crow).

Helping further bring Lightning Strikes to life was multi-instrumentalist/co-producer Brina Kabler, who RG refers to as his, “musical Swiss Army Knife,” and a massive influence musically. Yet it was the two’s personal bond that directly inspired the track, “Still Here.” “In a close-to-heart sense, it’s an allusion to the early days of my personal relationship with Brina. We had to go through our share of struggles. But, we made it through,” reveals RG. “One evening, while we were having dinner, I was messing around on guitar and stumbled on the chorus lyrics and melody. Brina immediately joined in with her haunting background vocal and boom, the song was there. In many ways, that moment defined us. The bigger-picture theme of ‘Still Here’ is about sincerely listening to another person; the purpose being to understand and communicate with them in spite of our knee-jerk fears and reactions.”

Getting his start in music as the frontman of L.A. indie pop/Americana outfit Last December, RG wasted no time finding his own voice as a solo artist, with a debut full-length (2013’s New Eyes) and a slew of singles under his belt. However, Pete RG’s solo efforts have proven to be an even stronger collaborative effort, working closely with drummer Scotty Kormos and bassist Adam Kury along with Kabler. “I wanted Last December to capture all the feelings and subtleties that I felt when I played the songs by myself,” recalls RG. “Now, I want to reveal as little as possible about myself while working with a band. I want Scotty and Adam to run as far as they can and take me somewhere else. It’s a much more fun and rewarding process than the earlier days.”

RG will be touring extensively in the U.S. in support of the EP with Kabler, Kury and Noah Lebenzon on lead guitar. While Kormos won’t be able to join RG on the road due to previous commitments, filling in will be Pearl Jam’s original drummer Dave Krusen. Regarding what fans can expect from the band in a live setting, RG explains “It’s a certainty that every song will be somewhat different every night. The changes aren’t planned, they’re just felt. It could be the venue that sways us one way and the atmosphere of the crowd that sways us another. Whichever way, nothing’s ever quite the same. That’s the most fun part about it for us; it’s always a little adventure.” - Music News Nashville

At the core of Pete RG's rustic yet soulful sound is a voice that reflects on the passing of time.

"The fleeting preciousness of it is always my biggest lyrical inspiration," reveals the singer-songwriter. "We all seem to find a way to waste time away, and it really frustrates me."

It's a revelation that's present within each song off of Pete RG's latest effort, Lightning Strikes, to be released on February 10. Recorded and mixed primarily at RG's personal studio in Santa Monica, CA, additional tracking and mixing was done by renowned engineer Brian Scheuble (U2, Elton John, Sheryl Crow).

Helping further bring Lightning Strikes to life was multi-instrumentalist/co-producer Brina Kabler, who RG refers to as his, "musical Swiss Army Knife," and a massive influence musically. Yet it was the two's personal bond that directly inspired the track, "Still Here."

"In a close-to-heart sense, it's an allusion to the early days of my personal relationship with Brina. We had to go through our share of struggles. But, we made it through," reveals RG. "One evening, while we were having dinner, I was messing around on guitar and stumbled on the chorus lyrics and melody. Brina immediately joined in with her haunting background vocal and boom, the song was there. In many ways, that moment defined us. The bigger-picture theme of 'Still Here' is about sincerely listening to another person; the purpose being to understand and communicate with them in spite of our knee-jerk fears and reactions." - Broadway World

We caught up with Pete RG to find out about his new record Reaching For The Moon, cool collaborators and touring life. The songwriter brings a rustic yet modern charm to everything he touches and has been gifted with a somber yet not overly obnoxious and self-important voice that doesn't have to rely on gimmicks to make you feel moved, just old fashioned talent and personality.

Spacelab: How is it going? Looking forward to your Piano's residency? That's prestigious. A well respected club.

Pete RG: Everything's great, thanks! I've been over the top busy for the past several weeks prepping for this tour as well as the release of Reaching For The Moon. I think I've been averaging about 4 hours of sleep a night. So I'm a loopy, but in a good way' I'm really looking forward to the Piano's residency as well as the rest of our two week run through the Northeast. I feel honored and the band feels horned to have the Pianos residency. In fact, Pianos offered us a 4th Saturday, but we couldn't do it due to a schedule conflict. That would've been amazing, though. A full month based out of NYC at such a great venue.

Spacelab: How did Reaching For The Moon come about?

Pete RG: I don't remember because it happened so fast. Seriously! Brina [Kabler, multi-instrumentalist/co-producer] and I knew we wanted to record the follow up to the Lightning Strikes EP as soon as we finished our spring dates in support of that release. We had a batch of strong songs ready to go, but as we prepped for the spring tour, a new group of songs started to emerge. I finished them off in and out of tour dates. Once we got the band in the studio in mid-May, we all decided to go with the new songs that we'd been tinkering with while on the road. A month later, the recordings were done. A couple of weeks after that, they were mixed and mastered. That's pretty quick for me. In fact, while doing the vocals in the later stages of recording, I would be looking at the lyric sheets and thinking, 'Who wrote these? Was it me?' I think the 14 hours a day, 7 days a week schedule for 6 weeks made things a blur.

Spacelab: Do you like to wear your heart on your sleeve or prefer a little distance and interpretation on the listener's part?

Pete RG: Ooh, good question! I like both, but I'm a pretty direct person. So my natural tendency is to wear my heart on my sleeve. I like clarity and a good story.

Spacelab: How did you get to know Dave Krusen? Always enjoyed his playing. He was a favorite of my first drummer years ago and we would ape his fills while driving, haha.

Pete RG: I know Dave through my good friend and bassist, Adam Kury. He and Dave are in Candlebox and have worked on other projects together. In fact, Brina did a few shows with them as a background singer for some U.S. dates backing up Ida Maria. The first time I got to see him play was one of those shows. It was a sold out show at the Roxy. Adam on bass. Brina singing. Dave killing it on drums. Very cool! When my long-time drummer, Scotty Kormos, was unavailable for the spring tour, Adam recruited Dave. I've been told Dave's very selective on the gigs he chooses, so it's a blessing to have him in my band, especially playing with Adam.

Spacelab: What made "Divine" your choice for first single? Not that anything is wrong with it, but I mean comparatively to the others? Is it your favorite child, haha?

Pete RG: It was a team choice. Myself, Brina and Alex Moreno (the general manager of my imprint label, 4L Entertainment) felt it was the lead track. When we presented the EP to our radio and PR firm, The Syndicate, they felt the same. It's a good toe tapper with a great guitar riff thanks to Kevin (Haaland, guitarist). Yet, it has the signature sound of my low, low, low voice as well as some interesting lyrics. A clear choice. Whew!

Spacelab: I like your stuff or Conny Ochs where you can hear that the singer could work with stripped music or a full band. At the same time teamwork is important, something I was just talking about with David Lowery of Cracker. How do you temper your own vision with allowing space for the players brought on to the project to breathe their own life into the songs?

Pete RG: Nearly all of my writing is done on acoustic guitar. I work the melody, the underlying chordal harmony and the lyrics so that they stand on their own, even in the most stripped down presentation. For me, it's all about the song. In fact, when I first played the songs for RFTM on acoustic guitar for my dad, a songwriter himself, he assumed I would be making a rootsy record. He was happily surprised with the band interpretations since the acoustic versions worked so well.

There was a time when I wanted to control every note and harmony that was made, every beat that was played and every sound created. I made some good recordings that way, but it was very painful; kind of like pulling your own teeth. Plus, it was kind of isolating because it created a barrier between myself and those who I was working with to make the recordings by limiting their contributions. Once I matured and realized that no song is all that precious, I became more open to outside input. Consequently, not only did the recordings blossom more, my writing did, too. I've learned to let go without losing sight of my vision. It's very liberating and enjoyable, not to mention artistically productive and physically healthy!

Spacelab: Do you tend to write more when travelling or are you a lock yourself in a room and come out wild eyed with a masterpiece Syd Barrett type with no friends (haha, joke!)?

Pete RG: I write all the time whether at home or traveling. I think writing's more about discipline than inspiration. You've got to keep at it day after day to discover and recognize moments of inspiration. Likewise, you've got to keep at it day after day to make something of them. Writing's as much a learned skill as is any other occupation. The more you do it and the more you push yourself out of your safety zone, the better you'll get at it.

Spacelab: What has kept you encouraged and "reaching for the moon" in the current musical climate?

Pete RG: I'm not one to pay too much attention to the musical climate. I'm busy making music because it's a way of life I love and can't do without. If the climate's rainy, I'll put out a bucket and capture water. If it's sunny, I'll get a solar panel. If it's cold, I'll build an igloo. In other words, I'll do whatever I can think of to keep doing it because I love making music.
- See more at: http://www.thespacelab.tv/Music-Features/2015/09-September/002-Pete-RG-Interview.html#sthash.eNLLEX0r.dpuf - Spacelab