Practically Einstein

By Derek Simmonsen
SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published March 16, 2006
________________________________________

Like many a local band before them, Practically Einstein came together with the help of blind luck and a newspaper classified ad.
The harder part was coming up with a name.
As singer and guitarist Brad Pugh explains it, he came to the District from Charlottesville in the mid-1990s and drafted an ad looking for musicians who shared his love for the bands Wilco and Buffalo Tom. He met some interesting people - including drummer-vocalist-songwriter Dave Moran and bassist Paul Schmidtke - though it wasn't Mr. Pugh's musical tastes that drew them in.
"The funny thing is, neither of the guys knew who those bands were when they answered the ad," Mr. Pugh says. "But we did kind of click musically."
They play tonight at Iota Club and Cafe in Arlington in a show to celebrate the release of their new four-song EP, "Pressing the Flesh and Other Steps to Success."
With a shared love of rock songs with strong hooks and hummable melodies, the three began playing and writing songs together in their spare time. Chemistry came easy, but getting a good band name was far trickier, Mr. Pugh says.
The current name came when Mr. Moran made a smart remark and a friend replied, sarcastically, "Oh, yeah, you're practically Einstein."
Several years into the band, Mr. Pugh was playing an acoustic show by himself in a bar when a stranger asked to sit in with him - and Mr. Pugh was pleasantly surprised by the man's guitar skills.
Thus the three-piece became a quartet and guitarist Rob Kuczynski joined the crew.
The band plans to use "Pressing the Flesh" as a calling card, something to give out at shows and perhaps catch the notice of an independent label.
"We put a lot more work into it than we initially thought we would," Mr. Pugh says. "With everyone's crazy schedules, it took a little over a year to really make it happen."
It's not the group's first experience with studio recording. They released the self-produced album "I Want To" in 1998 and "From The Other Side of the Window" in 2002, an 11-song CD that can be found through independent Web sites online. It's a good introduction to the band's sound.
Practically Einstein remains devoted to original music, with rock songs that take a cue from pop music and aren't afraid to have sing-along choruses. Mr. Pugh remains proud that the band can bridge the gap between "rough around the edges" indie rock and the all-too-slick sound of commercial radio.
Local music fans have likely stumbled over one of their live shows over the years, and the band is hoping to increase its fan base with the new batch of songs. The EP, Mr. Pugh says, allowed them to focus on making the songs the best they could be; the result is an effort they are proud to show off.
While Mr. Pugh still plays solo shows (and many as a duo with Mr. Kuczynski), the Iota show marks a return to the full band playing regular shows together after a semi-hiatus. Nearly a decade later, Mr. Pugh's classified ad has led to a strong musical friendship that sounds like it's just getting going.
"It's nobody's band," Mr. Pugh says. "It's our group, our music and there are no rules."
***
- Washington Times

Practically Einstein
written by Ellen Scheuermann

Just think of all the great things that come in packs of 12: Eggs, donuts, roses, cheap beer — heck, that sounds like a fun summer we spent back in college. What also comes in 12 is our series of featured artists each year. In 2008, we highlighted a dozen bands that should be on your radar. In the coming pages, we give you a more intimate look at these local acts that are On the Verge.

When On Tap sat down with Brad Pugh, lead vocalist of Practically Einstein, we had to ask: How did the band get its name? Could this Arlington quartet be a bunch of disgruntled ex-physicists? Or is the odd moniker an allusion to Albert’s infamous ‘do? According to Pugh, the band chose its name, at least in part, because no one else had.

“We were called Slowpoke, but we found out there were several bands called Slowpoke,” he said. “Who would’ve thought?”
In the end it was drummer Dave Moran’s intolerance for sass that saved the day.

“Dave came up with some comment he made to a friend, who was being a smart aleck, ‘Oh, you’re practically Einstein,’” Pugh said. “[We thought,] ‘If anyone else has that name, we’ll just quit.’”

It’s been 10 years since that conversation, and Pugh, Moran, guitarist Rob Kuczynski and bassist Phil Saraceno are busy as ever, winning fans with their energetic live performances and clever, occasionally wry lyrics. They also underwent a lineup change in May (Saraceno is the new guy). But if they slowed down during the transition, no one seemed to notice; that same month they won On Tap’s Battle of the Bands. It was their first gig together with Saraceno, and their performance secured them an opening spot for OK Go at Celebrate Fairfax in June.

If all that wasn’t enough for one year, Practically Einstein spent time recording at Inner Ear Studio and mixing with Don Zientara (past clientele includes local legends Bad Brains and Fugazi). The band’s sound is indomitable and full of infectious riffs.

“I grew up in the ‘80s so I listened to Billy Idol,” Pugh said. “He had a lot of energy. I never wanted to be Mr. Rock Star, but I grew up listening to that stuff.”

Whatever their intention may be, a touch of the rebel yell shines through, giving Practically Einstein the jaunty confidence of a wiseass older brother. A yet-to-be-titled EP is slated for release in early 2009, and plans for further recording sessions are already in the works.

While Practically Einstein is gaining more attention, it’s clear that recognition is not the foremost concern. Pugh expressed a healthy wariness of major labels and the potential for artistic compromise.

“Five years ago if someone said, ‘We want to sign you,’ I would’ve been all over it,” Pugh said. “Today, we’d probably think twice about it.”

Instead, he describes the future of the band in terms of more personal aims.

“Of course I need to go out and perform for audiences and they need to like me, but I’m doing it my own way. At the end of the day I only have myself to please or to blame.”

For more information on Practically Einstein, visit www.practicallyeinstein.com. - On Tap Magazine

Posted Monday, April 24 2006 02:32:18 am
By Catherine Finn and Kimberly Berryman
Daily Colonial Staff Writer

Practically Einstein is making waves in the local music scene, calling themselves “disgruntled physicists” and offering a hard-to-classify sound that falls somewhere in the alternate rock scene.
The band will be performing on UVA’s campus this Thursday and at Clyde’s in Chevy Chase on May 12.

Their third and latest EP, “Pressing the Flesh and Other Steps to Success,” features the band’s smart and biting lyrics, accompanied by a sound running the gamut from soulful melodies to rougher rock.

Comprised of singer and guitarist Brad Pugh, drummer Dave Moran, bassist Paul Scmidtke, and guitarist Rob Kuczynski, guitarist, the Arlington-based group met through an advertisement in the City Paper.

“Besides the fact that we're not at all formulaic, and our songs do not all sound exactly the same, our lyrics are not the typical prosaic and banal lyrics that you find so often in rock and pop music,” Pugh said in an interview.
The band cheekily proclaims “you will hate to love us,” and seem to thoroughly enjoy their rocker status.

Speaking of the band’s muse, Pugh said, “It used to be Jagermeister. We learned better…Jagermeister, medication, and raw oysters do not always mix well. They can induce projectile vomiting mid-song and cause an abrupt and violent end to a show. Now our muse is Minerva, and the quest for knowledge.”

Aside from being popular in the Washington metro area, Practically Einstein has had European exposure. They previously toured in England are currently preparing to re-release their second CD, “From the Other Side of the Window,” in Germany.
“To have our music connect with people in another part of the world was extremely heartening and inspiring,” Pugh said.

Practically Einstein’s fun and boisterous energy is apparent from their songs and their performances. Pugh said he tells audience members to “know your periodic table. And you'll be better off with a bit of booze in you.”
Reflecting on the band’s legacy, he added, “We had good songs. We laughed, we cried, we loved, we raged. We drank, we ran over some equipment with our car, we fought, we did a few unmentionable things. We played to ten thousand, we played to one. We experience the range and depth of the human experience of both interaction and solace. And hopefully some of that found its way into our music.”

For more information on Practically Einstein visit their website at www.practicallyeinstein.com.
- Daily Colonial (GWU)

Posted Monday, April 24 2006 02:32:18 am
By Catherine Finn and Kimberly Berryman
Daily Colonial Staff Writer

Practically Einstein is making waves in the local music scene, calling themselves “disgruntled physicists” and offering a hard-to-classify sound that falls somewhere in the alternate rock scene.
The band will be performing on UVA’s campus this Thursday and at Clyde’s in Chevy Chase on May 12.

Their third and latest EP, “Pressing the Flesh and Other Steps to Success,” features the band’s smart and biting lyrics, accompanied by a sound running the gamut from soulful melodies to rougher rock.

Comprised of singer and guitarist Brad Pugh, drummer Dave Moran, bassist Paul Scmidtke, and guitarist Rob Kuczynski, guitarist, the Arlington-based group met through an advertisement in the City Paper.

“Besides the fact that we're not at all formulaic, and our songs do not all sound exactly the same, our lyrics are not the typical prosaic and banal lyrics that you find so often in rock and pop music,” Pugh said in an interview.
The band cheekily proclaims “you will hate to love us,” and seem to thoroughly enjoy their rocker status.

Speaking of the band’s muse, Pugh said, “It used to be Jagermeister. We learned better…Jagermeister, medication, and raw oysters do not always mix well. They can induce projectile vomiting mid-song and cause an abrupt and violent end to a show. Now our muse is Minerva, and the quest for knowledge.”

Aside from being popular in the Washington metro area, Practically Einstein has had European exposure. They previously toured in England are currently preparing to re-release their second CD, “From the Other Side of the Window,” in Germany.
“To have our music connect with people in another part of the world was extremely heartening and inspiring,” Pugh said.

Practically Einstein’s fun and boisterous energy is apparent from their songs and their performances. Pugh said he tells audience members to “know your periodic table. And you'll be better off with a bit of booze in you.”
Reflecting on the band’s legacy, he added, “We had good songs. We laughed, we cried, we loved, we raged. We drank, we ran over some equipment with our car, we fought, we did a few unmentionable things. We played to ten thousand, we played to one. We experience the range and depth of the human experience of both interaction and solace. And hopefully some of that found its way into our music.”

For more information on Practically Einstein visit their website at www.practicallyeinstein.com.
- Daily Colonial (GWU)

Practically Einstein hail from Arlington, Virginia, in North America. This, their first album, took the band a year to record and it is well worth the time and effort they put in.

Every track is a winning combination of punchy drums, well-played guitars and confident vocals and lyrics.
Faithful Boy kicks off the album, with no lack of attitude - think of a more melodic and grown-up Blink 182 or heavier Semi Sonic and you would not be far off their sound.

Practically Einstein take all the best bits from American nu-wave and guitar rock/pop, and glue them together with their own style, to produce a sound that is energetic and powerful without being over the top.

Other impressive tracks include Here to Decay, Pantomime, and Sicker Than You and any of the 11 songs are strong enough to be released as singles.

Getting the CD released in the UK was organised with the help of Hull's Glenn Williams, who became involved with promoting the band in the UK.

He passed a copy of the CD to RP Media, who then struck a deal to distribute it through the UK's biggest independent distribution company, Pinnacle.

Copies of the album should be on the shelves of major record stores, as well as being available pre-release from Fox's Music, or on www.amazon.com (where you can also obtain their previous US-only album, I Want To).
Or try the band's website, www.practicallyeinstein.com for more news and some free MP3s to download.
- Darren Bunting

Practically Einstein to play Celebrate Fairfax
Arlington group wins Battle of the Bands competition

written by
Robert Fulton

Let’s get this straight. Practically Einstein only recently replaced their long-time bass player, Paul Schmidtke, with Phil Saraceno. The Arlington-based indie rock/pop outfit had just a few rehearsals with their new line up. Yet still the long-time act rocked Continental Modern Pool Lounge in Rosslyn last month, winning On Tap Magazine’s battle of the bands and earning themselves a spot opening for OK Go at this year’s Celebrate Fairfax Festival.

So how did they manage to make the transition so smoothly?

“He felt like a good fit,” said Practically Einstein lead singer Brad Pugh. “His love of music is genuine.”

Practically Einstein had known for a while they were to lose the services of Paul, who is moving out of the area. This enable the remaining members — which include Dave Moran on drums and Rob Kuczynski on guitar — to methodically search for a replacement.

“What it did was give us time to meet a lot of bass player,” said Pugh, who jokingly refers to some of those bass players who auditioned as simply “bass owners.”

Pugh asked prospective bass players to learn a handful of songs from the band’s Myspace page and perform them. Phil blew them away.

“He not only played the songs, he nailed them,” said Pugh. “This was a perfect fit.”

Practically Einstein has been kicking around for 10 years now, and has three albums to their credit. The band lately has been in a lull, but with a new member on board, the future looks busy. The group plans to play a number of shows this summer, and they have a handful of tracks they’re working on in the studio.

“This is a new era of Practically Einstein,” said Pugh. “We’re excited. What a way to kick the summer off.”

Catch Practically Einstein at Celebrate Fairfax at 7:15 p.m. on June 6 on the SI International Rock ‘n’ Blues Stage. - On Tap Magazine

Practically Einstein to play Celebrate Fairfax
Arlington group wins Battle of the Bands competition

written by
Robert Fulton

Let’s get this straight. Practically Einstein only recently replaced their long-time bass player, Paul Schmidtke, with Phil Saraceno. The Arlington-based indie rock/pop outfit had just a few rehearsals with their new line up. Yet still the long-time act rocked Continental Modern Pool Lounge in Rosslyn last month, winning On Tap Magazine’s battle of the bands and earning themselves a spot opening for OK Go at this year’s Celebrate Fairfax Festival.

So how did they manage to make the transition so smoothly?

“He felt like a good fit,” said Practically Einstein lead singer Brad Pugh. “His love of music is genuine.”

Practically Einstein had known for a while they were to lose the services of Paul, who is moving out of the area. This enable the remaining members — which include Dave Moran on drums and Rob Kuczynski on guitar — to methodically search for a replacement.

“What it did was give us time to meet a lot of bass player,” said Pugh, who jokingly refers to some of those bass players who auditioned as simply “bass owners.”

Pugh asked prospective bass players to learn a handful of songs from the band’s Myspace page and perform them. Phil blew them away.

“He not only played the songs, he nailed them,” said Pugh. “This was a perfect fit.”

Practically Einstein has been kicking around for 10 years now, and has three albums to their credit. The band lately has been in a lull, but with a new member on board, the future looks busy. The group plans to play a number of shows this summer, and they have a handful of tracks they’re working on in the studio.

“This is a new era of Practically Einstein,” said Pugh. “We’re excited. What a way to kick the summer off.”

Catch Practically Einstein at Celebrate Fairfax at 7:15 p.m. on June 6 on the SI International Rock ‘n’ Blues Stage. - On Tap Magazine