There once was a car that was cheap, the fastest car on the street. You could own it if you were poor and couldn’t afford more, but still … the car could never be beat. And thus, the “Poor Man’s Ferrari” became a classic machine worth more than 10 times its original listing price. Now there’s a band with the same ambition, with characteristics much like the car by the same name. Local band Poor Man’s Ferrari is building up its value with a debut CD, One-Way High-Way (recorded at Stepbridge Studios and produced by Tim Stroh) and live performances that are always original.“We’re actually much more comfortable doing live shows. The studio is a very uncomfortable place for us,” says drummer Le Bam. Listening to the record, you would never believe it. Although the musicians are self-taught, they draw from ’70s rock stylings. Hard driving rhythms and in-your-face bass make this an album that’s easy to get addicted to.“Our influence is definitely classic rock,” says PMF front man Jerry Parliament, “but we’re always influenced by the tunes we hear every day and we bring that with us when we play.” Similarly, Parliament says his songwriting is shaped by his bandmates. “I don’t want vocals to be the focal point of the music. I listen to what they’re doing and try to become a part of the music like another instrument.” As far as cultivating their diverse and dynamic stage presence, bassist Professor OMD says “even if there are only eight people in the crowd, just play like there are 8,000.”Being a part of a tightknit music community, the boys of PMF make it a point to support other local bands when they can. “We like the energy of the Hollis Wake, La Junta, Meat the Vegans,” says Le Bam. “We like to see our crowd and other bands’ crowds come dig on each other. When the scene can work together, we’re there as fans, too.”The band likes to calls themselves “the Protectors of Rock ’n’ Roll,” and it seems like they’re only half-joking. “There needs to be movement where it changes lives," guitarist Donny Fabulous says. "There was a time when rock ’n’ roll stood for something, now it’s so dumbed down. Walk the talk.”Hoping to eventually quit their days jobs, go on tour and record another album, the band is driving as fast and furiously as the car they’re named for and doesn’t plan to stop.
There's an upcoming PMF show at Ralli’s Fourth Street Pub and Grill on Thursday, May 24. In the meantime, you can hear more of their album and chat with the band at www.myspace.com/poormansferrari.
