'Perpetual' jammers groove in to Athens

By: MARIA DANELLO

Posted: 2/8/07

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While the cold weather may plague people on the streets of Athens Saturday night, fans inside the Georgia Theatre will be warm, taking in the sweet sounds of Perpetual Groove.

Even though Perpetual Groove - a band that consists of Brock Butler (guitar, vocals), Matt McDonald (keyboard), Adam Perry (bass) and Albert Suttle (drums) - has only toured for the last four years, the group has quickly become an impressive touring organization. They play Saturday night at the Georgia Theatre.

PGroove's roots are in the jamband community but PGroove's music has an original sound that touches on the various genres of jazz, rock, electronica and hip-hop.

PGroove is known for its diverse range of covers, but its original jams that command onlookers' attention spans and drive their emotions are what keep fans wanting more.

"Things that are universal ... life, sorrow, love, loss, beauty - everyone feels these things. We all feel them in different ways, and people deal and connect with these emotions in their own personal way," McDonald said. "These things that inspire us all in our day to day lives are what inspire our music."

"LIVELOVEDIE," PGroove's third studio album, which will be released March 6, was the first time the band had the opportunity to go into the studio and write songs with its producer Robert Hannon.

Grammy award-winner Hannon is most notably famous for working with Outkast on its album "Speakerboxxx and the Love Below."

The members of PGroove used their time with Hannon to write new songs and trim up the existing songs they wanted on the album.

"This album was much more of a co-produced album with Perpetual Groove and Robert Hannon as opposed to Robert being the producer," McDonald said.

PGroove focused its time in the studio well and took the opportunity to get the album just right.

"When we recorded 'LIVELOVEDIE,' we had been together for five years," McDonald said. "It is our third album, we have been on the road together for four years, and we just knew what we wanted to do."

"This album reflects the changes we are making as a band and how we have grown as musicians, friends, and people," McDonald said.