at the Saint in Asbury Park, New Jersey USA
by Melanie Sanko
As I walked through the Saint in Asbury Park, New Jersey trying to find Ryan Gentles from The Selzers for the first time, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I scoped out the Saint and low and behold, I found the young, talented Mr. Ian Cartwright. Not too far after Ian was the black haired, happy Mr. Gentles.
They were two snazzy chaps minus two donned out in polyester suits raring to jam with the crowd. They were styling and ready to go on after their friends Evelyn Forever.
The unsigned Selzers have a sound similar to Weezer but have a sound that they can call their own with songs like Blind date and Cheerleader. The songs and their performance are two elements of pop music that cannot be surpassed. On and off stage this band is full of energy and one great laugh that they take very seriously but they love to have a good time with their audience.
During an extended phone interview with The Selzers, Ryan Gentles had quite a bit to share with rockazine.com
Melanie: Where did the band get the name The Selzers from?
Ryan Gentles: An x band member and I worked at a record store together when we were getting the band together. At this time we didn't have a name for the band so we would play shows without a name for ourselves. We came up with the name while working with this guy named Hal Selzer. He was just a real nice guy that we all like a lot. So we named the band after him. He is a local musician that helps us out a lot of times by passing our music out to people.
Melanie: How long have you guys been together?
Ryan Gentles: With all current members, it will be two years this June.
Melanie: Did you and the guys grow up together?
Ryan Gentles: Well, Ian and I went to middle school together and we started this band up and then the original band I was in broke up so I took the bass player and the drummer. Gary and I went to the same high school together and he came into the band.
Melanie: I noticed that Ian has a Buddy Holly look, what other influences do you guys have?
Ryan Gentles: Definitely Buddy Holly is an influence on Ian but Ian is a big Elvis and Morissey fan. Every time he puts on those glasses he goes for that Buddy Holly look. As far as song writing, it's basically Ian and I that do the writing. Musically, right now Ben Folds Five is going on. We're really into pop. One really big influence is the Beatles.
Melanie: What is your favorite Beatles song?
Ryan Gentles: Probably if I fell, from Hard Days Night. I like the harmonies in it. It's good stuff. The old sixties stuff. I'm really into Lisa Loeb, The Rentals.
Melanie: How did you guys get involved with Evelyn Forever?
Ryan Gentles: They came on after us at CBGBs in New York City and they said that they really liked us. They invited us to play at the Saint with them because they're pop and so are we.
Melanie: Where have The Selzers played?
Ryan Gentles: We've played lots in New York City because I go to school at Pace University. We've played at the Continental and CBGBs.
Melanie: What do The Selzers do other than jam together?
Ryan Gentles: Gary Zampini, 19, (bass player), is the big outdoors man of the band. He was surfing on New Year's Day. He snow boards in the winter and Gary also likes to rock climb. Gary's really big into the funk. All of the jazz folks. And then there's Ian Cartwright, 20, (guitar and vocals) who likes to sleep all of the time. We'll find him five minutes before we go on to play. He's more of a club guy that likes to have a good time. Jeff Weber, 22 (drums) a more reserved kind of guy that just graduated college and has a 9 to 5 job. And then there's me. I'm simple. I keep to myself. I don't go to clubs or bars.
Melanie: When you're playing your guitar, what's a tune that you play a lot?
Ryan Gentles: I always play that riff from Mo Money, Mo Problems by Notorious B.I.G. that guitar thing that they took from that Diana Ross song. It's so jazzy. We break that out sometimes. There's some Phish song that we play sometimes too.
Melanie: Any interesting stories about the songs that The Selzers have written like Blind Date?
Ryan Gentles: When Ian writes he is so imaginary. He wrote that but he never wanted to go out on a blind date. He has a great imagination. When I write it's more personal. When I write about my x-girlfriend.
Melanie: So Ryan you are in that 'Angst' stage now that Valentine's Day is coming up, have you ever been dumped or dump someone around this day?
Ryan Gentles: Well, I never dumped someone around Valentine's Day. I'm too much of a romantic guy. My relationship ended a year ago and I'm just really getting over it. I wrote a lot about her. I haven't talked to her at all but I did send her flowers after it all happened and didn't even hear from her. Songs like Mr. Single, and How Can I Dream of You When I Can't Even Sleep were all about this relationship.
Melanie: If you were stuck on a deserted island and you could have 3 things or people on this island with you what would they be?
Ryan Gentles: I think it would be a clean pair of skivvies, oven mitt and a tea pot.
COVERT INFO FOR ROCKAZINERS:
Have you joined Selzer Mania? Well, rockazine.com is going to send you to their web site so you can get the digs on their gigs & tell them rockazine.com sent you:
The Official Selzer Site
Back to what Melanie Sanko was telling you guys:
If anyone is interested in finding out more information about The Selzers can email them at theselzers@rocketmail.com. Their CD can be purchased for $5 by contacting them at their email. I want to just thank The Selzers for an excellent show at the Saint