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  • Members of the Free Henry! band, which is opening for Foreigner at Artpark’s Tuesday in the Park show tonight, fool around for the camera. The band includes, from left, Bob Buckley, vocals, Alex Foote, lead guitarist, Derek Presti, bass guitarist and Pat Mannella, drummer.

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August 16, 2010

Free Henry! — Band is loud and proud

Local band is the opening act at Tuesday in the Park

By Emilie Hagen Niagara Gazette

LEWISTON — So when speaking with the four members of Buffalo-based jam band Free Henry! the question just had to be asked: “Which Henry are you referring to?”

Did their band name come from the candy bar, O Henry!, that Major League baseball player Henry Rodriguez used to throw to his fans in the crowds? O’ Henry was also the pen name for American writer William Sydney Porter, and also this reporter’s mother’s dog’s name.

So, “What’s with the name?”

“We don’t know anyone named Henry actually,” responded lead singer Bob Buckley, recently named Buffalo’s Best Male Vocalist by the 2010 Artvoice Best of Buffalo Awards. “We still learn what it means everyday.”

The band’s name, which Buckley later decoded as a phrase symbolizing self liberation, is certainly reflective of what the four Free Henry! members are doing ... living a life that simply put, makes them happy.

“We all live together, we practice together, we go out together,” said drummer Pat Mannella, a Cardinal O’Hara graduate who joined the group in 2008.

“It works because we’re best friends.”

The rock and roll jam band got its start by happenstance a few years ago, when three of the members did what most fearless musicians do, spontaneously serenade friends at a house party. Soon enough, these unplanned performances evolved into a series of scheduled shows at area clubs, festivals and music venues, which got them thinking that maybe this was something they could take seriously.

 “We didn’t make a conscious effort to start a band,” said long-haired bassist Derek Presti, a ’02 St. Joe’s Collegiate Institute graduate who grew up in Youngstown. “It is something that just came to be.”

They’ve stayed in tune with their audience since their start, snagging three additional Artvoice awards this year for Best Rock Act, Best Original Music Act and even Best Band Name: Free Henry!, all votes cast by the fans. They were even named the Best Original Rock Act by Buffalo Music Awards in 2009.

Though Buckley’s vocals are often compared to the jam band king of the ’90s, Dave Matthews, the four guys appreciate the comparison, but are confident that they have something a little different going on.

“It has a niche sound,” said Buckley, also an ’02 St. Joe’s graduate, about the band’s sound. “It’s got a character about it that’s infectious and penetrates people.”

Their all-over-the place taste in music, drawing inspiration from just about everywhere, also adds different layers to their style. In fact, putting a compiled iPod of their current favorite tracks on shuffle may even confuse the listener. The voices of Marvin Gaye, U2, Stevie Wonder and even America’s sweetheart Taylor Swift, one of Presti’s guilty musical pleasures, may make that playlist (proudly admitted).

“What sets us apart is we don’t all like the same music,” said lead guitarist Alex Foote, an ’03 Lew-Port graduate. “We’re constantly trying to switch the envelope so we don’t sound like anyone out there.”

But perhaps their all-over-the-place taste has helped attract an all-over the place crowd. Hippies, rockers, old folks, young folks and anyone who can relate to their themes of past love, late nights and human interaction can be found swaying to the music at their shows, they said.

The band is working on a new album, which they promise will be even better than their first album, “Summers on Neptune” released in 2009.

“We play rock music,” said Foote.” We’re in your face. We’re loud and proud.”

So as far as the exclamation point is concerned following Free Henry!, they believe it speaks for itself.

Anyone looking to enjoy a couple hours the Free Henry! way, can check out today’s 6 p.m. show which is free and for all ages. For a sneak peek, check out www.freehenryband.com, where they’re giving away free live albums to download.

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