D.C. drummer expands role
Dan Perriello takes the lead in debut EP with Amateur Hour
By Melanie Avery, contributing writer
Posted on Setpember 18, 2006

Amateur Hour’s debut EP, entitled Hold On, Believe, incorporates feel-good melodies with charming lyrics, beautiful harmonies and catchy riffs. The music featured on the six-song EP can be categorized as pop-rock with a touch of soul. Through his music, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dan Perriello expresses deep emotional narratives.

Drummer for multiple Washington, D.C. bands and signers, Perriello decided to take the lead and create an album of his own. He wrote all of the tracks on the debut album, while also playing percussion, guitar and provided vocals for each song. He is currently working on gathering a band to play Amateur Hour music so he can tour.

The first track, “Throwing Stones,” evokes the essence of summer. With harmonies that sound similar to those of Simon and Garfunkel and lyrics that are both upbeat and witty, this song creates a light and pleasant mood. It is an excellent choice for the opening song of the EP.

The guitar riff featured in “What If” sounds similar to that of John Mayer’s popular hit, “No Such Thing.” This song begins with percussion, goes on to add vocals, guitars and a pulsing bass, and gradually builds to the guitar solo. Everyone who has ever been in a relationship can relate to this song since it emphasizes the questions and doubts about love that inevitably come hand-in-hand with all relationships.

“Please, Please, Please,” which is likened to Maroon 5’s jazzy “Secret,” is deliciously seductive. As the singer becomes more entranced by the girl he is describing in the song, the listener becomes more involved in the singer’s story. Listeners follow Perriello’s story from his initial words, “I am a slave to you” to his final plea, “set me free.” This song is, without a doubt, the best song on the EP because it draws the listener in and makes them empathetic.

“Like the Sun to You” is the band’s catchiest tune. It is an upbeat melody with a lively beat that you just can’t help but move to. Vocals and instruments alike truly shine in this song, using hopeful lyrics and a spunky guitar solo to add to its liveliness.

The songs featured on Amateur Hour’s debut album Hold On, Believe, are well-written and performed, although sometimes over-harmonized and repetitive. Overall, they succeed at telling stories through their music and really bringing the listener in and making him or her a part of the story too. But the tunes on the EP are catchy and have the potential of being big hits one day. Through Hold On, Believe, Perriello proves he has the talent, and more importantly, the promise to make great generational music. This is only the beginning of Amateur Hour’s story, so keep an ear open to hear the next chapter.