Originally published in The Aquarian Weekly

August 27, 2008

Maybe Pete

Straight To Red

Bridge & Tunnel Records

Maybe Pete is not only a

fan favorite in New Jersey,

they’re a favorite of their fellow

musicians as well. They’ve

earned this respect by not

only being genuine as people,

but by playing music that is

as real and honest as it gets.

There have been some

changes for the band’s

second album. Longtime

bassist Marc Gambino left the

band earlier this year, but not

before he played on three

tracks for this album. Keith

McCarthy, does an admirable

job in replacing him. Perhaps

the biggest change of all has

been the addition of the

brilliant drummer Johnny

Macko. It was the addition of

Macko that proved to be the

final piece in the Maybe Pete

puzzle, taking them to the next

level. Check out the

thundering tom-toms on

“Moonlight Ride.” The band

has also enlisted Eric Safka

of the Matt O’Ree Band to add

his usual brilliant touches on

organ.

Guitarist/vocalist Frankie

McGrath and guitarist Kelly

McGrath continue their search

for all the truth that can be

found in three chords. If

anything, Frankie McGrath’s

already intense vocals are

more impassioned than ever

here, as the band comes

roaring out of the box with the

one-two knockout punch of

“Last One Standing,” followed

by live favorite “Another

Cigarette.” This time around

the band has also included

some acoustic-based songs,

including the evocative “This

Town.”

In A Word: Breakout

Grade: A-

—by Ken Shane