Springfield rock outfit Watcher describes Into the Woods, the band's soon-to-be-released debut, as a mirror reflecting the nature of the group. "It's diverse, which reflects who we are as a band," explains drummer "Rudy" Karen Renaud. "We come from a variety of backgrounds. We've got a 20-year age difference between the youngest and oldest member. We are straight, gay and everything in between, and we each have a voice on this CD and it shows."
The band—comprised of Renaud, vocalist Ben Coe, guitarist Tristan Tash, bassist and singer Theresa Berard, and keyboardist Rich Pelligrino—had to tweak its moniker as a result of that same heterogeneousness that defines its existence. "The band name actually came in response to my having a fit over the original name, The Watchmen," says Renaud. "I thought it made us sound like an all-male band. This was the compromise. And it's actually fitting because a watcher is somebody who looks over dead bodies in a morgue. That's us. Dead bodyguards."
Citing a list of influences including the likes of Depeche Mode, Lou Reed, Tegan and Sara, and The Bad Plus, Watcher crafts modern rock music in the Interpol and Strokes lineage. Their songs, written collectively by all members, can be moody and introspective, but more often employ the loud-quiet-loud dynamic intrinsic to the realm of alternative rock.
Watcher's live sets are energetic affairs, displaying a band enjoying their melding of disparate influences and voices in front of appreciative—and often large and enthusiastic—audiences. Does the band's makeup contribute to their ability to turn out a good-sized crowd? According to Renaud, it does: "I'm sure our diversity has helped and yes, we have a diverse audience."
While appealing to a broad demographic might attract a crowd, it won't necessarily keep them coming back for more: you still need to deliver the goods. "We try to be thoughtful about the set list so the musical energy is dispersed throughout the set," Renaud says. "And we strive to be fully engaged when we perform, with each other and the audience."
Watcher uses the Internet to stay connected to friends and fans, and Renaud believes the Web has other positive uses: "As both a band member and a music fan, the Internet is a great vehicle for access. As a result, the Internet has affected my bottom line, because it makes me excited to buy more new music from [local music retailers like] About Music in Greenfield. If I didn't hear about it online, I wouldn't buy it. We're hoping the new Watcher CD has that effect on people's bottom lines too."
The band worked with Mark Alan Miller of Slaughterhouse Studios in Westfield to create Into the Woods, and the members say they enjoyed the collective process of stitching an album together. "We especially loved recording with Mark because he's so musically intuitive," says Renaud. "And he's just an easy person to work with."
Now that they've completed the process, Renaud says Watcher is excited to bring this documented expression of themselves to the masses. "We worked hard to put out a body of work that really represents us, so I'd say it's accessible yet creative, unique and thoughtful."
The CD release party is Saturday, Nov. 1 at The Elevens in Northampton. "It is a dual release party for us and one of our favorite bands, Nuclear Waste Management Club, along with special guest Finn Riggins," says Renaud. Watcher is also having a "pre-release CD release party" at the Rendezvous in Turners Falls on Saturday, Oct. 18, on a bill with Rockit Queer. According to Renaud, everyone who shows up for the pre-release party will get a ticket for a free copy of Into the Woods.
What does the future hold for this coagulation of individuals after the CD release bash? The band might be diverse, but they agree on a few next steps. "Lots of shows, more CDs, and hopefully an Obama presidency," says Renaud. "Oh, and an end to greyhound racing. Vote yes on three for the dogs!"
