Dryve was an

alternative Alternative or alternate may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Alternative (Kamen Rider), Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki'' * Alternative comics, or independent comics are an altern ...

roots A root is the part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors the plant body, and absorbs and stores water and nutrients. Root or roots may also refer to: Art, entertainment, and media * ''The Root'' (magazine), an online magazine focusin ...

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop! (British group), a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Album ...

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

band from

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. The band's unusual instrumentation – including a

Hammond organ The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert, first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding #Drawbars, drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, sound was created ...

accordions Accordions (from 19th-century German ', from '—"musical chord, concord of sounds") are a family of box-shaped musical instruments of the bellows-driven free reed aerophone type (producing sound as air flows past a reed in a frame). The ess ...

, and a

harmonica The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica incl ...

– gave them a unique sound. The San Diego music scene is well known for producing

Christian rock Christian rock is a form of rock music that features lyrics focusing on matters of Christian faith, often with an emphasis on Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. This music is typically performed by Christians, Christian individuals. The extent to whi ...

bands such as

Switchfoot Switchfoot is an American rock music, rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman (lead vocals, guitar), Tim Foreman (bass guitar, backing vocals), Chad Butler (drum kit, drums, percussion), and Jerome Fontamillas (g ...

and

P.O.D. P.O.D. (an initialism for Payable on Death) is an American nu metal band formed in 1992 and based in San Diego, California. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Paul Joshua "Sonny" Sandoval, bassist Mark "Traa" Daniels, lead guitarist Mar ...

, and despite its brief national life Dryve produced what the ''Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music'' calls "stellar examples of

at its best."

History

The band was formed in 1993 when two

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...

duos merged to create one group. The first consisted of Paul Donovan (guitar, vocals) and Cory Verner, (guitar, vocals) childhood friends who had played together since about 1990, and the second of Keith Andrew (drums) and Steve Pratschner (guitar). With the addition of David (keyboard, sax, organ) and Michael Pratschner (upright and regular bass guitar), both brothers of Steve Pratschner, the band's lineup was complete. By the fall of that year that had recorded their first demo, dubbed ''South''. In November 1994 they released their independently produced debut, ''Hum''. The release lead to some local recognition: The first track, "Happy Song", won the 1994 San Diego Songwriter's Guild contest, and the album was nominated in the "Best Rock Album" category at the 1995

San Diego Music Awards The San Diego Music Awards is an awards show held annually in San Diego, California, United States, to recognize the best artists and bands in local music. The awards show benefits the San Diego Music Foundation, a non-profit organization dedica ...

. Dryve became well known locally, and between 1995 and 1996 Dryve played 90 shows in the San Diego area. During this time they opened for acts such as

Possum Dixon Possum Dixon was an American Rock music, rock band, which existed between 1989 and 1999. Fronted by singer-songwriter and bassist Rob Zabrecky, the group's neo-New wave music, new wave pop and post punk style first appeared among a string of earl ...

Sonia Dada Sonia Dada was an American rock, soul, and rhythm and blues band, formed in Chicago in 1990. Founding member Daniel Pritzker enlisted Michael Scott, Paris Delane, and Sam Hogan after hearing the latter three sing in a subway station.Biography ...

, and

Jeff Buckley Jeffrey Scott Buckley (raised as Scott Moorhead; November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997) was an American musician. After a decade as a session guitarist in Los Angeles, he attracted a cult following in the early 1990s performing at venues in ...

. Their break came in 1996 after opening for Black Eyed Sceva, later known as

Model Engine A model engine is a small internal combustion engine typically used to power a radio-controlled aircraft, radio-controlled car, radio-controlled boat, free flight, control line aircraft, or ground-running tether car model. Because of the ...

, at a local show. They signed with SaraBellum Records and soon began touring the country. Their first national tour was in the fall of 1996 with labelmates Black Eyed Sceva and the Dime Store Prophets. February 1997 saw the release of what was to be the band's only nationally distributed album, ''Thrifty Mr Kickstar''. In support they toured with

Sixpence None the Richer Sixpence None the Richer is an American Christian alternative rock band that formed in New Braunfels, Texas, and eventually settled in Nashville, Tennessee. They are best known for their songs " Kiss Me" and " Breathe Your Name" and their cover ...

and Model Engine. In June of that year Dryve was featured at the

Cornerstone A cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry Foundation (engineering), foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entir ...

Christian music festival. ''Thrifty'' was critically acclaimed, and took the title of "Best Adult Alternative Album" at the 1997

. Their song "Nervous" received some radio airplay alternative rock stations and charted on Contemporary Christian music stations, peaking at No. 22. The band's final tour began in October 1997 with The Call. Dryve broke up in 1998.

Style

Dryve brought a unique sound to the San Diego music scene and beyond. For instance, few bands use a Hammond organ, but even fewer bands tour with one. They also mixed two male vocalists, harmonica, and accordion into their songs. The resulting sound was so unusual that ''

Cross Rhythms Cross Rhythms is a Christian media organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent, England. It operates an FM and online radio station, produces radio shows sent internationally, and its website has resources about contemporary Christian music. His ...

'' commented that "the only band that sound like Dryve is Dryve!" Other reviewers classified their sound as melodic rock similar to

Tom Petty Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950October 2, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He was the leader and frontman of the Rock music, rock bands Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch and a member of the late 1980s sup ...

R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American alternative rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the fir ...

, or

the Wallflowers The Wallflowers are an American rock music, rock solo project of American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jakob Dylan. The Wallflowers were originally a roots rock band formed in Los Angeles by Dylan and guitarist Tobi Miller. It ha ...

. Their most popular song was called "Rain". It has been played by worship groups in churches throughout the country. Part of its appeal was the lengthy, dreamy, yet powerful guitar solo by Steve Pratschner. As described by ''The Lighthouse'': "It starts off slow and worshipful... Then it grows and grows to a full extended instrumental jam of praise." Other standout songs included "Nervous": a "near perfect hit single", and "Television": an angst-tinged hard rock tune. Lyrically ''Thrifty'' included songs touching topics such as sin, pride, hope, and despair, while managing "to avoid the sometimes confusing lingo of the evangelical Christian subculture".

Discography

*1993: ''South'' (independent) *1994: ''Hum'' (independent) *1995: ''Five Song Demo'' (independent) *1997: ''Thrifty Mr Kickstar'' ( Sarabellum Records)

Members

*Keith Andrew - drums *Paul Donovan - guitar, vocals *David Pratschner - keyboard, sax, accordion, Hammond B3 organ *Michael Pratschner - bass guitar (regular and upright bass) *Steve Pratschner - guitar *Cory Verner - guitar, vocals

References

External links