Introducing PET, an alternative duo from Fontana formed by Miguel and Adriana. These two are coming out with their second LP titled “No Matter Where,” this month and Al Borde was lucky to hear their tracks before the release.
Here is Q&A to get you familiar with them before the CD review!
What influences the band’s music? Any specific bands? Genres?
M: We are influenced by kids’ music. I like to see how kids react to kids’ music, it makes them jump, makes them move a certain way. There’s something about kids music that triggers them to feel good. We like to feel good. We like to make people feel good. Who doesn’t like to feel good? We consider our music to be children’s music… for adults.
A: As far as other specific bands go, there’s a multitude of bands from various genres. We’re influenced from anything classical to boss’s nova to Mexican and American folk. Our music is representative of what we would Like to be heard, what we listened to growling up, and what our parents listened to during their teen years in Mexico.
M: Yeah, like the Beatles and Los Teen Tops…. Menudo and New Kids on the Block.
A: Fleetwood Mac and Pimpinela.
Where are you guys from?
M: The band was born in Los Angeles, but grew up in Fontana.
But individually I was born in Tijuana, Adriana in Mexico City, we both immigrated to California at a young age.
What kind of sound do you guys aim for as a band?
M: I’ve never given any thought to that. We don’t go for any specific sound. We try to sound different from what’s being played on the radio.
What naturally comes first on a track? The music or the lyrics?
M: Music. After that, everything naturally falls into place.
How did you guys meet?
M: We were dating.
A: We both love music. We were always hanging out. So when Miguel suggested we make music together, it just made sense.
What would you guys consider your ultimate venue goal and why?
M: We don’t necessarily have a venue goal in mind, but we do have a goal of sharing the stage with some of our favorite musicians: Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney (even getting to shake his hand would be good enough for us!), Smashing Pumpkins, the Flaming Lips, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed in case Supergrass ever reunites!
Where do you guys find inspiration?
M: My inspiration come from my friends and colleagues. Have you ever enjoyed sharing new music with your friends? Well, I like to do that with Pet music. I like to see their reactions. I like to show them what I’m into by letting them listen to some of our songs. And then I try to let them guess our influences. Most of the time they guess wrong, giving us names we’ve never heard before.
What is your favorite thing about performing live and making music?
M: Getting to see people’s reactions, to see their smiles, see them bobbing their heads and the casual screams between the songs. The best part is when people that have never heard or seen us before walk up toys after the performance and they compliment our music, and if there’s a specific song they liked they’ll sing or hum it back to us.
CD REVIEW: “No Matter Where” LP by PET the Music
These two know that simple is better! PET the Music’s new LP gives you a feel-good vibe. It’s the type of music to put on while driving down the coast line.
Their tracks are more of that Smashing Pumpkin feel, with a twist of Morrissey due to Miguel’s vocals. Their LP starts off with “Dead Possum,” a soothing fainting chorus accompanied by a bass and drum start that is carried on with the guitar introduction and the male vocals. The guitar solo on the following track “Love Idiot” gives you a melancholic feel that support the lyrics of him “wanting more time.” “Don’t Steal The Blue” is a beautiful piano emphasized piece with soft guitar chords that make the song much more meaningful. It makes it stand out from all the other tunes, especially by the vocals becoming soft and less angst. The album then continues with Adriana’s vocals accompanied by an acoustic guitar on “Fontana Sand” and gets uplifted by “Fall On The Ground” an upbeat song that makes you want to dance with the help of happy synthesizers. The second half of the album continues with an easy-going mixture of tunes that make you feel nostalgic and tunes that make you giddy like “Oh Beautiful Day!” with an electronic twist, high pitched vocal and a catchy chorus.
Almost at the end, “Gira Sol” which reminded me a lot of Los Bunkers, comes through serving a well presented Spanish song. Due to the contrast between Miguel’s vocals and Adriana’s vocals, this LP sets a variety of pleasant moods. Overall this is LP is something you should hear, and you can do so by following them here.
Photo Courtesy of PET the Music
