Relax To Paris

If you've had any exposure
to the live rock scene in Los Angeles
for the last few years, don’t be
surprised if the name Relax to Paris
rings a bell.

This rock quintet, often referred
to as a mix of Jimmy Eat World and
the Killers,has been a presence on the scene for over a decade, performing frequently at the Troubadour, Roxy, House of Blues and Viper Room.

And so it is that Ryan Gelber, the
band’s lead vocalist and guitarist,finds
himselfat a crossroads.Behind him is
a long history of performances and
self-published CDs. Now, kicking off
the “re-launch”ofthe band with their
new album,Broken Machines,Relax to
Paris finds that a new landscape,filled
with larger venues and new media,
opens to them.

Relax to Paris started when
Gelber,a high school student who had
just won the John Lennon Song-
writing Contest for his song “Save Me
for a Rainy Day,”met up with the
energetic and charismatic Jonn Blazey. Together, they formed the first incarnation of the indie-style pop- rock band and worked to spread their unique sound.

“There is something I want to
hear on the radio, so I write what I
want to hear,”Gelber says.

Their sound was very well-
received by Los Angeles’ indie pop-
rock scene, drawing large crowds over
the years to various venues. Relax to
Paris has even performed with some
big names, most notably piano rock
stars Something Corporate and,more
recently, ’80s superstars Flock of
Seagulls. Their music was also
featured in the 2005 film, My Big Fat
Independent Movie.

Now, with over a decade of
performing with Blazey, Gelber feels
that Relax to Paris’ sound is ready to
grow. The “re-launch,”as Gelber puts
it, is the product of various elements
that he feels will culminate in a more
mature, polished sound.

The catalyst for this change is the
new band line-up, including Gelber’s
long-time friend Garrett Marks on
bass, keyboards by the indie rock
devotee Jenni Cheung and Bart Welt,
the left-handed drumming guru.
Together,the five members of Relax to Paris have, within the span of a year, released their new album, launched a new Web site and started to move to digital distribution.

“I was quite skeptical about it at
first because I love going to record
stores and buying CDs,”Gelber admits
about the idea ofreleasing their album
on iTunes.

Even though he appreciates the
ease ofdownloading songs and trying
new music through iTunes, he still
feels a strong loyalty to CDs,especially
because ofhis love ofthe artwork that
was created for Broken Machines. But
he does hope that people download
their CD from the Web site because
the most important thing is that
people hear and enjoy their music.

Ofcourse,the recordings are only
part of the Relax to Paris experience.
As many fans already know, the band
puts on an amazing live show.In fact,
a chance booking at the Wire in
Upland seems to have resulted in a
strong new community offans.

“We got a lot of MySpace mes-
sages from people who saw it last time who were going to come again,”
Gelber says. “Out there, we can
actually watch our crowd grow.”

This isn’t to say that the band is
backing off from the L.A. scene. On
the contrary,the band is preparing for
a huge show on March 30 at the
Knitting Factory with Gillmor, Moving Picture Show and Run Doris Run.

And so,the band prepares to enter
the next phase of their rise,
surrounded by fans new and old and
offering up touching and catchy
songs. Even if you aren’t too familiar
with L.A’s live rock scene, don’t be
surprised ifyou hear quite a bit more
from and about Relax to Paris in the
near future.

Broken Machinesis currently
available.Relax to Paris will perform
March 30 at the Knitting Factory.
For more information,visit
www.relaxtoparis.com.

-Jonathan Knell

- Campus Circle

ALWAYS listen to your mother.
When Ryan Gelber, 23, guitarist for the Sherman Oaks indie band Relax to Paris received word from his mom the American Music Awards was holding a contest for the best unsigned band in the U.S., he sent a three-song CD at the last minute.
Now, Relax to Paris finds itself on its way to New York's CMJ Music Marathon to compete for a shot at playing the American Music Awards, broadcast Nov. 16th. But success hasn't gone to anyone's head.
"We've had some people come out of the woodwork from back in the day, some managers that are interested in us now, but we're being cautious," Gelber says. "We've tried to develop our own fan base and not really rely on any media exposure."
That philosophy seems to have worked so far. Relax to Paris has already performed for sold-out crowds at the Roxy, the House of Blues, and the Troubadour, but its members can be forgiven for having some jitters before their East Coast debut next Thursday. "We'll have some friends in the audience to ease the nerves," Gelber says.
"And the bar," adds drummer Chris Peck. - Los Angeles Times

Club Review

Relax To Paris
@The Derby
Los Feliz

Material:
This pop-rock act plays songs that would appeal to teenagers and adults looking for some fun tunes. Similar in sound to Something Corporate, Relax To Paris sings break-up and make-up songs that could be in teen movies, especially the larger-than-life tunes "She Said" and "Lady Conrad".

Musicianship:
The Relax To Paris sound is very big. All 5 members of the group contribute a unique element, but Ryan Gelber and Jonn Blazey, the two frontmen, as well as Bart Welt on drums, give the music a distinctive personality and Welt is the driving force that puts the power in power-pop.

Performance:
Jenni Cheung gave a subdued performance, but was a good contrast to Gelber and Blazey, who were dynamic onstage. They appeared to have a hefty dose of confidence - Gelber raved "We got some good songs here, cause I wrote 'em" - and they made the audience believe they were watching rock stars. The sizeable audience danced and sang along to every song, and it is no surprise that this band has amassed quite a fan base. Relax to Paris needed a big show to complement an epic sound, and they proved they could do just that.

Summary:
Thanks to their confident frontman and a super-charged live show, Relax To Paris deliver catchy music that is very appealing. The group's established and loyal following is a sure indicator that this band just might be one to watch out for.

-Paula Munoz - Music Connection Magazine