A Dirty Dozen with BRODIE PERRO from NECTAROUS – SEPTEMBER 2024

According to a recent press release: “Been craving some of that swinging, blues-tinged rock ‘n’ roll madness? Well come and taste the band! Nectarous is a hard rock band based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Established in 2020, this bluesy quartet is here to prove that rock ‘n’ roll isn’t dead by bringing back the sweet soul, infectious grooves, and high energy swing we all know to be missing from today’s top 40 radio hits. With popular songs like “Whiskey Hustlin’ Woman,” “Not Yet,” “Sugarcoat,” “Black Hair Beauty,” and “Fool to Delight,” they breathe fresh life into the midwest rock ‘n’ roll scene. Nectarous is raw, real, and not to be messed with. Just one listen and they’ll have you aching by day’s end.” We get guitarist Brodie to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our latest release is a song called “Sugarcoat.” To me, this is the kind of rock song I wish I heard more of on the radio. It’s like “Mr. Brownstone” by Guns N Roses with a bit of Stevie Wonder Funk and Led Zeppelin creativity thrown in there. It’s got soul, energy, and a hook that’ll get you singing along in no time. Some eagle-eyed listeners might notice that this isn’t a straightforward 4/4 time signature song. We throw in bars of 5/4 to keep the rhythm interesting, along with verses ending in half bars and choruses starting on beat 3 of a measure. We also have this wicked outro that pits the drums against the guitar and bass, with the drums going crazy on 16th notes and everyone else hammering away on triplets to create a climactic explosion of an ending. This song can scratch that itch for both the music nerds and radio rock community.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

It was my parents that got me hooked onto music growing up. I heard a lot of Guns N Roses, Zeppelin, and Nirvana from my dad, and my mom showed us bands like Cinderella and Bon Jovi. My dad is also a guitarist, so it was ultimately him who handed me the instrument and set me off on this path. I recall coming across cassette recordings of his from the late 80’s and early 90’s of him writing music in my grandparents’ basement. It seemed so appealing being able to write and record stuff that people could appreciate years down the road.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Appetite for Destruction from Guns N Roses has been a staple of my life for almost 20 years. It was my dad’s favorite album growing up, so we of course listened to it often throughout my childhood. Even to this day, I find myself constantly coming back to that album and never get sick of it. It has the perfect balance of ballsy and bluesy compositions. Aside from them, I’m big into groups like Led Zeppelin, The Black Crowes, and as of late, I’ve been obsessed with this band from the early 70’s called Cactus and I’ve been digging into the works of Rory Gallagher.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Oh man. This is a tough question to answer. I think getting Jimmy Page to come in and help us write and produce a track or even a full album would be awesome. He wouldn’t necessarily have to play on the music. He’s such a genius behind the scenes that we would benefit from his musical wizardry.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

Like any person, I have an array of shows I like to binge. I can proudly say I’ve seen every episode of The Simpsons multiple times. Recently I watched Daisy Jones and The Six for the very first time and I was blown away.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

We are the swinging, blues-tinged rock n roll madness known as Nectarous. I think we take the creative songwriting styles of bands like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, mixed in with the ballsy rock influence of groups like Aerosmith and Guns N Roses. Of course there’s plenty of soul and funk sprinkled in throughout. I once heard a coworker of mine describe our music as easy listening songs you could vibe to at a cookout. Who knows if that’s true, but I do feel like that waters down the perception of how I hear us in my head.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Mitch and Ryan are probably the first to crack open a drink. I’m not a big party guy, but if the mood is right I’ll join in. Mitchel almost always has his acoustic guitar with him, so he’s the first to start playing.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

A few months back I came across this Texas rocker Paul Val. I heard his song “Rock N’ Soul” and it blew me away. The way he sings this song is how I wish more modern rock bands sounded on the radio. There’s so much soul and grit to his performance and I find that so appealing. Another group I want to give a shout out to is a local Twin Cities group called The Grieving Pines. They are putting rock music back on the right track.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part about being a musician is being able to have a creative outlet. I find it very beneficial to give myself projects and goals. Playing in a band and writing songs can be very satisfying for me. I don’t think I have a backup plan in mind if the music doesn’t work out. I’ve dabbled in the trades over the years, so maybe I would find something in that area.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I think being asked any question regarding my music is good enough for my ego.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

There are definitely some recordings I wouldn’t mind fixing a guitar part on, but in the end, you have to appreciate the rock n roll for being raw, real, and spontaneous. Leaving the little mistakes in makes the music more relatable in my opinion.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I would love to observe the sessions for Appetite for Destruction. The songs are flawless and it’s hard to imagine there was humans working on these tunes.

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Category: Interviews