John & Peter's Live Show Review - March 2003

The Rigbees get it. On a rainy Thursday night in New Hope, Pa., in front of a crowd small enough to fit into one of the band member's living rooms, the Philadelphia-area quintet delivered a loose-but-spirited set of their engaging roots-rock originals.

These guys seem to know it's not about the venue, or the size of the crowd, or whether the songs are going to end up on the radio someday. It's about the music.

The songs are filled with infectious hooks and heartfelt, honest lyrics about standing tall in the face of all of life's day-to-day crap.

On this night, the band performed eight songs from their excellent self-released CD, "AM Radio Companion," a handful of older tracks and some impressive new material. Among the new tracks, the rousing "Get Up" served as a wake-up call to anyone unhappy with their place in life.

Other highlights included "Sweet Jesus," a pop-rock gem that has received radio airplay on the nationally syndicated World Cafe; the Sept. 11-inspired "That Day,” the most rocking song of the night; "Back to You," a poignant ode to a friend's late child; and set closer "Always Be in Love," which featured a brief medley of U2's "All I Want is You" and Bruce Springsteen's "Thunder Road."

At times, the guys seemed to be making things up as they went along, but the music didn't suffer. Lead singer Steve Brown maintained a friendly rapport with the small crowd between -- and during -- songs, while lead guitarist Christopher Daniel's riffs were accompanied by a crowd-pleasing boyish charm.

The rest of the band -- Jon-Paul Levins (bass, vocals), Rod West (keyboards, percussion) and Bob "Hank" Enck (drums) -- cemented the band's wonderfully refreshing sound and persona.

With the Rigbees, what you see is what you get. These are guys with whom you can share a pitcher of beer (or several) and talk tunes. You get the idea that won't ever change, no matter what possible success lies ahead.

If you're looking for the next big thing, forget it. (Odds are, the next big thing is going to suck, anyway). But if you're looking for musicians who get it -- the way Bruce Springsteen gets it, the way John Hiatt gets it, the way Lucinda Williams gets it -- pull up a bar stool and check out the next Rigbees performance. It won't change your world, but it will remind you that quality music is out there if you know where to look.

- Andy Vineberg, Bucks County Courier Times

Philly Weekly 1-1- 2003

Though brightly adorned with shorthand pop/rock
cliches--both lyrically and sonically--the Rigbees' self-released AM
Radio Companion is rescued from rock-lite mediocrity by a combination
of bright-eyed earnestness, downright catchiness and what sounds like
genuine talent. Whether by design or not, the Philly five-piece
basically bridges the gap between 'XPN and Y-100, wearing influences
that could just as easily be Sun Volt, Pearl Jam, Pete Yorn or all
three. "Wide Open" is radio-ready in its instant familiarity and slight
overproduction, "Sweet Jesus" has already been featured on World Café
and the closing cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Flowers Never Bend With
the Rainfall" is unabashed boomer balladry. Guided by jangle and twang,
the songs hold a contagious charm, whether you feel embarrassed by the
band's harmlessness or relieved by its lack of pretension. Admittedly,
the Rigbees have opened for Train and would do it again, but as long as
these guys don't approach that Grammy-swiping act's level of bloated
blandness anytime soon, their songs will make the airwaves just a bit
more bearable.

- Doug Wallen

The Ticket, 10-2-2002

The Rigbees...offer a refreshing brand of pop rock that gives listeners the feeling that a band cares enough about its music to make it matter. With tight harmonies and simple but personal lyrics, the band relates well to its audience, mixing eclectic pop music similar to Barenaked Ladies delivered with the stylistic veracity of the Counting Crows.

- Christopher Dilts, Montgomery Newspapers

Philly AidsWalk Benefit, 10-21-2001

Certainly one of the best feel-good bands I have ever heard. Their harmonies are tight; the band is really together…a great live band. Their sound is a mixture of the fun popiness of Barenaked Ladies and the acoustic rock of Hootie and the Blowfish. Their lyrics are personal and very real, as the band tends to write about the perils of everyday life and everyday love.

One of the things that really struck me was how the audience was taken in by the group. They are at the top of the list in terms of any audience friendly band I've ever heard. Their music is happy and has a great rock feel. It's good to know that we still have a band that will help to inspire and uplift spirits.

So what's in the future for The Rigbees? With their sound, determination and potential hopefully they'll be moving on to bigger and brighter things… just don't forget Philly, OK guys?

- Amy Belmonte, www.phillymusic.com