Nerd Rock

What I see around me are faces of young Americans inspired by a master story teller. Armed with a hollow body Epiphone and a mic, Kelly Kerr sweeps away the audience in a watercourse of toe tapping riffs.

Warm faces hovering above pints of porter, larger, ale, and such listen intently to the story being told. Nerd funky bass by Matthew Peach, radical leads from the mysterious Daniel Konnaster, and a beat worthy of primal beast conjuring from Josh Williams, accompany the master in skillfully executed performances.

A map maker (Kerr), high school English teacher (Peach), a chemical engineer (Konnaster), and an eye technician (Williams) walk into a bar…sounds like the beginning of a bad joke. But this is the combination that has cultivated Kelly Kerr and The Distractions. Each band member leads a double life. They are nerds by day, rock stars by night. They are the envy of all cubicle goons and lab rats the world over. Thanks to one big hardcore injection of intelligence, they have become the quintessential example of dork rock.  What began as jam buddies and a failing band Kinky Briefcase, became in four weeks a solid four piece with seven songs of distraction.

Each song is influenced from a different genre of rock. “Genre Hoping. . .” Kerr calls it, “We wanted to make a more diverse second album.” The songs may be fleeting moments crafted on a scrap of paper, but they are true lessons in lyrical composition. Each song off Chronological Disorder: How to Pass History in 13 Easy Steps has years of influence through dozens of books and countless hours of history classes. They are factual snapshots throughout history. But that was on accident. It was only after writing a few songs that Kelly Kerr and The Distractions decided to go with a historical theme. If only History classes across America were half as entertaining and contained just a fraction of the energy, desktop drool would be a thing of the past.

Kerr’s writing style directly reflects what he is exposed to at that moment in time. A Masters in History yielded several songs that pay homage to fringe characters throughout history. Eli Whitney recounts the times of the man and the invention that changed America. As Kerr put it, “. . .no hidden meaning. The songs are literal and well researched. We just thought it would be humorous to write about the cotton gin.” Bring Out Your Dead and Great Stink are songs that depict the struggle civilizations have faced throughout history, the Black Plague and the 18^th century sanitation reform respectfully. Lets Go To War! propels the audience into a frenzy. With a snappy rock rhythm and a snare crack so loud you can feel it a block away, this tune explodes on stage. Using a multi-layered rhythm with fantastically wordy lyrics, Kerr tells the tale of the events that led the world into the first Great War.

The first album Whimsical in Reverse contains numerous antidotes and memorable rhythms written out of wit and humor. The formidable rock tune decked out in thundering drums and roaring screams Man V. Cheetah, reaches into the crowd with its inviting chant. Written in five minutes by Kerr who was at the time a bored scullery hand; college student turned dishwashing troll. He would often escape on flights of fantasy as he scrubbed pots and pans. Man V. Cheetah is pure genius. Simplistic by nature made epic by the crowd pleasing masters of distraction. I Married a Zombie is not a metaphor for the ball and chain like affect that married couple’s battle. It is literally about a guy who married a zombie. Kerr explains that it is not him in the song. In fact, “When I removed myself, I became a better writer.” The song is a well told tale. Funny and amusing, it’s a warm tune with vintage rock, punchy vocals.

Kelly Kerr and The Distractions play out of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. They can be found on Myspace, Facebook, and at their website kellykerrandthedistractions.com. Their album Whimsical in Reverse may be purchased through iTunes. They are expecting a second album Chronological Disorder: How to Pass History in 13 Easy Steps due out in the next few months.