Era 9

The brainchild of lead guitarist Jona Dhe Paganon and drummer Marco Leclerc, Era 9's beginnings hearken back to high school jam sessions and local cover shows. Joined by rhythm guitarist Joe D'Adamo, the trio shed it's 'cover band' label, making a commitment to original song writing. Needing a vocalist to front the band, they posted several ads in local newspapers and websites ultimately paving the way for frontman Philip Paolino to answer the call. While all four artists shared an unshakeable affinity for all things rock n' roll, it was their maturity and determination to explore new artistic avenues that fuelled the band's chemistry. With the addition of Eric Maddalena on bass, himself a seasoned musician from prior local acts, the band was now ready to fine-tune their original sound. Wandering stylistically from funk to heavy metal, Era 9's music remains rooted in their classic rock sensibilities. This mish-mashing of genres is not surprising given the band's diverse approach to song writing. 'We try to write music that could be appealing to a large scale audience', says Jona. 'Fan bases with various musical backgrounds and tastes can enjoy our songs and it's something we stress continuously.' adds Marco. From hard-charging rhythms, sharp hooks and soaring vocals to gentle acoustic ballads, the members continue to inject new life in tired genre clichs. Their willingness to grant each instrument the time and space it warrants has allowed them to balance commercially viable songs while retaining a definite musical complexity. 'Why should one instrument get more attention than the next?' says Phil. The compositions embrace intricate vocal melodies with piercing guitar solos and are often accompanied by an array of backdrops from piano to violins.