If you’re a fan of bands like Soundgarden, A Perfect Circle, Incubus, Tool or even Rush… read on. I ran into a great band last month when I was at the Green Room here in Plattsburgh, NY. They’re called The Integral and they’re from Montreal, Canada. I had never heard of them before and didn’t even know they were playing there that night so I was very pleasantly surprised. I’m pretty picky about what I like and most bands just don’t do it for me, especially live, but these guys rose to the occasion.

The band is 4 pieces (drums, bass, guitar and voice); very stripped back and organic in their sound, but intricate and very melodic in their approach, which was the deciding factor for me because I’ve always loved punk and hard rock, but I appreciate bands that have progressive/technical elements. The Integral has the perfect combination of both. For a band with only one axis, The Integral made a lot of noise. The guitar work was fluid and melodic, while the bass and drums set up heavy, authoritative beats, allowing their singer to really belt out some memorable lyrics and hooks. I definitely felt its throbbing intensity, which drew approximately 200 people into the Green Room and held our rapt attention.

It was that kind of night: 3 sets of polished rock radio made to get fists pumping and hearts pounding. After the concert was over, I had the opportunity to talk to the band members as they dismantled their equipment… the best part of being in a band… No! They were all great and talked to me in detail about what the band has been up to.

To sum it up: They’ve been playing together for almost 10 years, had a few member changes along the way, released a few CDs (independently), and managed to share the stage with various signed acts like Trapt, Dredg, The Ataris. , Pulse Ultra and landed a spot on the Vans Warped Tour in Montreal a few years ago. It has gained a sizeable and loyal following through numerous live performances, local press, and college and commercial radio that have taken notice of the band, namely 99.9 “The Buzz” in Burlington VT and CHOM 97.7 in Montreal. I love finding independent bands that not only make great music, but also work really hard to build their history, so I wish these guys the best.

See this band in an intimate club setting. I am very glad that I had the opportunity to see them in this way. They are planning to do more shows in the New England area, so if you live around here, don’t miss it. They’ve played to huge crowds in their native Montreal, so it’s only a matter of time before they blow up here in the US and can’t be so “under the radar” anymore. The band’s official website is http://www.theintegralband.com where you can find sound clips and mp3s from their amazing new album “002” which is out for sale along with some great merchandise. I’ll be reviewing the album here soon, so check back from time to time and feel free to comment. Health!