Review Fix chats with TJ Breen of Gentleman’s Rule to find out all about the a cappella band’s upcoming PBS show and their current tour with Under the Streetlamp.
Covering your favorite music in an old-school, yet new way, the vocal prowess of Breen and Gentleman’s rule is the band’s biggest selling point.
Review Fix: How did the band come together?
TJ Breen: We all sang together as undergrads at Indiana University in a group called Straight No Chaser. After graduation, we all decided we wanted to keep singing and we formed Gentleman’s Rule.
Review Fix: How do you decide what songs you’re going to cover?
Breen: We pick songs that fit individual members’ voices. We like to showcase everyone in the group and song choices reflect on whether it’s an oldie tune or something more contemporary.
Review Fix: For people who haven’t heard you before, what song do you think is a good invitation to what you guys do? Breen: I would say that the songs “Good Life†and “Gimmie’ Some Lovin†are a good reflection on us. “Good Life†reflects our passion for being musicians and being on the road performers. “Gimme Some Lovin†reflects our party atmosphere and camaraderie onstage.
Review Fix: What’s a song you guys haven’t covered yet, but you’d love to?
Breen: It’s a little different for everyone, so I would stick to artists. We would love to cover Michael Jackson, the Beatles, and Sinatra.
Review Fix: How important do you believe a cappella music is?
Breen: I think it’s very important. It’s a reflection of how pure and electric the human voice is. No instruments or computers. Just raw pure vocals.
Review Fix: What does it mean to you to be on PBS?
Breen: It’s means the world to us to be apart of the PBS family. We all grew up watching so many great programs and it’s truly a surreal moment to have our own PBS program.
Review Fix: This tour could be an exhausting one. How do you guys stay energetic and level headed?
Breen: Lots of sleep and practice. But we are young and enthusiastic guys who love performing together. It doesn’t take much to get us amped up. Performing is what we love to do and energy comes natural to us.
Review Fix: Any cool tour stories?
Breen: On our first tour, we got to join Jake Owen, the country superstar, on stage and sing his most popular song “Barefoot Blue Jean Night†with him.
Review Fix: How does it feel to perform with Under the Street Lamp?
Breen: It’s great. They’re our big brothers and are extremely talented and we love traveling with them and learning from them.
Photo by Paul Natkin
Leave a Reply