Lights, camera, action, here we go...
With passion and originality, Halfpenny Marvel burst onto the local Chicago scene in 2006 when members Mike Kramer (guitar, vocals), Brian Porn (guitar), Brendan Heneghan (drums), and Brent Holan (bass) felt the irresistible pull of an intangible musical connection.
Over the course of several months the band toiled away into the wee small hours of each Sunday night, propelled by their passion to rock. With Sunday pie night, and the local Chicago Bears '06 winning season to inspire them on, Halfpenny Marvel proceeded to craft a unique musical voice. This alchemy of styles was concocted by adding 3 parts rock/pop, spiced with 1 part Jazz, 1 part Blues, 1 part swing, and not forgetting to mix vigorously. Above all, Halfpenny Marvel's music is fortified with drama. Each song is crafted with the intent to make you laugh, cry, or turn your head; while always striving to make you think. Trying desperately to avoid cliché, their colorful and witty brand of lyrics are strewn with metaphorical musings which challenge and poke fun at struggles we all face.
Each member of the band brought a thoroughly different set of skills and influence to the mix. With a degree in Music Composition, Kramer graduated college with a portfolio of orchestrations, new music compositions, and a good 25 film scores. Finding inspiration in romantics like Chopin and Beethoven, Kramer knows that, “Passion transcends style. You know, whether it's a sonata or the blues, people connect with music because of the emotion in it.” Fresh out of school with a minor in Jazz studies and major in marketing, Brian Porn's utterly unique guitar playing continually pushes every aesthetic quality of the band to not settle on what's already been done. Drawing from legends like Wes Montgomery, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Miles Davis, Porn embodies that spirit of innovation, improvisation, and soul into his performing.
photo by Katie O'Connor
While each member has experience playing in bands, Heneghan is truly the seasoned veteran of the group. Drumming in a wide array of groups from ska to metal, Heneghan's exceptional beats are instantly recognizable. “Drumming is my letter of exemption from being too loud, too crazy, or too anything.” Heneghan continues, “Music is a non-negotiable force in my life, it's like breathing or going to the bathroom.” The final ingredient to the bands recipe for rock is Holan, the foundation of the group. Incredibly quick on his musical feet, Holan's energetic playing doesn't just manufacture a bass line, but instead cultivates melody which is a perfect counterpoint to the band.
After writing an eclectic collage of tunes, the band began building their own studio in the spirit of DIY, and produced and recorded their upcoming debut, Spectacle and Show. From the epic strings in “Forget it,” to the bittersweet reveries of “Elastic Girl,” or the rockin' your face off guitars of “Hum Along,” Spectacle and Show will keep listeners glued to their seats for coming distractions.
Emerging from the confines of their dimly lit studio, Halfpenny Marvel is squinting in the bright light of great potential, and they are poised and ready to rock.
