Command Z – “Making It Up, Pt. 1”
Command Z is an original Classic Rock and Roll band out of New York. The band is comprised of Tom Quigley (vocals/guitar/harmonica), Joe Kaufman (guitar, vocals, mandolin), Brian McMahon (drums/percussion), and Bryan Hynes (bass/vocals). Command Z has been around for the past five years and released their debut EP, “Making It Up, Pt. 1” this year. If you are a fan of the sound of classic rock and face melting guitar riffs, Command Z is your band!
I was lucky enough to speak to Tom Quigley to gain some insight on the band and the new EP. “We began in 2007 as a band called ‘Stately Wayne Manor’, a reference to Joe Kaufman’s apartment building in the Tudor City section of Manhattan. Our original idea was to do original rock music, sort of a combination of AC/DC and Blues Traveler with a sprinkling of early Metallica. We discovered that it was too difficult to control the writing process and made the decision to just write organically. We’re proud of our songs and feel most of all that they’re honest. We write and play the music we feel like writing and playing, not trying to fit a mold or genre. Our fans seem to be drawn to that honesty.” This is, without a doubt, one of the greatest quotes I’ve gotten from a band. I love when a band is willing to show their originality. There are so many bands that are trying so hard to make it in the music industry, the same way their favorite bands did, that they don’t stop to find their own sound. In turn, a lot of bands end up sounding exactly the same as each other. It is so important for a band to stop and find what makes them unique; what makes them stand out from the pack!
Command Z released their debut EP in 2018 and it is everything I expected. “Making It Up, Pt. 1” is filled with classic guitar solos, hard hitting bass lines and irresistible drumming. The EP starts off with a bang with the song Magic Touch, one of my favorite songs. The song begins with one of the sickest guitar riffs! It is fast paced and will have a crowd moving immediately. This song radiates the classic hard rock sound, from Tom Quigley’s vocals to the amazing instrumentals. Quigley’s vocals are catchy and surely has everyone singing along at their shows! “Every time you say a word you know exactly what to say, every time you look at me you know exactly what’s inside, every time you touch me baby I’m electrified. Every time you say my name you know I can’t help but smile, every time I give an inch you always turn it to a mile, every time you walk away you make me wanna cry, every time you touch me baby, I’m electrified. You got the magic touch.”
The EP continues with Playing with Fire, another great song. Something that Command Z incorporates in most songs, including this one, are instrumental solos. I love this because you don’t hear it much in today’s music. Everything today is about catchy instrumentals and simple lyrics. It’s great to hear Command Z sticking to their roots and showing off their musical talents! The bridge on this song is incredible; I can’t get enough of the guitar solo! Be prepared for your face to melt at 2:20!
“Making It Up, Pt. 1” continues with two slower songs, Making It Up and Miss California. I enjoy these two songs because it shows that the band isn’t all about the hard rock sound. They have the ability to change the tempo between songs and the inflection of the vocals with ease. Both of these songs remind me of Pearl Jam. The songs are softer and smoother, but still incorporate those amazing instrumental solos; similar to that Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins and Soundgarden. In addition to the similar instrumentals, Making It Up contains emotion filled lyrics that fans will love! “You’ve been hearing voices in your head. You believe every word they said. They told you things I know aren’t true. They said things I’d never say to you.”
Command Z ends the EP with Best of Me and Passive Aggression, two songs that go back to the hard rock sound. Best of Me starts off with lyrics that are relatable to so many of us. This can relate to so much in life, from intimate relationships, friendships, etc. “I disappointed you again, this vicious cycle, will it ever end? I did my best to make amends, but this anger got the best of me again. Don’t ever doubt that you are good. You chose a better way, I wish I could. You bring peace to all you do, I want you to know that I want that too.” The bridge in the middle of the song is awesome. The instrumentals get rougher and grittier and lead into another amazing guitar solo! The guys of Command Z have no qualms with showing off their talents, and we’re all lucky to be able to listen to it! Passive Aggression is the final song and another favorite of mine. The song starts off with the guitars and symbols to back it up, a sound that reminds me so much of The Black Keys. If there is any song that a crowd will sing along to, it’s this one. I can see the crowd yelling back to the band; “Why don’t you just come out and say it?! You’re holding it in too long, why don’t you reach down between your legs and find yourself a set of balls!”
Command Z is a band that needs to be booked for shows much more often. Their musical talents and original sound is something that all crowds will appreciate. Quigley stated, “this is more a passionate hobby for us than a career – we are all professional middle-aged adults with full time jobs and 8 kids between us. Needless to say, we have very supportive families.” For being just a hobby, these guys are amazing. If this is what they can put together as a “hobby”, I can only imagine how great they would sound and how far they would make it if they put all of their time and effort into the band! Regardless of how Command Z views themselves, one thing is for sure, their music is great! Check out their social media and listen to songs from “Making It Up, Pt. 1” on the blog’s Spotify playlist: After Hours Review!