Life of the Party

The Great Party celebrates debut EP with stylish soirée

The Great Party has found an easy way to describe their music; they made up a name for their own genre.
They call it Ameri-pop. Members of the Scranton-based band (Michael Eastman on guitar/vocals, his wife, Rosaleen Eastman on keys/vocals, drummer Patrick Gaughan, bassist Matthew Mang and Michael Nordberg on keys/guitar) all have a fondness for Brit-pop music and have also taken their different musical tastes and created a truly unique album of songs.
On May 26, the band will celebrate the release of their debut, self-titled EP with a special show at The Bog, 341 Adams Ave., Scranton. The six-track album introduces their new brand of synth driven tunes to the area’s already diverse music scene.
Although a fairly new project, the band’s story began a decade ago. “Michael Nordberg and I wrote a whole bunch of music together 10 years ago and some of the songs are now mixed in or used as a kind of a muse,” said Michael Eastman. “I introduced him to Rosaleen after we got married. Unlike most people, my wife and I got married and started a rock band.”
When asked how it was to not only share your life with someone, but also share the stage and studio, Rosaleen finds comfort in that they both have the same goals. “At the end of the day, we go home and we’re really happy we’re doing this and following a little dream while we’re still young. We want to get out there as much as possible and have this be our full-time job where we can survive making music and enjoying it. We want to take it as far as possible.”
Members of The Great Party feature a solid rhythm section behind bassist Matt Mang, an experienced veteran of the local music scene, and
the newest member, drummer Patrick Gaughan.
“There is something so unique in the music and it’s full of energy,” Mang said. “It’s a sound that I haven’t heard in a long time, not just in this area, but in music in general.”
Not only is the band focused on recording another album, they look forward to bringing their live shows to a greater audience. They want their live performances to remain fun and lighthearted, but infectious enough to get people moving their bodies to the music.
“We want to make it a great live show,” Mang said. “We want to make it an experience and truly make it a great party for everybody.”
“It’s a big release for us,” Rosaleen said. “People know that they are going to have a good time. That is the whole point.”
— tom graham

The Great Party CD release show is Saturday, May 26, at the Bog, 341 Adams Ave., Scranton, at 10 p.m. The event is for those age 21 and over with a $5 cover. The CDs are currently available for purchase at Embassy Vinyl as well as digital download on iTunes and Amazon. To listen to The Great Party go to www.thegreatpartymusic.bandcamp.com or www.facebook.com/TheGreatPartyMusic.