Portions edited for clarity and brevity.
The Argument, a West Virginia band with a sound as unique as their origin story has finally released their debut album digitally. These songs are a time capsule, transporting listeners back to the late nineties and early 2000’s, a time of jam sessions, open mic nights, and a nameless band with a whole lot of heart. We talked to them about those early days and that album “Your New Favorite Band.”
Scott, the vocalist, remembers their very first gig at a legendary Morgantown bar. “We didn’t even have a name, and we just did this open mic,” Scott recalls. “It was still being called the Nyabinghi in 1997, before it closed and reopened in 98 as 123 Pleasant St. LJ (owner) saved that place. What he did with it was very cool.”
Chris, chimes in with a detail about the venue’s less-than-ideal condition that led to their first band name. “We went to that open mic and there was one single 40 Watt bulb hanging in the room and so we called ourselves 40 Watt.” Simons remarked, “I remember making the comment, ‘I can’t believe this place is open. It’s like not condemned,’” he says, a hint of amusement in his voice. It paints a vivid picture of the grittiness and raw energy of the local music scene.
Those early days were a melting pot of styles. Scott and Chris were in the cover band scene, churning out crowd-pleasers. Brent brought the grunge edge and came from playing in that scene. Matt, on the other hand, came from a jazz background. And then Matt was more coming from more of a jazz side. “He loved Steely Dan. We all really liked vocal harmony, and we like piano,” Scott explains.
Their first show wasn’t a breakout success. The Morgantown scene, heavily influenced by jam bands and the angst-ridden anthems of grunge, wasn’t quite ready for their brand of pop-tinged music. “We had maybe six or seven songs, some of them are on that album,” Scott says. “They were just songs that we had learned, and we decided to do them at the open mic.” One of those songs, “Inflatable Amy,” was a tongue-in-cheek creation from Scott’s high school days. “Matt wasn’t convinced, but it was a hit with the marching band nerds back in the day,” he admits with a laugh.
Despite the lukewarm reception, the band persevered. They played local bars, honing their sound and building a fanbase one gig at a time. A turning point came with a gig opening for a band called The Clark’s in Pittsburgh. The scene there saw potential in their unique blend of influences and they started getting booked for shows with bigger bands. This opened the door to the Pittsburgh music scene, where their sound found a more receptive audience.
Now, 24 years later, the band is finally releasing their debut album digitally for purchase from their website: TheArgumentBand.Com. It’s a testament to their early days, a time of youthful energy, diverse influences, and a shared passion for music.
“We didn’t really know what we were setting out to do,” Scott reflects. “We just met at a Ben Folds show in Pittsburgh,” he adds, a reminder of the serendipitous beginnings of their journey. “We just started making music. It was like I had these songs, and then I’d write a few more for us, and we didn’t really have a direction. So this first album was a hodgepodge of styles and ideas that just came together.”
“Maybe we weren’t the coolest kids around,” Scott reflects, “but we loved playing together, and that’s what mattered.” And that love for music shines through in every track of their debut album, a testament to the power of friendship, perseverance, and the unique musical gumbo that bubbled up from a dive bar with a single flickering bulb.
Go purchase the digital version of “Your New Favorite Band” from their website and pick up some of their other albums while you’re there.
