The Triangle

Issue date: 1/9/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Bilvit

After a long time in the making, innovative Philadelphia based rock band Blivit is set to debut their cover project "Paul is Dead," a series of twisted Beatles tunes. Blivit has conjured up a night of completely reworked Beatles classics for a performance Jan. 9 at The Tin Angel.

"When we first formed Blivit, it was one of the first projects we did," bassist Dave Palan said. "We had a few original tunes that Jeremy, our keyboardist, had written but 'Taxman' was the first thing that we put together as a band."

Blivit is comprised of Jay Horvath (drums), Jeremy Dyen (keyboards and lead vocals), and Palan (bass and vocals), all previous members of the hip-hop band Fathead who broke up in 2001. While in Fathead, the trio toured nationally with a number of artists including Bare Naked Ladies, Weezer, Ben Folds Five, George Clinton and Parliament, Green Day, and The Roots. The band also recorded with Grammy caliber producer David Ivory.

Since the formation of Blivit, the band has had two number one songs on www.garageband.com and has been nominated for the past two consecutive years at the annual Philly Music Awards in categories for Best Original Band, Best Bassist and Best Keyboardist. Their original works have yielded two albums titled "Unhand the World" and "The Beginning."

The band's elaborate rock stylings are spearheaded by front man and head writer, Dyen, whose keyboard playing takes on the aggressive prominence usually filled in by the electric guitar. Along with driving syncopated rhythms and a vast array of influences, the three achieve a dramatically progressive sound with the groove and track length of a pop band.

A few live recordings from "Paul is Dead" are currently available on the bands Web site and include an extended version of "Blackbird" with a haunting minor introduction aided by an electric guitarist on board for the project. Blivit puts almost a rhythm and blues spin on the "Sgt. Pepper's" tune "Fixing a Hole," elevating the song to funky new levels. What began as a creative version of "Taxman," being spliced into regular set lists after the band's conception, has since built itself up to a playlist of crowd-pleasing covers.

While no plans are currently in place for a "Paul is Dead" album recording, the Blivit anticipates touring with the set of Beatles covers over the next year in addition to promoting their original work. Philadelphia can get a first look at the project Jan. 9th at The Tin Angel in Old City where tickets are $10 and the show starts at 10:30 p.m.

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