Before the show, I had a chance to talk a few minutes with Garrett Lunceford, PTM’s drummer. He is very cool as a person and seemed very relaxed and personable. Then he got on stage, and all of that was turned into positive energy as the driving heartbeat of the band. The song “Never Pleased” is a great example of his transformed persona from who he is in the crowd to who he is on stage.
Zachary Carothers is more than just a bass player. He is just as much as a part of the front line as Gourley, when it comes to his part of the lyrics, playing the bass and on-stage presence which is evident in almost every song they play. I think that what helps to make this band such a team, is that it appears as though it’s not just about the singer and guitar player…it’s about four guys who bring equal amounts of exquisite talent to the table and establish a solid presence. Ryan Neighbors is more than just your typical keyboard player, who is usually in the back, and goes unnoticed. He brings a certain energy to the group both physically and musically by the way he is constantly moving from one set of keys to another. There are also a couple of songs that have more of an expressive quality which brings forth more of a style of playing untouched by other piano and keyboard players. The song “And I” is just one of many that seems to possess such a unique artistic presence.
As one song progressed into the next, and the music began to capture me emotionally, I was able to transcendentally project my mind to areas that only a band like this can induce. I felt like some songs were being played only to me, which seemed to create different emotions both spiritual and exciting. Get the Censored Colors disc and play “Our Times” and you’ll see what I mean. Or just find out the next tour date in your area and discover them for yourself. As you can see from the pictures, this is the part of the life of the band where you can catch them at a close distance. I highly recommend seeing them now, because in a couple of years, they’re going to be a small dot on a huge stage as they become a headlining arena draw.
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