Song inspires area musicians to form band

Koebel strays from heavy rock and focuses on softer, more melodic songs.

By JOHN BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

For years, friends John Koebel and Joe Falleti explored their musical talents by writing and recording hundreds of songs.

However, their music went mostly unheard until the two were approached earlier this year to create a song to be used in the Youngtown-based indie film “Fine Tune.” That song was “Marie,” and before the two musicians knew it, the band Koebel was up and running. The video for “Marie” can be seen at myspace.com/koebelband.

“We’d been recording for a long time just to record,” said Falleti, a 1991 Woodrow Wilson High School graduate. “There was no band; we’d just get together to record. I play bass, drums, guitar, whatever. He did most of the guitar and vocals. Then the ‘Fine Tune’ thing comes together and they said, ‘You guys have some good songs.’ So we started a band.

“From there we kind of revamped the older stuff that we had written together. The live version and the studio version sound completely different. The live version is more electrified, more guitars and stuff, where the studio version is a little bit more acoustic and not a whole lot of rock guitar.”

Officially formed three months ago, Koebel is scheduled to play only its fourth live date Friday at Cedars Lounge.

Looking ahead

Falleti, who is a Youngstown native and current Liberty resident, said Koebel plans on recording its debut full-length effort in the next few months. While this isn’t the first band Falleti and Koebel were members of — the short-lived Monkey Jar fizzled out after releasing an album — both players are optimistic about its future.

Stylistically, Koebel is about as different as possible from the majority of Mahoning County bands. Falleti said the outfit cites diverse influences such as Travis, Damien Rice, Led Zeppelin and Queen.

“There’s all different ranges of music in there,” Falleti said. “We’re not really into the heavy rock scene. I know there’s a lot of hard rock around right now, and we’re kind of more melodic and mellower.”

He’s hoping what makes Koebel stand out will appeal to local rock fans looking for something unique.

“I think as far as we’re all good musicians and writers, this band should be heard,” Falleti said. “It’s a little bit different than what’s out in the area now. I think it’s catchy stuff. I think a lot of people will be humming to it and singing to it.

“Just come out and see us. I think it’ll be good.”

Opening the Cedars show will be Australian singer-songwriter Sam Hawksley, and Matt Palka, a Los Angeles singer-songwriter.

Hawksley was picked by Keith Urban to support him on his 2005 Australian tour.

Palka, who also has a song (and a cameo) in “Fine Tune,” has written a song that he is pushing as the next Ohio State University fight song.