Frequent Season books hometown CD-release show

Just like someone who moves away from their native land only to return years later with a new baby, Youngstown natives Jared Farrell (guitar and vocals), Charlie Cervone (bass and vocals) and Brad Meehan (drums) have booked a hometown CD release show – Aug. 21 at Barley’s – to celebrate their band Frequent Season’s debut album, “Stealing Mona.”

While all three met at Boardman High School, Cervone and Meehan are known around these parts for being in the popular jam-band Mystic WIP Hustler.

While that act moved and set up shop in New York City years ago, it called it quits in early 2009 with Cervone and Meehan focusing on Frequent Season.

“We sort of live this double life of having a fan base in Youngstown and also a fan base in New York City,” said Cervone, who now calls Brooklyn, N.Y., home.

“We have some really devoted fans out here, and when we come home we play for big crowds. Of course this is Frequent Season’s first Youngstown show.”

In addition to the Barley’s show, Frequent Season will be playing at Vexfest two days later at Federal Plaza West in Youngstown.

Cervone said he’s excited about showcasing the new band’s material, which is decidedly different from his previous band.

“Mystic WIP Hustler was a multigenre jam band,” Cervone said.

“Frequent Season is a rock thing. It’s about stage performance. It’s bout rock and energy. We get a lot of comparisons to The Foo Fighters. As far as influences on this album, it’s of course Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eats World, Boys Like Girls. I’ve heard people even say the lyrics sound like Lit. A lot of it is really like mainstream rock stuff. It’s poppy, it’s rock, it’s cool, man.”

Among the songs Cervone points to as defining the Frequent Season vibe are the driving “She’s the Type” and the popish “Re-ignited.” The outfit, which also includes Big Apple native Q Park (guitar), re-recorded Farrell’s song “Family Reunion” for “Stealing Mona.”

Cervone admits in his opinion, Frequent Season has the potential to break into larger circles that eluded Mystic WIP Hustler.

“I think as far as the mainstream market, this is way more mainstream than Mystic WIP Hustler,” Cervone said.

“Mystic WIP Hustler, you almost had to have a taste for jam music. This is a lot more accessible, I think.”

Considering Cervone boasts of his large Northeast Ohio fanbase, how will Mystic WIP Hustler fans view Frequent Season?

“It is a different vibe,” Cervone said. “I encourage them to come out and check it out. I think one of the things that was always cool about Mystic WIP Hustler was the fact that Brad and I were such a tight rhythm section back then. And I think that vibe comes through in Frequent Season. I think they definitely won’t be disappointed.”

He quickly added, “Plus, there will be free beer and Captain Morgan at the pre-party.”