Jordan DePaul band settles into a piano-based sound

By John Benson

Three years ago when then-Poland High School senior Jordan DePaul told his friends he wanted to start a band, the reaction across the board was one of surprise. At that point, DePaul had been studying opera with a vocal teacher from Westminster College. However, there was something about pursuing the guitar solo instead of the aria that intrigued the young singer.

“I sang at our talent show, and they all knew I had a good voice,” said DePaul, a 2008 Poland High School graduate. “I used to sing Italian opera, so my classmates were a little skeptical at first when I said I wanted to start a band. But when I started writing music, they were like, ‘Wow, that’s not what I expected.’”

Quickly, Jordan DePaul and the Reputations started playing bars. Eventually, they solidified their lineup — DePaul (lead vocals, keys, guitar), Mike Cleland (guitar, vocals), Joey Verzilli (guitar, vocals), Michael McGiffin (bass) and Ryan Daley (drums) — and began to explore various modern sounds. Though the outfit released its debut effort, “Town of Statues,” in 2008, DePaul said the group has stylistically moved on.

“We started out a little like progressive rock, and I was really unsure about how I wanted my music to come across,” said DePaul, who is studying marketing and advertising at Youngstown State University.

“It’s more like pop rock now. We’re trying to get it to be easier to follow. Before, it was more Kings of Leon, and now we try to stick with the piano like The Fray. We’re trying to set ourselves apart from the music world.”

He added, “Now we’re really finding our sound and what we want to sound like. And my lyrics are a lot more true to what I want to talk about. I’m not just writing lyrics to fill songs. I’m really becoming a perfectionist when it comes to my music now.”

Jordan DePaul and the Reputations are working on its follow-up; however, there’s no timetable for its release. DePaul stressed the band was forced to rush out its debut effort and it won’t make the same mistake next time around. Already in the mix for the next album, which may be released in 2010, are the pop-folk-ish “Just Can’t Win” and the ballad “New.” The latter track was written by DePaul about his recently deceased father, James.

Fans attending the band’s Saturday show at Barley’s can expect to hear those tunes, as well as choice covers by Bob Dylan, The Temptations and more. Finally, DePaul feels as though his band is getting a reputation of having a Red Bull-effect with audiences.

“Our show isn’t boring,” DePaul said. “It’s not going to put people to sleep. People will walk out at the end of the night and want to go continue on with the night. No one wants to go home. Everybody wants to hang out and party after the show.”

if you go

What: Jordan DePaul and the Reputations

When: 9 p.m. Saturday

Where: Barleys, 21 W. Federal St., Youngstown

Info: (330) 743-6480