Peculiar Gentlemen "Sweet" Willy Jive-vocals, guitar E-Beats-keyboards, laptop, vocals What happens when you put a singer/songwriter influenced by Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder in a room with a DJ whose beats are reminiscent of De La Soul and the Beastie Boys, and force them to write songs together? Genre defying tunes that will make you want to dance one minute and contemplate the meaning of life the next. This is the sound of Peculiar Gentlemen. Eric Maltz and Steve Williams met in 2001 while Studio Composition majors at Purchase College in New York. As the only students in a private workshop with the head of the music department, the two immediately realized the potential of fusing folk with electronic. So after graduating later that year, they decided to form a band and got their name from the Jimi Hendrix song, EXP, in which an interviewee is introduced as a "very peculiar looking gentleman." Though the members of Peculiar Gentlemen don't look odd, it is their quirky lyrics that live up to their name. In songs like the butt-shaking Don't You Wanna and the cartoon-honoring Speedy Gonzalez, you'll discover Steve's talent for writing lyrics everyone can identify with and Eric's love of creating eclectic beats. "I don't want our songs to have a distinct message, to say this is about my political views or breaking up with my girlfriend. I want people to listen to the words and form their own story," says Steve. And they will. Peculiar Gentlemen released their debut album, Full Paw Special, in March of 2005 on the independent label, Lost Track Records. They perform regularly in New York City at CGBG's, Alphabet Lounge, Underground Lounge, Arelene's Grocery, Sidewalk Café, and in Brooklyn at the Charleston and Galapagos. For more information, including bookings and show dates, contact the band at peculiargentlemen@gmail.com or log into myspace.com/peculiargentlemen.