Sutton’s Pro Re Nata Blends Musical Genres

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Sutton's very own Pro Re Nata is not a band easy to define in any traditional sense, and they seem to like it that way.

Take a pot of pure energy and throw in some hardcore spliced with pop punk, alternative, metal, and even a hint of progressive rock, and you have something close to the sound emoted by these young, promising Central Mass musicians.

Sometimes acoustic, sometimes electric, but always heavy, the guitar switches effortlessly from the distorted and grungy to the melodic and almost whimsical. The vocals spew intensity, at times to the point of screaming and growling, becoming an instrument in itself, a feature now common in modern incarnations of hardcore punk and metal.

The band's name "Pro Re Nata" is a Latin phrase that roughly translates to "take as needed" or "as the circumstance arises," and indeed this name is fitting for their genre-defying style, which is not constant but changing according to wherever their mind and emotions take them.

"We write what feels good and what we feel sounds good," says Drummer PJ Guertin. "We do not strive for any particular sound. We just sound how we sound, and that is what has gotten us the little bit of recognition that we have today, and that's cool with us."

The band’s lead vocalist and guitarist, Brian Montigny, claims he invented a new style of music that he likes to bring out from time to time.

"I think I invented 'acousticore.' It's where you scream and yell with an acoustic guitar. That's my biggest pastime," he says jokingly.

In all seriousness, Montigny added, "It's fun to create stuff, and for me it has a lot to do with venting hardships. It’s special because I learned on my own. I grew up writing tunes and have developed a talent that I don't want to abandon. I want to be active in my hobbies and interests."

Guertin likes to experiment some as well, springing from a desire to be original.

"The freedom is what draws me to music. You are able to be creative and unrestricted to what you want to learn. What makes music special to me is the accomplishment of writing songs that have never been written before and breaking barriers as a drummer,” he said.

The members of the band include Brian Montigny on guitar and lead vocals and PJ Guertin on drums, along with Justin Marion on bass and the newest member Adam Kendall on guitar.

The story of why and how they got together and started playing is a simple one that so many bands can relate to – a few young men from the same area that have loved music their entire lives deciding to get together and create their own.

The founding members of the band, Montigny and Guertin, explained how it all happened.

"I initially got into my local music scene when I was younger. Being in bands with friends also being a photographer and shooting pictures of bands sort of got me into and kept me into music," said the drummer. "I was born and raised in Worcester County, and this is the area that I have always been involved with bands and the music scene all together."
"PJ and I have been playing and writing since way back," says Montigny. The two were 14 years old when it all started. "We went to the same church. Our parents had Bible study at my house. They set up a play date for us. Jesus brought PJ and I together."

Montigny knew Adam Kendall from Millbury and bought his first amp from him; he knew bassist Justin Marion through college friends.

The vocalist traces their musical interest back to their love of skateboarding.

"I think that skateboarding contributed largely to our musical inspirations. Back since Sk8:98 and their huge promotion of local music."

Since forming in January 2010, the band has played in numerous clubs, bars, houses and concert halls in the Central Mass area. In doing so, they have gained a small following and local fame that will surely grow. But Montigny reminds us that ultimately it's not really about that.

"It's definitely not fame and fortune," he says. "I'm sure all members in this band do it because they've all worked hard to better themselves as musicians, and none of us want to stop. Whether we're playing on a bars floor, stage, garage, or the small spare bedroom that we practice in now, it's the best recreation we got going on."

On December 22 they will be playing the Palladium in support of their recently released second five-song EP entitled "Habits." The band is particularly excited about this concert as this will be the first that a hard copy of their new EP will be available to purchase.

They are now currently working on their first full-length album to be released soon. The album, once again, has "no particular direction."

"We will probably end up writing a number of songs, and then weeding through them to work out what we like most and what sounds best for the record," said the band.

Judging by the quality of music, their range of abilities and unique style, and the popularity they have already garnered thanks to it all, the band certainly has a bright future in the Worcester area and beyond as long as they can stay with it. They just hope people continue to enjoy it. And they have no plans to stop anytime soon.

For more information on Pro Re Nata find them on Facebook.