Pleasure Train is a northern Virginia-based band that incorporates a fusion of styles rooted in groove, alternative, jam, jazz, pop, and house. The band formed after longtime friends and guitarists Ian Dandridge and Richard Fiegel had a conversation about the future of music and what genres would define their generation. After a long discussion of their personal influences which ranged from 70’s giants such as Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead to modern acts including Tame Impala and Deadmau5, the two began envisioning the style of music they wanted to see develop in the future, and began the search for like-minded musicians. Keyboardist Mike Paquette was recruited first, bringing wide-ranging influences to the table including jazz and electronica. Vocalist Valerie Vega was connected with the band seemingly by chance, after her rich, soulful voice caught the attention of Fiegel while he was browsing Youtube videos of local singers. The lineup was completed when drummer Andrew Gabor and bassist Will Berger came on board, rounding out the band with an upbeat funk and R&B-influenced rhythm section. Pleasure Train has been a staple in the local music scene since the summer of 2014, and the band has enjoyed making their own unique contribution to the soundscape of the greater Washington, D.C. area.
With the help of Sean Gotkin, producer/engineer and owner of Blue Hippo Recordings, Pleasure Train completed their debut EP in fall 2014. The five-song EP is a true collaborative songwriting effort, combining each member’s personality and musicianship and providing listeners with catchy melodies, chilled-out vibes, and danceable grooves. Jam-packed with funky guitar riffs and jazzed out piano melodies, each track provides a unique listening experience. The lead instruments weave together in a delicate mesh of harmony while the booming drums and bass relentlessly drive the groove forward. But it is the dynamic and soulful vocals of Valerie Vega that are the highlight of the EP; her lyrical imagery spins a tapestry of love, lust, joy, betrayal, and all things in between. The DIY mentality of the project stays close to the heart of both Pleasure Train and Blue Hippo Recordings, each placing strong values in growing their local music communities from the ground up. The band is currently in the studio working on their debut full-length album, set to be released in early summer 2016.
Pleasure Train is constantly seeking new opportunities to perform for their fans as their momentum continues to pick up. The band is aiming to consistently branch out of their home ground and expand their musical presence, with future plans to perform in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Richmond, New York City, and beyond. All members of Pleasure Train have a strong passion for live music and the vibrant community that goes along with it. It is this pure satisfaction they get from experiencing live music that has driven the band to make sure each of their own performances are more energetic and memorable than the last. Pleasure Train’s number one goal is to turn each show they play into a once-in-a-lifetime event, taking their audience along on an emotional ride and spreading that energetic rush that only live music can provide.
