It's raining sweet purple candy apples: Halloween with The Sweet Delights
Gary S. Angelo FEATURES REPORTER
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
On Friday, Cedars Lounge will be in for a mystical showcase with Youngstown's R&B outfit The Sweet Delights. To get into the Halloween spirit, the band will be covering Prince's masterpiece: the "Purple Rain" soundtrack.
Since 1999, keyboard master Sean Tress and vocalist Obie Savage have been molding The Sweet Delights into funky fruition. The Sweet Delights includes Justin Arroyo (also of User Sets Mode) on bass, George Lyras on guitar, Savage, Aspasia Lyras and Joe Stillson on vocals, Luke Lenz (also of Rocket Radio) on drums and Tress and David Woodard on keyboards.
Savage and Arroyo are veterans of Youngstown's acclaimed punk/funk scene during the mid-1990s; they played in the group Raul. Stillson was part of Youngstown's metal-hardcore crossover scene, and played in the bands Cobra Axis and Off The Rocker.
The Sweet Delights combine the New Orleans soul/garage punk sounds of King Khan and The Shrines with a late-1950s Stax-Volt Records R&B touch. In 1999, the Delights put out their debut album, "Sweet Milk."
"Those recording sessions for 'Sweet Milk' turned out to be an exhaustive week so we took a break until 2006 to start a follow-up album," Tress said.
Tress said he has worked with many musicians in the Youngstown area. He has even done some musical collaborating with boxer Kelly Pavlik.
Despite many gospel, garage punk and late-1950s Motown comparisons, Tress wants to achieve the same style and sound of Mariah Carey's "Glitter" soundtrack.
"As far as what influences us, I would probably say '70s rock and even Iggy Pop," Tress said.
One musical influence that ties The Sweet Delights together is a love for Prince's "Purple Rain" soundtrack.
"Between everyone in the band, our favorite songs are 'The Beautiful Ones,' 'I Would Die 4 U,' 'Computer Blue,' 'Raspberry Beret,' 'Let's Go Crazy,' 'Baby I'm a Star,' 'Darling Nikki' and 'Take Me With U,'" Tress said.
The Sweet Delights even have a song -- titled "Benson Time" -- that is Prince-inspired.
This past spring, The Sweet Delights recorded their newest full-length album "Sweet Science." Tress said this recording session was the first time working with a band. Overall, "Sweet Science" does not differ much from the band's previous recordings, as far as the songwriting style.
"A few songs came about as a collective effort from the band -- something that materialized from us just messing around in the studio -- but most of our songs have one creator or band member behind them," Tress said.
The Sweet Delights plan on creating some new music during the winter of 2010. Tress and the crew want to have a new album completed anytime between the spring of 2010 to 2015.
"As far as sound goes, a few of us are leaning towards more of the Stones Throw sound, others want a Ted Nugent sound and a few are looking for more classical stuff such as Johannes Brahms," Tress said.
Since 1999, keyboard master Sean Tress and vocalist Obie Savage have been molding The Sweet Delights into funky fruition. The Sweet Delights includes Justin Arroyo (also of User Sets Mode) on bass, George Lyras on guitar, Savage, Aspasia Lyras and Joe Stillson on vocals, Luke Lenz (also of Rocket Radio) on drums and Tress and David Woodard on keyboards.
Savage and Arroyo are veterans of Youngstown's acclaimed punk/funk scene during the mid-1990s; they played in the group Raul. Stillson was part of Youngstown's metal-hardcore crossover scene, and played in the bands Cobra Axis and Off The Rocker.
The Sweet Delights combine the New Orleans soul/garage punk sounds of King Khan and The Shrines with a late-1950s Stax-Volt Records R&B touch. In 1999, the Delights put out their debut album, "Sweet Milk."
"Those recording sessions for 'Sweet Milk' turned out to be an exhaustive week so we took a break until 2006 to start a follow-up album," Tress said.
Tress said he has worked with many musicians in the Youngstown area. He has even done some musical collaborating with boxer Kelly Pavlik.
Despite many gospel, garage punk and late-1950s Motown comparisons, Tress wants to achieve the same style and sound of Mariah Carey's "Glitter" soundtrack.
"As far as what influences us, I would probably say '70s rock and even Iggy Pop," Tress said.
One musical influence that ties The Sweet Delights together is a love for Prince's "Purple Rain" soundtrack.
"Between everyone in the band, our favorite songs are 'The Beautiful Ones,' 'I Would Die 4 U,' 'Computer Blue,' 'Raspberry Beret,' 'Let's Go Crazy,' 'Baby I'm a Star,' 'Darling Nikki' and 'Take Me With U,'" Tress said.
The Sweet Delights even have a song -- titled "Benson Time" -- that is Prince-inspired.
This past spring, The Sweet Delights recorded their newest full-length album "Sweet Science." Tress said this recording session was the first time working with a band. Overall, "Sweet Science" does not differ much from the band's previous recordings, as far as the songwriting style.
"A few songs came about as a collective effort from the band -- something that materialized from us just messing around in the studio -- but most of our songs have one creator or band member behind them," Tress said.
The Sweet Delights plan on creating some new music during the winter of 2010. Tress and the crew want to have a new album completed anytime between the spring of 2010 to 2015.
"As far as sound goes, a few of us are leaning towards more of the Stones Throw sound, others want a Ted Nugent sound and a few are looking for more classical stuff such as Johannes Brahms," Tress said.
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