The Stage - Tomorrow's Music. Today.

Poppycock Babble,
by Melissa Evanko

Pat Wilson has seen it all as the lead singer with the trademark goatee in one of the most recognizable bands in the Lehigh Valley, Poppy Cock Babble. A band whose love for both creating and playing music is evident. In an exclusive interview for "The Stage" Pat Wilson, shared his thoughts about the band and their labor of love.

Poppy Cock Babble is Pat Wilson, vocals and guitar, Eldro, lead guitar, Jason Berger, bass guitar, and Ryan Donohue, drums. The guys call Allentown, PA home.

Poppy Cock Babble has been together since 1996, with the original lineup still intact. The story goes Wilson met Berger while both were majoring in Fine Art at Kutztown University. Eldro was an old friend and previous band mate of Wilson. After college the trio got serous about forming a band. Months later, Donohue answered an ad they had placed for a drummer. Add seven years and you have Poppy Cock Babble, whose name was dug up from a High School band that Wilson was the drummer for.

The song that Poppy Cock Babble performed on "The Stage" was "One Stop Healing." This song made the cut because Wilson felt it would translate well acoustically. He notes that they are known as a heavier sounding band and this song is a bit of a different avenue for them.

It has been a few years since the guy’s 2000 "Boom-a-Shiver" release. They are currently working on a new album. "It is our goal to have this CD,’ notes Wilson. It has been a slow process, though a labor of love, due in part to finances. Six of the twelve tracks have already been recorded. To give a preview of what to expect, including "One Stop Feeling," will be nine more studio tracks and two tracks to be recorded during live performances.

When it comes to writing songs, it is a group effort. Wilson is the lyric man, with Berger and Eldro supplying much of the music, then Donohue adds the drums.

Wilson notes that the songs always "morph with involvement." From the music, Wilson explains you "get a sense that evokes words." Then comes the melody line with that the "lyrics and content fall into place."

Wilson attributes the bands longevity to "having a common aestic as to what they enjoy," with similar tastes in music and similar goals. The guys all "enjoy each others musicianship."

Poppy Cock Babble has been a fixture on the Lehigh Valley music scene for years. Wilson has seen good and bad times with the scene. He feels that right now there are a lot of good bands in the area but "the bands are better than the area." He feels that sometimes bands do not get the support they should in the eyes of the media. Part of this is due to politics, part to lack of communication.

Wilson sums it up best, as there are 2 different types of people: those who like concerts Vs covers. When club goers, who are used to cover bands see an original band they don’t know what to do with them. People are "used to hearing and recognizing the songs right away".

At the core of a Poppy Cock Babble live show is the genuine intensity and energy from the band. They "play and sing from the heart." Wilson adds a lot of bands have a false image. To Wilson, "music has to come from the heart. He encourages fans to interpret the music and lyrics the way they want to. In the end "If people get where we are coming from it makes our day."