The band: Joel Reader (voice, bass) is a recent transplant from San Francisco; Zack Wells (guitar, voice) and Josh Megyesy (guitar, slide guitar, voice) grew up on the North Shore; and Dave Bryson (drums) moved from Connecticut with his wife, a doctoral student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The sound: Boston cynicism meets California sunshine pop. Or as lead singer Reader puts it, it’s music with an “East Coast mentality and a West Coast disposition.”
“I didn’t realize until I sat down and read the lyrics just how cynical they are,” Reader said. “I have that California sunshine upbeat sound, but the message is sort of a downer.”
The back story: Thank you, Ashley Moody. The pixieish keyboardist of synthpop band the Information started dating Reader when they shared a Los Angeles-based record label. The couple tried the long-distance thing, but when Reader’s band broke up, he decided to switch coasts with a batch of ready-to- record songs. Moody introduced Reader to Information guitarist Wells, and the Fatal Flaw quickly came together. Earlier this year Wells recruited Megyesy and Bryson to complete the four-piece.
“I remember being really impressed with Zack,” Reader said. “He’s just one of those connected people that everyone likes. He’s also like a human recorder. He hears something once and he can play it back.”
The album: Reader calls the Fatal Flaw’s debut, which was finished this week at Barefoot Studios in Allston, a hybrid of his old and new musical lives.
“The process started last April is now locked and left for history to judge,” Reader said. “It feels kind of good to say. This particular batch of songs has taken two bands and two coasts.”
The special guests: The Flaw’s forthcoming album includes a veritable Who’s Who of the Boston alt-pop scene. Jared Marsh of Taxpayer, Luke O’Neil from the Good North, Heidi Lee from the SnowLeopards and Ashley Moody of the Information all contributed.
Boston vs. Cali: Reader grew up with punk bands like Green Day. He says Boston’s music scene is different than what he’s used to.
“Moving 3,000 miles from home really could have been disorienting,” Reader said, “but I’m really impressed with the level of talent in Boston’s music scene. They know how to play and how to make a record out here.”
Reader also has noticed that Boston is a stronghold for metal.
“We get a lot of that music bleeding through the wall at our practice space,” he said.
The music: Download two free, unreleased songs, “Don’t Start Believin’ ” and “When We Were Friends,” from the Fatal Flaw’s upcoming album, at bostonherald.com/entertainment.
