"herbie is perhaps the best example in the mid-state area of a band that demands from audiences and critics alike a new vocabulary to describe an utterly idiosyncratic genre that would include, well, just them." – Fly Magazine
herbie, known for its magical blend of high-energy rock, uptown funk, infectious jams, and eclectic jazz, formed in September of 2000. The first dawn of assembly began inside the whimsical minds of guitarists Jay Baab and George Griffo. Brought together as college roommates at Lebanon Valley College (LVC) in Annville, PA, the duo soon realized they shared a common love for music and a mutual vision to create it. They didn't have to look far to find Ben Eberts, fellow LVC classmate and trombone-major-turned-bassist, who immediately connected with Jay and George on musical levels. With the nucleus of herbie now fully materialized, they departed on their musical excursion. In July of 2002 (after the departure of the band's original drummer), seasoned drummer Ffej Herb joined the band, and the revised foursome commenced with rehearsals and writing new tunes to give herbie a fresh, more sophisticated musical direction.
The band worked with producer Shelly Yakus (John Lennon, Tom Petty, U2) in 2001 to record foreshadows, an EP featuring three original songs, most notably the melodic “Toad,” which has since become a huge fan favorite with its catchy riffs and sing-along choruses. In September 2003, and with a stockpile of more than twenty new songs, the band began working on its first full-length release. The result was High Impact, a collection of seven of the band's most memorable tunes culled from its varied catalog of original compositions, including the single, “Fudge” and live favorites such as “Cool Ethan” and “Brand New”. The album was released to a capacity crowd at Remy's Nightclub in Harrisburg, PA on January 24, 2004. In a review of High Impact, Harrisburg Online proclaims, “This material is so strong it could have been recorded on a tin box, replayed only during high school football games over grainy speakers, and it would still shine brilliantly.”
Early 2004 found herbie uniting with Roundtable Presents, a partnership committed to organizing and promoting live original music throughout Central PA, and soon thereafter became the organization's flagship group among an equally impressive stable of artists. Roundtable Presents has since become an authority on original music throughout the Central PA region and beyond.
"What keeps herbie afloat more than their sophisticated musical arrangements and near-virtuosic mastery is the fact that they never forget about putting on a good show." – Fly Magazine
After a successful year in 2004, herbie decided it was time to make the leap from local Central PA band to regional touring act. With an impressive performance schedule including dates from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, as well as appearances in DE, MD, NJ, NY and VA, the band shows no signs of slowing down. Among its impressive list of notable venues is The Funk Box (Baltimore, MD), Kenny's Castaways (New York, NY), The Chameleon Club (Lancaster, PA), Dragonfly (Harrisburg, PA), and Grape Street Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA). However, the band still appeals to an ever-growing fan base in its native Central PA, having appeared at the prestigious Patriot-News ArtsFest on multiple occasions, as well as The American Music Festival. Its music also appears regularly on commercial radio throughout the region, including Central PA’s three most recognized stations: WTPA 93.5 FM, WQXA 105.7 FM and WRVV 97.3 FM. The band is also a big hit on college campuses, having performed at colleges and universities throughout PA, NJ and MD. herbie (and its parent company, Herbie Entertainment Group) is also a member of NACA, the National Association of Campus Activities.
… [herbie] can musically tap-dance through tonic changes with the skill of those Blue Angel pilots that do jet-air show tricks and all the while the band is acting like they are working on their tan at a day at the beach. – PA Musician Magazine
herbie’s live show is fun, energetic and diverse. Says Fly Magazine, “Within the constraints of an hour and a half set, herbie manages to evoke just about every music style one could possibly imagine. Anywhere from Edgar Winter to ELP, Phish to Rush, Sublime, Steely Dan and beyond, the band takes an encyclopedic trip down the past 30 years of good music.” It is not uncommon for the band to mix original songs and cover tunes with stretched out improvisational passages and impromptu musical interludes. The band is truly in its element on the stage, and the members of herbie consider themselves first and foremost a live band. herbie is indeed “at home” when performing live on stage, and audiences everywhere know it.
“…only a handful of artists in this area leave a crowd awestruck. herbie compels an audience follow their set like a movie.” – Harrisburg Online
herbie is optimistic and looks to the future with an eagerness and hunger that is seldom found even in considerably younger bands. The band hopes to expand its regional fan base and eventually break into the national touring and festival markets, where other similar jam-style bands have prospered. In late 2006, the band lost founding member George Griffo, who parted ways with the band amicably after a long tenure with herbie. The band held auditions for a new fourth member and named George's successor soon thereafter, a fellow LVC alumni, Andy Mowatt. Andy immediately clicked with herbie's musical direction as well as its personality and collective sense of humor. The new herbie is hard at work composing new original material that will not only showcase its unique musical chemistry, but also its eclecticism and versatile approach to songwriting
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