An artist entering his staggering fourth decade writing and performing music that weaves in and out of seminal pop-punk, alt-country, metal, and a fascinating indie folk-prog hybrid, Chad Price has made the most of his time.

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In 1993, Chad stumbled into the ultimate rock and roll fantasy when his favorite band, Los Angeles punk stalwarts ALL, tapped him as its third singer. As Price managed to keep up with ALL's breakneck release and touring schedule, he was beginning to open up new musical veins that unmistakably skewed toward traditional folk and Americana. Chad formed the Colorado-based Drag the River with fellow country-curious musicians Jon Snodgrass and Paul Rucker (Armchair Martian) and J.J. Nobody (the Nobodys). Over the next 13 years Drag the River criss-crossed the country with the likes of Chuck Ragan, Rocky Votolato and Lucero and released seven smart and scruffy studio albums.

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Price countered Drag the River’s heartland rock by continuing to push himself in two directions at once. His first solo album, 2009’s Smile Sweet Face, plays like a bruised morning after a rowdy Drag the River show.  His follow-up, 2018’s One Week Record expands Price’s personal songs’ sonic territory with more instrumentation but remains direct and unfussy. 

 

Counteracting these sporadic solo releases, Chad formed A Vulture Wake, a truly unexpected detour into prog-metal, grinding through its strident debut The Appropriate Level of Outrage, two subsequent Eps and the sophomore LP One.Kingdom.Animal.

All those miles and artistic transformations have led to a new project – Chad Price Peace Coalition, and the album A Perfect Pearl. While A Perfect Pearl certainly delivers Price’s signature rough-hewn vulnerability, it also kicks up some sublime musical moments that feel distinctly inspired by prog giants like Jethro Tull and Yes. 

Chad Price Peace Coalition's A Perfect Pearl is a distinctly compelling listen, and like the best rock albums, it provokes and ultimately rewards an attentive listener.