How Many Ways by 31 North

31 North set out in March, 1999 for pre-production of their debut album, 'How Many Ways' , which was released to the public on October 28th, 2000. Founding members Rodger Ekstrom, Chris Barber, Chris Constantine and Gary Jewers brought their long time friendship and broad musical experience together at Longview Farms Studios to document original compositions. Shortly after the band's creation 31 North welcomed Jesse Ekstrom on guitar and Jim Mailloux on percussion.

With a new album nearing completion, the band approaches each day with renewed passion for the music and an infectious energy that makes them one of the most inviting and accessible bands that New England has to offer.

Revenge of the `70s

Worcester Phoenix

Local rockers draw inspiration from a heavy decade

by Brian Goslow-Worcester Phoenix

There comes a time, unless you're one of those determined to hold onto the glory days of youth forever, when you find yourself pulling away from the crowd with whom you hung out in high school. My epiphany came in 1977, when instead of going into Boston to check out all of the great punk rock bands at the Rat and Cantone's, my friends were more than happy to sit at home getting blasted, listening to the likes of Boston, Mike Oldfield, and the Doobie Brothers -- who of course, sold millions upon millions of records while the likes of my beloved DMZ, Real Kids, and Iggy probably couldn't total a million sales among them.

If you love bands like Boston, the Doobies, et al., and are still searching for new musical kicks, you owe it to yourself to track down a copy of 31 North's How Many Ways, the release of which was celebrated towards the end of last year with CD-release parties at the Palladium and Lucky Dog Music Hall. As it spins, you'll likely find yourself playing name the influences.

How Many Ways, which fits in the category many baby boomers like to call "good music, not like what you hear today," features the guitar playing of Rodger Ekstrom, who is especially brilliant on "Hang In There," and keyboardist Gary Jewers, who rips into "Confused." The disc could easily be called a tribute to the band members' wives. On "The Luckiest Man," Ekstrom sings, "I'm the luckiest man in the world/`Cause you are my girl" and "Livin' with you girl/Is all I ever wanted" on "Change," which includes backing vocals by 31 North wives(***See Below)Kaitlyn Ekstrom and Allison Barber (spouse of bassist Chris Barber). "Ain't Goin' Nowhere," co-written by Ekstrom and Jewers, is a heart-throbbing ballad similar to Poison's "Every Rose Has It's Thorn." Share the love at www.31north.com.

****Kaitlyn is infact Rodger's SISTER. Allison is Chris' SISTER

Ain't Going Nowhere

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Song Review

review by Doug R.

Boston band craft piano-based love songs in the style of everybody's favorite Long Islander, Billy Joel...the band's smooth, creamy ballads are effective due to solid, well-crafted structures and a certain instant familiarity.

Average Customer Review: 2