Musicians with longtime bond release new album with band Bishop ...

by yoursewickley

When Paul Benson of Sewickley was 5, he accepted bribes. Now 21, Benson said when he was a young boy, he would raise such a fuss when it was time to take piano lessons with Brent Stater, his parents would promise to take him to Toys 'R Us. He remembers getting a Batman outfit and a bicycle as rewards for going to weekly practices.

Today the two men are members of the same band, Bishop Clay, which recently released its first CD, "Sideways," and is working on a second.

Stater, who plays keyboard, bass and rhythm guitar, laughed when he talked about those early lessons with Benson, lead vocalist, lyricist and lead guitarist.

"He hated lessons so much, he would just sit there and stare at me, like 'Who is the evil man I have to see every Wednesday at 3 p.m.?'" said Stater, who has taught private music lessons in Sewickley since 1992.

"If you would have told me when Paul was 5, I would be on stage with him someday, I would have said you were crazy. But, you never know where life will lead you," said Stater.

Now the two friends see each other three or four times a week to practice with other band members, and Benson still takes piano, voice and guitar lessons from Stater.

Although the two friends admitted they still argue a lot, they and other band members (Peter Fedeyshin, of Sewickley, rhythm and lead guitar; Zack Perkins, Sewickley, rhythm guitar; Troy James Syzmanski, Leetsdale, drums; Ryan Ramsey, of Washington, Pa., bass; and Mary Falkowski, Fair Oaks, vocals) said they are working hard to try to make Bishop Clay a success.

The same day the band performed at its CD release party at Altar Bar in the Strip District, members also performed live on 102.5 WDVE's Coffeehouse. Songs from "Sideways," a mixture of ballads, heavy and modern rock and a salsa tune, also have been played on 93.7 WBZW and 105.9 WXDX. Members now are in the process of getting the CD some exposure in New York City.

In May, members performed at Penn State University and Hard Rock Cafe in Station Square, where they again will play at 10 p.m. Oct. 16. Bishop Clay also is scheduled from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Nov. 25 at at Rhythm House Cafe, Bridgeville. Dates of a performances at Mr. Smalls in Pittsburgh and Pepsi-Cola Roadhouse will be announced soon.

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