ON AREA MUSIC (Fine Times, March 1986)
Nik Everett:
Perseverance Pays Off
BY BOB BOWERSOX

I caught the Nik Everett Group at Kelly's Logan House late last month, and was happy to find Nik and band continuing to put out some of the better mainstream original music in the area If there's one thing that's really likeable about Nik Everett, it's his consistency.

I've followed Everett for at least the last five years, after seeing him at one or two of his early solo performances. I was impressed at how energetic a performer he was, and how he could make a room dance with just his voice and an acoustic guitar.

A couple of years ago, Nik realized that bands do better, on the whole, than do solo singers, so he decided to put one together. It took him a long time to find the right players, but then, once the band solidified momentarily, suddenly it wasn't there—players off to some other opportunity or what have you.

Nik persevered, however, and his current quartet has been with him for a while now, and it's a hot grouping too. Nik, of course, fronts and plays guitar, joined by bassist Rick Read, drummer (and brother) Dave Peterson, and ex-Number Bill Currier on lead guitar and vocals. Good players all, and well suited to Everett's music.

And it's Everett's music that really makes it work. The nice thing about it is that he can really write some hooks. The songs are not all that extraordinary, in the sense of being really innovative, but they have a real comfortable feel about them, like old friends, and when he gets to the chorus of a song, the melody begs you to sing along. Songs like "Right Of Way" and "Walk On By" are easy to pick up and easy to remember (I've been singing "Rock On By" to myself for a week now). To me, that's always been the mark of a good song, and thus, a good songwriter—you remember his hooks. So it is with Everett.

It was also nice to see Bill Currier again. I hadn't really had a chance to get together with him since the Numbers called it quits. I'm kind of surprised that he hasn't put together his own group since, seeing as how most of the music the Numbers played was his. But it was good to hear him play again. Bill's one of the most unsung leads in the area. He sounds good adding spice to Everett's songs.

If you get a chance to catch the Nik Everett group this month, do so.

Another ex-Number has been doing quite well lately with his new group: John Hamilton, who was the keyboardist with the Numbers for their stay at the top of popularity.

Hamilton has now joined his brother, Rick, in a Philadelphia group, The Reactors, an all-original act that has begun to make some inroads into the Philly hierarchy. The Reactors have been doing some showcase gigs in Philly over the last couple of months, places like the Empire Rock Club and 23 East Cabaret. Most recently they did the second of two live broadcasts on WYSP from the Khyber Pass Pub at Second and Chestnut Streets. They've also been trying to get down to Delaware, to showcase a club like the Stone Balloon, but have had trouble getting a date lined up.

The group's also been doing some recording, which at this time is the interesting point. They've recorded several songs in the last year, and all of them sound like they were done by a group that's been around a lot longer than the Reactors have. Strong, tight, well-arranged rock and roll, particularly songs like "It's Not Too Late," "Crazy World," and 'Wild Hearts," all of which have been featured on WSTW's Fine Times Tonight.

The experience of the group shows through in their recording to such an extent that I'm looking forward to seeing them live. They're just beginning to build a strong following in Philly, so it shouldn't be long before someone books them here in Delaware.

By the way, the Reactor's first single, due to be released shortly and stocked at the Wall to Wall stores, will be "Caught Up" and "It's Not Too Late." A good buy if you like strong area rock.