Jailhouse rock, blues and jazz

Courtesy of Solrevolt

Chad Sacra, Moneta resident, is Solrevolt's keyboardist.

Courtesy of Solrevolt

Solrevolt members (from left) Chad Sacra, Rick Drewery, David "Buck" Sink, Joel Branscom, Scott Neal and Travis Barber jamming.

What happens when you take four Roanoke City police officers, one retired officer and the Botetourt County commonwealth's attorney and place them in a lake recording studio? You get a 10-song CD of blues rock debuting Saturday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. at Blue 5 Restaurant in Roanoke.

Chad Sacra, Moneta resident and keyboardist and a vocalist for Solrevolt, said the CD, recorded at East Lake Studio Productions in Moneta, is the culmination of two years of writing.

"The CD we're going to be releasing is all original," said Sacra. "We've written all the lyrics, music composition, everything."

Solrevolt has been playing together since 2007, when three of the members separated from another Roanoke band that featued police officers. It was founded by Sacra and drummer David "Buck" Sink in 2004.

"We were sitting at the table one day and figured out we both played music," said Sacra. "We came up with this grand scheme of trying to get some other players in the department."

The band played cover songs. After a few years, Sacra, Sink and lead guitarist and vocalist Scott Neal decided to go original.

"The group of us really wanted to see where our talents would lead us," said Sacra.

They picked up fellow police officers Rick Drewery, rhythm guitar, and Travis Barber, bass guitar. Last year, the group added Joel Branscom, Botetourt commonwealth's attorney, on harmonica.

Each band member brings his own influences and talents to the composing table, creating a fusion of various musical genres. On the band's Web site, it says they're "soulfully fusing jazz, blues, and rock & roll."

"Whatever is to your liking, it ought to be in there somewhere," said Sacra.

Despite the members' careers, Sacra said the lyrics aren't about law and order, and it's not a case of music made by cops for cops.

"We don't want our music to be driven by what we do," said Sacra. "We want our music to be driven by how it sounds."

Their first album, which will sell for $10, includes upbeat songs such as "Girl's Night Out" and darker, more somber tracks like "Raised in a Church."

There's a story behind the composition of every song. It always starts with one band member stringing lyrics together, said Sacra. Then the group composes music around it and tweaks the lyrics to fit.

For example, "Girl's Night Out," which will be featured on a production-company CD compilation that will be mailed to radio stations, came from a thought that popped into Sacra's head while making a three-hour drive to Hopewell.

"I had no clue what goes into a girl's night out, obviously, because I'm the guy," said Sacra. "I'm sitting on the wrong side of the fence."

He later quizzed his wife Barbara and the couple penned the lyrics. The song underwent changes through the composition process and later as they were recording the song for the album. The songs also are tweaked after live shows.

"Any time we bring [a song] on board, we'll take it out and play it and we'll refine it as we go," said Sacra. "The music develops as we progress with it."

Solrevolt plays on a regular basis at Blue 5 and The Coffee Pot in Roanoke and Pomegranate Restaurant in Troutville, said Sacra. The band also played at The Westlake Golf & Country Club in Hardy and are looking for more lake-area venues.

"It would be great to make a connection down here at the lake," said Sacra. "It's just finding the right fit for our group."

Check out the sound of Solrevolt and view pictures of the band members here.

For more information about Solrevolt, visit www.myspace.com/solrevoltband. To book the band for a show, e-mail solrevolt@cox.net.