Queens Band Advances In Internet Band Competition
By Victoria Hernandez

No fledgling band today can be without a MySpace, the ubiquitous networking Web site, presence to promote itself. Want to really get your name and sound out there worldwide? Think competition via the internet.

This past May, 879 unsigned and independent artists from seven countries did just that by entering their songs in the Next Gretsch Greats Unsigned Artist Competition. The votes for the first round of the competition are in, and a local Queens band, The Refined Gentlemen and Gezele, advanced to the top 10 finalists with the song, "Ice." The first prize consists of $15,000 worth of Gretsch musical equipment, as well as a performance on stage this November in New York at the Gretsch 125th Anniversary Concert featuring legendary Gretsch Greats.

The Refined Gentlemen’s John Catania sports a natty look on stage.

"We were in shock, but this is what we wanted," bass guitar player John Catania said. "It meant a start to the future. The excitement is overwhelming."

Formed only six months ago, The Refined Gentlemen and Gezele perform their own original music along with classic blues and rock.

The band members have been active in the music scene for years and found each other via ads on the internet. Gezele Portwood hails from Flushing and is a performance artist encompassing Off Broadway musical theatre, and lead and backing vocals in many music genres.

John Catania has been playing music since he was three years old. He started out playing drums and played in rock and roll bands on Long Island where he grew up. In 2006, he made the switch to bass guitar, which for a drummer, was a natural fit. George Wasek has been playing drums and percussion since he was 14. He has performed both recording and session music with many original and cover projects throughout the years.

Front woman for the Refined Gentlemen, Gezele Portwood.

Stuart David Greatorex was born in Sheffield, England and got his first guitar at age 11. Inspired by the great bands of the late 1960s, he began to play and emulate the great guitarists of the era. All four members currently live in Queens.

Once the four band members came together, "musically we clicked," Catania said.

The band was so excited that they "got rid of everything that was junk and invested in top of the line equipment. We hear ourselves progressing and how good the music is sounding. We just want to make better and better songs," Catania said.

The band currently has more than 1,100 friends on MySpace. Catania described their entry song "Ice" as "surfing music." However, he noted many of the fans are describing it as having an "indie" feel.

They are currently working on recording their own album at the Hidden Fortress recording studio in College Point and have their own DVD.

The band's name originated from Catania's love of old films with the likes of Fred Astaire.

"I liked the old movies with the guys in the top hats," he said. "I said it kidding around that yes, we are the refined gentlemen."

The Refined Gentlemen and Gezele plays four sets of songs during their shows and plan to play in New York, Long Island and New Jersey in the fall.

"We want to see ourselves fully produced and recording CDs and playing out live in big concerts and big venues," Catania said.

The next round of the competition will take place on Sept. 1 when the finalists will have their entry songs reviewed by a panel of judges who will select the grand, first and second prize winners.

"We are out there and ready to do up New York," Catania he said.

Check out the band's MySpace page at www.myspace.com/refinedgentlemen.