Local musicians fuse hip-hop with rock to create a unique sound

ANDOVER — Aspiring musicians Pete Magistro, Scott Laudati, and Dave Magistro, otherwise know by their fans as Pistol Pete, Shark Attack, and DJ B.T Dubs all share a love for music and with that comes their determination to get their band known to the public. Their band has a unique rhythm and sense of style. “We take catchy and melodic guitar parts and mix them with chilled out hip-hop beats made with a drum machine. This creates a vintage-sounding style we like to call ‘Rock-Hop,’” said Magistro. The three members all have a background of music. Pistol Pete comes from a rock background. He has been playing since the age of 16, with over 100 shows. He has even opened for British pop star Natasha Bedingfield. Magistro is the mastermind behind the works, writing and producing the music for his band. “With a lot of fresh ideas, I needed a DJ to spin my beats. I showed them to my brother Dave (DJ B.T. Dubs) and he took them to work with immediately,” said Magistro. Shark Attack, a self-proclaimed crazy man due to his enthusiasm fresh from the California music circuit is a guitarist/singer songwriter. He worked with Drive Through Records until he decided to come to the east coast for a start fresh. The laid back DJ B.T. Dubs spins the beats at parties throughout Northern New Jersey. “If you aren’t moving by the time he hits the stage, there is something wrong with your legs.” He does his best to control the chaos that the other two members bring to the show. Sublime, Bob Marley, Wu-Tang Clan, Rage Against the Machine, early Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and the Offspring have inspired the band. Pistol Pete remembers getting his first guitar, “I got my first guitar from a JC Penny catalog and from then on I’ve been playing music without fail. I’ve been obsessed with music straight out of the womb,” said Pete. On March 14 the band is playing at the Gristmill Café, an indie coffee house in Andover. Tickets are $5 with a deduction of one dollar if you wear a swimsuit. “In terms of the future, nothing is guaranteed so we play every show like it’s the last thing we will ever do. We guarantee you will have a good time, and dance until your feet hurt,” said Magistro.