The New Times
Music Editor, Niki D’Andrea
April 03, 2008

Local singer/guitarist Brian Chartrand has his fingers in lots of stuff — he plays in local jam band Ten Dollar Outfit, and he’s also a member of Phoenix group RGB. But more than anything, Chartrand has his fingers in heavy-handed acoustic guitar plucking, especially on his solo EP, Sleeping With Giants. Listeners may be reminded of Nick Drake’s deep plucking style by the opening track, “Sweetly, Gently,” wherein listeners can actually hear Chartrand’s hands sliding across the strings in chord changes. Vocally, Chartrand sounds like a cross between Dave Matthews and Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, and his folky, winsome tenor blends nicely with the pastoral-sounding string solo and flute float-out that ends the song. It’s quite a pretty little ditty. Other songs, like “Smiling Strangers,” are a bit darker — this one’s a folk dirge about the melancholy of forgetting, complete with icy keyboards and a distant guitar solo that sounds like it’s trudging across a vast stretch of desert to pass out at our feet. Two of the cover songs stand out because they’re unlikely choices for a folk-rock makeover — Mary J. Blige’s “Ex-Factor” and Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River.” Chartrand turns the former song into a groovalicious, Jack Johnson-ish tune, and what it lacks in soul it more than makes up for in earnest novelty, as we are reminded how awesome it is that Blige used the word “reciprocity” multiple times in the lyrics. The cover of “Cry Me a River” has some fresh swagger (thanks again to that hard gee-tar plucking), but often sounds so straightforward and raw that it could pass for an old demo version of the song. It’ll be interesting to hear more of Chartrand’s solo material in this acoustic, lightly orchestrated format, rather than all the covers.

The New Times
Music Editor, Niki D’Andrea
Jan. 25, 2007

While Ten Dollar Outfit shies away from the “jam band” label, they are sorta like Phoenix’s own version of Widespread Panic-meets-John Mayer, and singer/guitarist Brian Chartrand even admits, “I don’t like playing or singing a song the same way . . . ever, really.” And TDO really is more of a live band than a studio band, if its latest full-length, the self-released Live at Chandler Center, is any proof. In addition to some new cuts, the album contains versions of songs off TDO’s last studio album, East Meets West, that sound little like the originals, thanks to TDO’s love of improvisation. The band’s knack for blending laid-back folk-rock with jazzy jams and wrapping it up in emotive showmanship stems from influences as varied as Steely Dan, Jeff Buckley, Ben Harper, and Coldplay, but Ten Dollar Outfit somehow has a sound all its own. TDO’s got some songs, too, from the compelling, mellow ballad “Lover’s Plight” to the jazz-funk jaunt “15 Tons of Moonshine,” and its live show always holds the promise of a . . . dare we say, jam?

The Valley Advocate
The Nightcrawler, Gary Carra
Jan. 18, 2007

In other news, the Crawler almost forgot to mention that Brian Chartrand checked in with him recently, too. The former Flying Lessons frontman dropped a dime during a recent homecoming in Western Mass to dish on his current project—a snazzy, jazzy three-piece, based in his new home state of Arizona, called Ten Dollar Outfit.

“This album was recorded on a beautifully hot summer’s day at the Chandler Center for the Arts,” read the liner notes of the new disc. And one can almost feel the sun that was on their skin—or a cold, over-priced adult beverage on their lips—as Chartrand, drummer Kaleb Anderson and keyboardist Peter Venti meander through the slapback reverb rock of “Genuine Leather” or the funk-a-matic “15 Tons of Moonshine.”

As impressive as the 11-tune live offering is, Chartrand adds that this most recent addition to the Ten Dollar catalogue is a mere ghost of the band’s highlights, in his estimation.

“It’s a great live disc and we’re proud of it,” he says, “but I’m really excited about the new batch of tunes we hope to release as early as March of this year.”

Earlier in 2006, Chartrand and band had the good fortune to open up for Steely Dan, Michael McDonald and Chris Isaak on separate occasions. To hear some audio samples, check them out at www.tendollaroutfit.com.

Sonik Magazine
Amanda Plocinski, Music Writer
Phoenix, AZ

For a smooth, jazzy, acoustic feel there is none other to listen to than Ten Dollar Outfit. The recent release of East Meets West shows the potential of this trio. Their sound can be compared to the likes of Amos Lee, John Mayer, and even Jack Johnson. For a sample of their live sound, I encourage you to purchase the album Live At The Paper Heart. Howeverwith the numerous performances provided by these three talented men I strongly encourage you to check them out live.Ten Dollar Outfit will be performing at the Paisley Violin on Friday, Oct. 14th and at Caffe Boa on Friday, Oct. 28th. Lead vocals, Brian Chartrand, also has a solo project that, based off TDO’s resonance, I can only imagine would benothing short of extraordinary.

Evening Star Productions
Tom Hoppa, Talent Buyer
Phoenix, AZ

East Meets West is a great new release from one of Phoenix’s most under-rated and soon to be discovered bands. The production on this album is as smooth, and extremely well defined as any major release in recent times. The songs are well written, and performed. If you are a fan of John Butler Trio, Jack Johnson, John Mayer and/or Edwin McCain, you will thoroughly enjoy these songs.

Cindy Gentry
Downtown Phoenix Market
Phoenix, AZ

Brian Chartrand’s rich vocals and intelligent guitar work bring a just-right mellow flavor to the Downtown Phoenix Public Market. Mixing his own compositions in with a broad range of cover songs, Brian’s music, heartfelt and authentic, has become a can’t-miss staple of the Market scene!.

D’Vine Wine
Mesa, AZ
By Mark Nowicki, Owner

Ten Dollar Outfit has been playing for the Dvine restaurants for the past four years. Never has a crowd been disappointed with their unique style of music wether it’s their original music or covers. Great guys with dynamic personalities and very professional.

Valley Advocate
Springfield, MA
Sept. 9th, 2005
“ex-Flying Lessons frontman checks in from out west.”
By Gary Carra, Nightcrawler

Lastly, your friendly neighborhood Nightcrawler received another interesting packet via airmail last week. Fittingly, it was from ex- Flying Lessons frontman Brian Chartrand, with an Arizona return address?

“Yeah, I moved out in October of 2003 and put a little project together called Ten Dollar Outfit ,” he explains. “We’ve been playing pretty steadily and have just released our first disc, East Meets West .”

Chartrand may have moved to the desert, but, as evidenced by said CD, he certainly hasn’t forgotten the lush melodies and rich, textured instrumental arrangement that helped propel Flying Lessons to regional notoriety years ago. Witness the slap-happy reverb rock of disc opener “Genuine Leather,” or the lilting, string-laden ” A Moment Awake.”

This is the stuff of a John Mayer –sans the wispy voice and the musical vasectomy Mayer’s edgy stuff receives in studio production. Or maybe even Dave Matthews, back when Dave Matthews was cool. Former Flying Lessons bandmate Tak Yamashita even seems to have gotten into the act–nabbing a co-writing credit for track seven, “Three Lessons.”

“Tak came to me with the progression for that in late spring of 2003,” Chartrand recalls. “We flipped things around, added a bridge and lyrics and recorded it his apartment in Boston. Unfortunately, Flying Lessons never got to perform it, but I quickly added it to Ten Dollar Outfit’s set list when I got out here.” East Coast Chartrand fans can keep up to speed on his progress–and buy the new disc –via www.tendollaroutfit.com.

Koto
Telluride, CO
July 27, 2005
“East Meets West”
By Elizabeth Howe, KOTO DJ

A friend left this cd for me with a note that said “talk to me about this”. I listened and then listened again. TDO has the perfect blend of guitar, percussion and keys. Their lyrics are thoughtful and honest…snapshots of life. Their melodies are soulful and sweet. Their overall sound is groovy and mellow. If I had to pick just one word to describe TDO…smooth. I had to thank my friend…I just love it when great music finds me!

My favorite tracks are Genuine Leather, Don Quixote and Cotton Candy.

College Times
Tempe, AZ
May 5, 2005
Three Piece
By Chris Manning

The sound of clinking glasses seems to be a running theme for the guys in Ten Dollar Outfit.

Not that they are alcoholics or anything. The conversations I witnessed on minute points of the mixing of their forthcoming album and ways to improve their fan base shows a dedication that would disprove any thoughts of that nature.

But due to a funny set of circumstances, that clinking sound continually shows up in my dealings with them. The tape I recorded of our meeting on a Tuesday night at Tempe’s Four Peaks Brewery shares this sonic quality with the live recording they made at The Paper Heart Gallery on April 27, 2004.

Ten Dollar Outfit isn’t all clinking glasses, though. But they’ve got a sound that is equally as inviting.

Made up of guitarist and singer Brian Chartrand, drummer Kaleb Anderson and keys player Peter Venti, Ten Dollar Outfit’s instruments and voices come together to produce a jazzy pop sound that would mesh well with any coffee shop or low-key venue or party. It is music that calms you down and slides easily into the background without being overbearing or inciting any kind of urge to be physically violent or rowdy.

Critics have said the band would be of interest to fans of Dave Matthews Band.

“I think my biggest influence musically was Steely Dan,” Chartrand said. “Being introduced to that in grade school along with jazz around the same time steered me in that direction as far as songwriting is concerned.”

Ten Dollar Outfit came together this past year when Chartrand moved to the Valley from Massachusetts and began gigging around as a solo artist. In time he met up with Venti and Anderson.

“I had never done a solo gig before, but I had played with a band for many years,” Chartrand said. “I didn’t really feel confident as a songwriter at that point to do a solo thing. But moving out here I wrote some new material and I didn’t know Peter or Kaleb so it was more of a ‘do what you got’ kind of thing. It really helped me improve my songwriting and I got more confidence doing the singer/songwriter thing, but I missed the full sound. I had never played with a keyboard player before and it was something I wanted to do. I met Kaleb early on and he knew Peter so it really just evolved from there.”

“Kaleb and I used to play together in a band and we’d been in bands throughout the years,” Venti added. “We wanted to get some kind of trio going with a jazz guitarist, but it wasn’t really going anywhere. Then around Christmastime, Brian met Kaleb while he was taking down his Christmas lights. Brian had never seen Christmas lights strung up on a cactus before. So they struck up a conversation and after a little bit of jamming, they threw me into the mix and here we are.”

Their softer, melt-into-the-background sound is captured nicely on their live disc. Along with nine originals, the disc has four covers including Steely Dan’s “Barrytown,” Coldplay’s “Green Eyes” and Pete Yorn’s “Life on a Chain.” Their remake of these popular songs in their own style shows their versatility as musicians and also helps to guide the listener toward the sound that the group is aiming for.

“One of the biggest differences that you don’t hear sonically is that we don’t have a bass player,” Chartrand said. “Whether we want to have one or not is a different question. We don’t really fit in a bar and the trio is a little too much for a cafe. We are kind of on the fault line. I equate it more to a jazz trio where there’s a lot of space in there. It’s not verse chorus solo all packed in there. There’s more space sonically and it’s not overbearing. We’re a lot more laid back and mellow than the rock stuff you’ll hear in the Valley. That’s a result of the instrumentation and the songwriting.”

Venti added, “It kind of nice because it puts us between being a band and Brian being a troubadour. There’s a nice happy medium in there. I guess it’s more jazz-like that way because there is this space and it’s not about us playing really loud together and it’s not Brian up there by himself.”

In their attempts to find a niche in the music world where they belong, the band has recorded and is in the process of finishing their first studio effort. They plan to release this debut of sorts this summer.

“We’ve been working on it for a long time. The immediate goal is to have it in a place where we can get it duplicated, have a big party and celebrate the hard work — using that to get some more recognition locally and regionally. We’d love to do festivals and cafes. Maybe play some non-traditional venues in town that aren’t necessarily bars or that kind of venue.”

Ten Dollar Outfit will be performing at That One Place in Phoenix on May 6. For more information, including their entire live performance from The Paper Heart Gallery, check out www.tendollaroutfit.com.

Get Out Magazine
Tempe, AZ
Nov. 11, 2004
Ten Dollar Outfit: ‘Live At The Paper Heart April 27, 2004’
By Chris Hansen Orf, Music Editor

Led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Brian Chartrand, Ten Dollar Outfit is a sparse trio featuring acoustic guitar, percussion, and keyboards. On this live disc — truly live, complete with clinking glasses and crowd conversations making it hard to decipher lyrics — which was recorded at just their second show together, the band is remarkably tight, even if they joke that they rely on “eye contact” to get through their tunes. Chartrand’s voice is a pleasing tenor and his finger-style guitar playing is creative, as he often tosses jazzy chords into his pop compositions. Highlights include the sentimental opening track “Barrytown,” the gorgeous, melodic “Life on a Chain” and the rhythmic riffing of “The Lines.” Despite the rough, distant sound quality of this disc, the talent of the group is evident, and it is easy to see them developing a following amongst Dave Matthews Band fans who are into free-flowing, pretty, acoustic songcraft.

Scott Sanders
Owner
Paperheart Gallery
Phoenix, AZ

A harmonious collaboration between 3 guys that seems to capture your ear and keep you in tune for what may come next, carrying a melodic sound that deserves to be heard by many.