Review: PETE MULLER's Charity Tour Brings Big Bucks for Local Projects

By Shad Springer

Not many musicians would be willing to turn over the entirety of the proceeds from their new album to charities, but Pete Muller isn't your ordinary musician. A Wall Street investor who has been immensely successful ("beyond my wildest dreams", he admits), Muller began channeling his energy into his true passion in the early 2000s: playing the piano and creating new music. The latest of his musical composositions comprise his third full-length album, released last month, titled Two Truths and Lie.

Muller's five-city tour to promote Two Truths and a Lie came through Santa Barbara last Wednesday, where he played to a packed house at SOhO. Thus far, his tour--which included stops in Boston, Chicago, New York, and Oakland--has raised over $85,000 for local charities. Muller's stopover in Santa Barbara was in support of The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation. Better known as MOXI, the museum is currently under construction across from the train station on lower State. MOXI's CEO, Steve Hinkley, welcomed Muller to SOhO's stage with grateful acknowledgement that the concert would help the museum reach its goal of opening to the public in late 2016. Once complete, MOXI will no doubt become a major draw for children and adults alike with its hands-on exhibits based in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math--it will be a wecome addition to the new, revitalized Funk Zone/lower State Street area.

Muller and his seven-piece band made their way through the 12 songs from Two Truths and a Lie. An intensely introspective album that features a number of songs ruminating on love and loss, Muller conjured the energy of the great Ben Folds on the album's slower songs like "Kindred Soul" and "Letting Go". The affable Muller spent most of his evening behind a baby grand piano stage left, content to let his three striking female backing vocalists take center stage, while he regaled Santa Barbara's movers and shakers with his talented key work.

On more up-tempo songs like "Plug and Play Girl" and "One Way Down", Muller wasn't afraid to rock-out and allow his backing musicians to flex their considerable talents, including bassist Skip Ward, and keyboard player Rick DePofi, who switched over to play saxophone for songs like "Lies (Tear Down)".

The relaxed and confident Muller, a part-time Santa Barbara resident, had the audience's toes tapping in unison. The lyrics featured a narrator navigating a world littered with ex-girlfriends ("Over Now"), temptations ("One Way Down") and a desire to transcend the ordinary ("Deeper"). Muller is now happily married with two children, so it will be interesting to see which direction his music will take in the future. Lucky listeners--and charities--can only wait.

Check Out Pete Muller here
Purchase the album here