" Virginia Beach's The Influence makes beach music for the hurricane season: there's always something ominous on the horizon. On its self-titled debut disc, the quintet's sound is big, broad, and carefully balanced. The guitars of Will Clarke and John Zontini shimmer through the knuckle-punch rhythms of drummer Collin Cogan and bassist Chris Tully like sun through thunderclouds. On top of it all is the urgent yet gentil voice of Matt Stephenson, combining Bono's buoyancy with Dave Matthew's wry drawl"

The Washington Post

Pamela Murray Winters

 

"Trying to connect The Influence with who they sound like is about as easy as trying to force magnets with similar poles to touch. The truth of the matter is, the band from Virginia Beach seems to possess a rare commodity in the music industry these days-ORIGINALITY. They can't be lumped in with other artists, which, ironically, is perhaps why they draw comparisons to DMB....The effect of the various sounds and songs is an interesting, as well as entertaining one. Not only does The Influence provide good listening, their intrguing sound begs the question of whether appearance is everything. What lies beneath the eyes of the happy, shiny people walking around you? The fact The Influence's sound alone can raise sociological questions, speaks volumes about their uniqueness in a musical landscape white-washed with corporate pop songs on cut and dried emotion"

Falls Church News

Mike Hume

 

" The Influence has a unique style that will certainly offer a fresh and exciting change to the everyday sounds that currently fill the airwaves. These hardworking young men play from their hearts and souls. The best part is you can see the fun they are having. No crying, No whining. It's good rock with a new twist"

96X WROX-FM

Alfredo Torres

 

" If "This Call" doesn't get heavy spins on alternative radio, I don't know what will"

East Coast Entertainment

Jack Shannon