It all started at Berklee College of Music, where bassist David Lockeretz and guitarist Dr. Anthony Fesmire first crossed paths. Like many college connections, it could have ended with graduation. Instead, it became the foundation for something far more enduring—a musical partnership that would evolve into Outside Pedestrian, a genre-defying instrumental jazz-rock trio that’s anything but ordinary.
Fast forward a couple of decades, and Outside Pedestrian has become a band that thrives on unpredictability. Their music—an ever-shifting blend of jazz, rock, metal, world music, and classical influences—resists easy categorization. It’s as if they’ve taken the rulebook of genre conformity and tossed it out the window in favor of something freer, something more authentic.
“We’ve always been about creating music that surprises,” says Lockeretz. “The goal isn’t just to blend styles; it’s to push boundaries and see what happens when we break out of expected patterns. We want to offer something that keeps listeners on their toes.”
A Band Shaped by Adaptation and Evolution
The journey hasn’t always been easy. Life took the band’s members to different corners of the country, forcing them to reimagine how to collaborate. While some musicians might have seen that as an insurmountable hurdle, Outside Pedestrian found a way to make it work.
Remote collaboration—once a stopgap measure during the pandemic—became their creative lifeline. They record their individual parts in home studios, using digital audio workstations (DAWs) to stitch everything together into a seamless whole. What began as a challenge has become second nature, an example of how adaptability can lead to creative breakthroughs.
The Name Behind the Sound
Even the band’s name has an unconventional origin story. It traces back to Fesmire’s time teaching music in California prisons, where he helped set up a recording studio for inmate rehabilitation. One of the first tracks for their debut album, Pedestrian Crossing, was recorded there. To move around the facility, visitors had to pass through two gates: the “inside pedestrian” gate and the “outside pedestrian” gate. The phrase stuck, becoming a symbol of their ethos—music that exists outside the pedestrian, outside the predictable.
A Musical Career Spanning Decades
Over the years, Outside Pedestrian has released four albums, numerous singles, and a collection of live performance videos—some recorded remotely, showcasing the same DIY spirit that defines their music. They’ve also documented their creative process in behind-the-scenes videos and instructional content, peeling back the curtain for curious listeners.
For a band that has been playing together in one form or another for more than 25 years, evolution is inevitable. Time has given them space to grow—not just individually as musicians, but as a collective that understands the power of transformation. Each project is a new exploration, a chance to venture further into uncharted territory.
Looking Ahead: Reaching New Ears and New Horizons
So, what’s next for Outside Pedestrian? In short, more music, more exploration, and more opportunities to reach listeners around the world. Their audience spans continents, from Brazil to Japan to Europe, and the trio is eager to continue building connections both live and online.
“If you’re a music lover who thinks you’ve heard it all,” Lockeretz says, “give us a listen. You might be surprised.”
Whether you’re a seasoned jazz aficionado, a progressive rock fan, or just someone who loves discovering new sounds, Outside Pedestrian offers something refreshingly unique—a musical journey that’s as unexpected as it is unforgettable.
Check out Outside Pedestrian’s music and follow them on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and new releases. You can find them on Instagram, Facebook, and more via their Linktree.
