AZOverload Bios

Rejected Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkly Princess) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 23:18:00 +0000

Rejected Faith was founded in Phoenix AZ when hard rock guitarist Larry Trapp answered an ad by drummer Mike Ausere. Coming from opposite ends of the country and burning to play, a musical bond was made between them. After 2 years of writing and rehearsing music, vocalist Cody James joined forces to make Rejected Faith... what it is today. A culmination of hard edged guitar, soulful vocals, and a heavy groove. Rejected Faith is a sound that is intended to reach rockers from every end of the musical spectrum

ZIROH

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkly Princess) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 05:06:00 +0000

ZiROH is a 3-piece instrumental "stoner/rock/metal/prog/jam" band who hails from the sweltering gut of Phoenix, Arizona. The band features Jason Prichard (Daughters of Fission, Fred Green, Vomitus, Grum, & ClownKnife) pummeling the drums, Justin Beemer (Ars Magna, Heroes for Ghosts, & Arc of the Aurora) weaving between bluesy rhythms and atmospheric leads on guitar, and Tony Richey (Giantkiller, Hellrancho, Orthostatic, Nihil, Grum, & Dominion) laying down mega-distorted riffs on bass... Originally conceived in 2008, the band began as a drums and bass rock project, so when ZiROH had enough songs to record an album, they called upon long time friend, Jeff Kahn of the legendary underground psychedelic/black/doom metal band, Skeleton of God, to journey to Phoenix and record guitar tracks for the self-titled EP. After recording the album, Jason and Tony played a handful of shows as a 2-piece, all the while scoping out a potential guitarist. Eventually they asked Justin Beemer if he'd be interested in jamming a few tunes with them and now ZiROH is a solid 3-piece working on a more evolved new album and gracing stages with their energetic, groovy, and intense brand of stoner metal rock. www.myspace.com/ziroh

SKITN

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkly Princess) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:13:00 +0000

SKITN’s reggae beats and rock edge are an invitation. The five-piece band engages its audiences with laid back energy that creates a party where everyone is invited. SKITN has played with national acts such as Steel Pulse, Pepper, Long Beach Shortbus, Slightly Stoopid, Pato Banton, Half Pint, The Aggrolites, Plain White T's, and Authority Zero. The band’s good-time philosophy – influenced by reggae, rock, island jams, ska, hip hop, and punk – comes to life on stage with Chris Calvo’s guitar riffs and Fernando Hinojosa’s improvisational keyboards and percussion. Scott Hilkemeyer (bass) and Kelly Velasquez (drums) cook up the groove, and Earl Rosales delivers SKITN’s celebratory lyrics with cool, soulful enthusiasm. Slice of the good life songs, like “Late Night Drive,” stick in your head like a favorite song you’ve never heard before. For seven years SKITN has relished showing their guests a good time. But it’s not clichéd rock ‘n roll hedonism. There’s a spiritual element to the party – having a good time is good for your soul. And SKITN’s guests keep coming back – an ever-growing, loyal fan base follows SKITN to the next party. If you’re having a party, KEEP IT SKITN!

Minature Tigers

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkly Princess) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:19:00 +0000

Press swoon for Miniature Tigers
All Music Guide
Miniature Tigers may hail from the landlocked sprawl of southern Arizona, but the band's music sets its sights on California, a more appropriate setting for the sun-baked pop songs that comprise this debut...Tell It to the Volcano is a delightfully rare record, one that employs power pop songcraft and lyrical snark in equal measures.

Relix
Tell it to the Volcano is quintessential listening for aimless drives on coastal highways.

Death and Taxes
Miniature Tigers couldn’t have have arrived at a better time. Tell It To The Volcano boasts a collection of well-crafted pop songs, free of pretention and often sung from the perspective of a quirky, lovelorn troubadour.

Daytrotter
The Miniature Tigers are more of a hybrid of the best of the [LA pop] movement, an occasional vaudevillian tone, the soft harmonies of the late Impossibles/Slow Reader and the touching, but brutally honest emotional baggage and concerns of Ben Gibbard doing either Death Cab or All-Time Quarterback. Brand and Schaier slide their voices together to make a conglomeration that sounds like a crystal clear stream with no hurry in it.

LA Weekly
With a captivating mix of quick-witted melodies and sharp-tongued lyrics, the Miniature Tigers are a power-pop animal that’s easy to love.

Popmatters
Tell it to the Volcano is filled with the tunes that lodge instantly in your brain and have you singing along before the songs are even finished...This is fun stuff.

Sentimentalist
Miniature Tigers play stripped-down, simple pop that sounds like summertime nostalgia, warm, comfortable, and fun.

My Old Kentucky Blog
Miniature Tigers play pop music with that earnest emotion (my heart is surely broken and it's all your fault!) that Margot [& The Nuclear So & Sos] brings and blends it with the more upbeat poppy good time sound and solid melodies that Spinto Band always comes with.

Atlanta Music Guide
The lyrics are so charmingly offputting that they can't help but grab attention...That sense of playfulness, of wit mixed with self-deprecation and given over to a killer rhyme scheme, is the thread that ties the album together, even as the band mixes up its instrumentation from track to track.

Spin
Clever, intelligent pop songs come in bunches from this budding outfit, particularly the unshakable “Cannibal Queen”

KCRW
Top 10 best bands of CMJ.

Alternative Press: FOUR AND 1/2 STARS
Staking their claim on the quirkier side of indie pop.

Who are Miniature Tigers?
Hmm, where should we start here? The part where Miniature Tigers stay up all night with Neon Indian, fine-tuning the laser-like synths of their new single, “Gold Skull?” Yeah, that sounds about right. A song Stereogum has the exclusive debut on HERE.

“I won’t forget that experience,” says Miniature Tigers frontman Charlie Brand - who's on Twitter HERE. “I remember the sun coming up and everyone in the room singing along. [Drummer] Rick [Schaier] was almost asleep on the floor as he did harmonies.”

While that part was captured during the Manhattan-bound mixing stages of Miniature Tigers’ second album - FORTRESS which is due July 27th on Modern Art Records through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group - the rest of the record was tackled at Dreamland, a converted 19th-century church that’s hosted everyone from Beach House to the B-52s. As you might imagine given its location—deep in the woods of Upstate New York—this led to some other late nights, ones that involved abject terror. But hey, that’s what happens when you decide to watch The Shining in a place that could double as a Friday the 13th set.

“That movie put us in a weird headspace,” explains Brand, “so we decided to go nuts on ‘Mansion of Misery’, starting with the drums. We also wailed on the guitars, making everything as loud as we possibly could.” The result is one hell of an curtain-raising cut, as heavenly harmonies and tension-building effects segue into a sudden explosion of crushed cymbals and powder keg chords. So while it’d be easy to draw the usual reference points here (the two B’s: Brian Wilson and the Beatles), something’s a little off about Miniature Tigers’ indie pop presentations, whether we’re talking about the delirious chorus lines of “Bullfighter Jacket,” the hooting and hollering of “Lolita,” or the ’shroom-munching waking dream of “Coyote Enchantment.” And reigning in all the chaos, why, it’s none other than Chris Chu of the morning benders, applying the same widescreen approach that worked wonders on his own Big Echo LP.

“We like to push what doesn’t work sometimes,” says Brand, “and he helped balance that out for us. Chris is also very organized, focused and serious, which is nice, because we aren’t at all.” That’s not totally true. After all, the band’s come a long way since Rolling Stone named them one of MySpace’s 25 best artists in late 2006. For one thing, Brand and Schaier finally have a steady lineup now, rounded out by guitarist Algernon Quashie and bassist Alex Gerber. The band played over 200 dates last year supporting their debut album Tell It To the Volcano with the likes of The morning benders, Bishop Allen, The Spinto Band and then there was the Ben Folds tour where Brand figured out what not to say onstage in front of their biggest crowds yet. “I made a weird joke about being on acid at this college basketball arena,” he says. “I don’t even remember what I was talking about. I was dying up there.” He won’t be any longer.

The Bonnie Situation

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkly Princess) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:39:00 +0000

We are The Bonnie Situation
From Tucson Az
We are a rap rock group
formed in 2009
There are 3 people in the band
Adrian (bass)
Eddie (vocals)
&
Chris (drums)
We aren't a conventional band
in that we don't have a guitarist
we like to push the instruments
we have instead of relying on a
guitar to stay in the forefront.
Our songs are both composed
from personal problems
and from political ones.

noreply@blogger.com (Sparkly Princess) — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:29:00 +0000

Lunar Light Collectors: three guys that remember when 'alternative' was actually an alternative to something without losing love of a nice pop song.

www.facebook.com/pages/lunar-light-collectors/22921873439?v+wall
www.myspace.com/lunarlightcollectors

The Constellation Branch

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:22:00 +0000

The Constellation Branch is an indie rock band from Phoenix, Arizona.

Meeting through a mutual friend, The Constellation Branch was formed by singer Jordan Cruz and guitarist Bryce Hill in the spring of 2006. The duo quickly wrote and recorded a few demos the following fall, and armed with these tracks, recruited drummer Stephen O’Sicky in January 2007. The trio went through 6 different bass players in as many months until they finally found bassist Aaron Motley. In July of 2007, The Constellation Branch was complete.

Taking over a year to complete, “The Dream Life, The Real Life, The Empty Glass…” is the debut full length album from the Arizona indie rockers, The Constellation Branch. Recorded primarily in their friends Mom’s house, it features guest appearances by Poem (Matthew Gilbert), Chelsey Nelson (Yellow Minute) and Parker Morden and was produced by Mike Dwyer and James Mitchell.

Get your copy of The Constellation Branch's Latest: The Dream Life, The Real Life, The Empty Glass…

Playing God

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:08:00 +0000

After several years of experience in the music industry, the five members of Playing God came together and formed a band that could write music without limitations. Playing God established their sound by allowing each member to utilize their creative personalities and, at the same time, appeal to the masses. Playing God debut Album "Taking for Granted" released in 2005 Playing God has a jaw breaking 10 song CD, an expansive merchadise line and delivers an eye opening live show that has a produced a fan base in Arizona unlike any other. Playing God has share the stage with national acts such as Cage 9, opened for (hed)PE, and rocked the stage with Index Case, the Crazy Anglos and many more. Playing God will make your heart race with aggressive and intricate percussion, make heads bounce with "In Your Face" funky bass beats, and will make your emotions flare with heavy driving guitar riffs, give you goose bumps with their melodic vocals and make your hair stand through chilling screams

Tongue Dried Sun

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:03:00 +0000

Tongue Dried Sun (TDS) has re-emerged back onto the music scene after a three year hiatus. TDS has just finished up a brand new album titled Zero Hour with world renowned producer Dave Jerden and Producer/Engineer Bryan Carlstrom(Alice in Chains, Janes Addiction, Offspring, etc...). With original members: Paul Opocensky (vox, guitar), Wyatt Bills (guitar), Steven Natale (drums), and Joey Moraga (bass) TDS has once again decided to put their stamp on Rock 'n' Roll. With their diverse sound going from songs such as "Out of Mind" and "Zero Hour" (which include high energy music and soaring/screaming vocals) right into songs such as "M*" or "Live Free" (which have smooth acoustic, groove filled music along with soulful clean vocals.) This wide range of music and vocals sets TDS apart from most bands, who generally have the one range and sound. TDS has a goal to bring back the "Album Band"; a band that has an albums worth of great songs so the listener has a hard time picking one or two favorites, but pushes play at track one and never skips a song. They will be taken on an emotional musical experience until the last track is done. TDS has many years of experience in the music business. Even starting their own indie label "SWAP Records" in Nov. 2002. TDS has also shared the stage with the likes of Journey, Collective Soul, Jimmy Eat World, Alice Cooper, The Nuge, David Lee Roth and others. TDS has come back with one main objective; to help bring back great music to Rock.

Purchase Tongue Dried Sun's Latest: Zero Hour

One Body Too Many

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:54:00 +0000

"ONE BODY TOO MANY" began as a four member band, crammed either in a bedroom, closet or bathroom to play music. We quickly "grew out" of those places and gained a fith member, but our music and personalities weren't quit there yet. We have evolved through 2 drummers, a back up singer, and a couple of guitarist before "finding" Gary (drummer) and Jason (guitarist) to perfect our sound with the original members of Brandon (singer) Gaylen (guitarist) and Ricky (bassist). Together we have created a heart pounding, head thrashing metal band that does nothing less than make a person move...We are a band that must be seen, felt ,and heard to appreciate all that we bring to the metal world...in short, a force to be reckoned with!!

Tugboat

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:26:00 +0000

Purchase Tugboat's latest: Put This Into Motion

Time of Departure

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:24:00 +0000

Time of Departure is a 5 piece melodic metal and hardcore band out of Mesa Arizona. After going through line-up changes within the last year the band has been permanently reformed into what it is today. Playing frequent shows throughout the Phoenix area with local bands and national acts like Horse The Band and The Fall of Troy are only small achievements of what Time of Departure hopes to accomplish. They have often been referred to as Misery Signal and Hopesfall meets Between The Buried and Me. The only way to know is to see them for yourself. You can see them at venues across AZ and also look for their 5 song EP out MID 07.

Purchase Time of Departure shirts: on their myspace page

This Century

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:23:00 +0000

Pre Order This Century's EP: "Look What We Made"

Third Round Chambered

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:22:00 +0000

Third Round Chambered is a three-piece band playing contemporary rock tunes with a passion and style that is all their own. All three members are multi-talented musician/artists that have worked together now since the summer of 2003. It took some time to develop a direction to take the band, but now, they are coming straight at you with some very hot original compositions. Modern Rock meets the Old West is the theme of their live performances, and the raw energy of the music gets the whole damn house rockin'.

The Swigs

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:21:00 +0000

The Swigs, in various incarnations, have purveyed their energetic, melodic rock 'n roll off and on since the 1990's. Showcasing the song-writing and fluid guitar artistry of founder, Kevin Henderson, The Swigs opened for Dick Dale at the Hut in 2007. Bassist, Mark W. and drummer, Trevor Tanzillo are lending their considerable talents to the current line-up of The Swigs.

"Whether playing acoustic or electric, Henderson proves his mettle, producing a fevered sound that at times recalls the folk, pop, country, blues, prog rock and jazz of musical progenitors Jeff Beck, Sandy Bull, Steve Howe, Bill Nelson and Leo Kottke, among others." -- Gene Armstrong, Tucson Weekly, 12/27/2007

SUPEROCKSTARHEROS

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:20:00 +0000

Stone Groove

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:19:00 +0000

The original all male Stone Groove formed in the middle of 2005. As of July 2007 they've taken a new approach with the addition of a female vocalist. Stone Groove consists of 14 and 15 year olds who cover the greatest names in rock n roll, such as Guns N Roses, Van Halen, AC/DC, Zeppelin, and the list goes on and on. This talented band is also currently working on originals and will be recording these songs at the Hak Faktory in Mesa, so they can be uploaded to this page ASAP, for your listening pleasure. Stone Groove loves opening for Dirty Goat at the Wild Hare in Gilbert, struttin their stuff on Mill Ave, rockin the casbah at Peppers, and dominating the stage at all of the various other places such as The Firehouse, The Waterfront, etc., etc., etc., where they have left their mark. Be sure to check the upcoming dates, cause you dont wanna miss these fellas!

SOULESS

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:18:00 +0000

Soren

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:17:00 +0000

We are Soren from Mesa Arizona. We are recording our debut E.P. this summer, we will keep everyone updated on our plans for summer. But for now, continue to listen to our demos, we will have a new one up soon

Get Soren't Latest Merch: HERE

Snail Quail

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:16:00 +0000

Snail Quail is a mythological beast first conceived in Prehistory by the Philosopher Homer in his epic poem Snailis Qualis. More contemporary interpretations of the myth can be heard in the Glendale, Arizona indie rebel rock band Snail Quail.

More can be learned of SQ and the Counter-Counter Culture by reading literature distributed at public appearances, concerts, and their toll-free website ttp://www.Myspace.com/SnailQuail.

Purchase Snail Quail's Latest: Moving On

Small Leaks Sink Ships

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:14:00 +0000

No Sleep Records welcomes AZ's Small Leaks Sink Ships to the family. Small Leaks Sink Ships brings in influences from such bands as Minus The Bear, Modest Mouse, The Mars Volta, the band creates a unique sound in the progressive indie rock genre. The band will be heading into Retrophonics Studio on September 11th, 2006 to record their debut record for No Sleep Records. With former Moments In Grace vocalist, Jeremy Griffith (Amity, Forever Changed) on the boards you can expect nothing but the best for their new record

Purchase Small Leaks Sinks Ship's latest: Until the World...

Sketching in Stereo

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:13:00 +0000

We're a four piece melodic rock band originally from Tucson, AZ. We moved to the Phoenix area in May, 2007. Our debut album Fools Love Charades was released in February, 2007 and we're working hard to establish ourselves here in the Valley. Come to a show and check us out!

Purchase Sketching in Stereo's latest cd: Technicolor Dreams

The Shallow Type

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:12:00 +0000

Selfless

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:11:00 +0000

Four individual souls have come together with one singular purpose: to create something collectively that is a representation of them selves and beyond; a positive inspiring musical experience that is as much therapy as entertainment.

Selfless clearly has proved to themselves that they can be a successful local band, but their ultimate dream is to be an international musical experience; one that challenges themselves and the listener to never succumb to any limitations that may arise and to always follow their dreams and goals.

SELFLESS has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with such acts as KMFDM, Combichrist, Cradle of Filth, 69 Eyes, 3 Inches of Blood, N17, Professional Murder Music and Hemlock.

Purchase Selfless' latest cd: Charity

Sectas

noreply@blogger.com (2mara) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:09:00 +0000

Sectas is a Rock power trio of very dedicated musicians from Phoenix, Arizona. The current lineup consists of Christian Lee (guitar & vocals), Runaway (bass) and Brian (drums). Their influences include bands like Megadeth, Alice In Chains, and Dream Theater. They combine styles as varied as Pop, Punk, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Jazz and Blues to create an original sound that is heavy and full of dense overtones. The dark, passionate vocals and searing guitar solos are complemented by a solid backbone provided by the rhythm section.

In 2005 the band recorded a five song EP called "From The Ashes" at the prestigious Salt Mine studios in Mesa, AZ. It was extremely well received both by fans and critics alike. The band continues to play to growing audiences both in their home state as well as other states like California.

Current supporters of the band include Candyspiteful Productions and the Eastside Mansion studio in Tempe, AZ, where the band has recorded their best work to date, a full length album titled "Voices Of The Damaged". The band is working heavily on promoting this new record, which will be available both through record stores and via the Internet very soon. The band is currently focused on expanding their core audience throughout the country through live shows, as well as composing new material for their next release, scheduled for 2008.

Purchase Sectas' Lates CD: Voices of the Damaged