Nico Stai

Nico Stai
Origin	California, USA
Genres	Alternative rock
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Warner/Chappell Music
Website	http://www.nicostai.com
Members
Jeff Evans, Sean Stentz, Josh Mervin, Reuben Mahler

Nico Stai is a musician singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles Ca.
Born and raised in Spain, Nico relocated to Los Angeles where he formed and fronted various bands before embarking on a solo career in 2006.
He has since released four records, The Viva Dead E.P. (2006),Park Los Angeles 2006, Dead Pony 2008, The Victory of Miss Friday 2008
A Limited Edition Double E.P. containing bonus live material was released in 2010.
A new full length album is scheduled for release early 2011.

Music

Former front man for local Los Angeles bands Tinpaco and The Bonnie stai.
His songs have been featured in TV shows like Private Practice (TV series), Numb3rs, Chuck (TV series), Gossip Girl (TV series), Beverly Hills, 90210
Nico Stai has played shows supporting Cold War Kids, Art Brut, Jason Falkner, The Deadly Syndrome, Neil Finn, Great Northern^{[disambiguation needed ]}
In October 2008 two live performances of the songs Covered Too and Dead Pony were filmed and recorded for the W.B. web series by The O.C. Creator Josh Schwartz,Rockville, CA
Other acts on the show included ..The Kooks, The Little Ones, Lykke Li, Passion Pit, Earlimart ,
In April 2009 Nico appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly.
Nico Stai played at the Sunset Junction Festival, including acts like Conor Oberst, Built To Spill
BONARROO, NOISE POP MUSIC FESTIVAL, SXSW, SANTA BARBARA NEW NOISE MUSIC FESTIVAL, SAN DIEGO NORTH PARK THANG
In the spring of 2010 Nico Stai played at the Silverlake Jubilee Festival with acts like Entrance Band, Foreign Born , The growlers
In March 2009 Nico Stai held the coveted Monday Night Residency at Spaceland, in Los Angeles, CA.
Guest acts included bands like Youth Group, The Temper Trap, Josh Pyke , Hesta Prynn , Eastern Conference Champions, The Movies (band)
In April 2009 he was featured on the cover of The Deli Los Angeles
( The Los Angeles Examiner Interview )
"On the verge of becoming America's next big indie rocker, evoking memories of Bob Dyland and post Srgnt. Pepper Beatles, Nico manages to create the fullest sound of any solo artist in recent memory. Easily the most musically intriguing artist to come along since Sufjan Stevens, and on track to become one of the great to emerge form the Echopark/Silverlake scene."

History

Nico's early life in Los Angeles was marred by his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction.
(FLAUNT MAGAZINE INTERVIEW )
"Then there were extra-curricular activities that, he says, are behind him. “I’m clean and sober now,” he says. “I was a f***ng wreck.” As someone who’s gone through the ringer of drugs, Stai has a strong opinion of the artistic myth that drugs and creativity mix. “I think that’s the biggest lie ever sold,” he says. “A lot of the machinery in rock ’n’ roll and the industry and the business works on hype. The easiest thing you can do in this life is put something in your arm. It’s the other stuff that’s not.”^[1]
Tinpaco, Stai’s former band, “self imploded” before finishing a deal with Producer Garrett Lee (Snow Patrol) and London Records (Warner UK).
"While you’re in it, you see failure all around, but in hindsight it afforded me the opportunity to do what I want to do."
Stai walked away with ownership of the masters and began his solo career.^[2] After the short lived stint on London Records,Nico went back to the beginning.
He went from headlining some of the bigger Los Angeles venues to playing small quiet rooms, alone with his acoustic guitar.
Stai would record the songs he was to play later in the evening and make personalized CD's with that night's set available at the show.
The Cd's took on a uniformity: card board jackets with spray painted stenciled letters in block bold print reading NICO STAI.
The songs on the early CD's would become the make up of his 2006 debut solo record Park Los Angeles.
Met with critical acclaim by the local press , it led to performances at BONNAROO MUSIC FESTIVAL , NOISE POP MUSIC FESTIVAL , AND SXSW , as well as airplay on local Los Angeles radio stations Indie 103.1 and KROQ.
In the end of 2006 Stai assembled a group of musicians to support him,
Guitarist Jeff Evans, bassist Sean Stentz and drummer Josh Mervin. These three musicians have become the core of Nico Stai's live act as well as his recording band.

The Victory of Miss Friday was released end of the year.
In April 2009 Nico Stai appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly.
As of July 2010—New Album Scheduled for 2011

Discography

Albums and compilations

• The Viva Dead E.P. (2006)
• Park Los Angeles (2006)
• Dead Pony EP (2008)
• The Victory of Miss Friday EP (2008)
• Dead Pony & Miss Friday Limited Edition Double e.p. (2008)

Other appearances

• The song "Dead Pony" was performed live on Last Call with Carson Daly

• The song "Maybe Maybe" was featured in the television series "Private Practice (TV series)"

• The song "Panic And The Should Attacks" was featured in the television series "Private Practice (TV series)"

• The song "One October Song" was featured in both Chuck Versus the Subway and Chuck Versus the First Fight. The song "Miss Friday" was later featured in the fourth season episode Chuck Versus Phase Three, and the song "The Bottom of the Ocean" was featured in Chuck Versus the Balcony
• The song "Maybe Maybe " was featured in the television show "Beverly Hills, 90210"

• The song "Maybe Maybe" was featured on the television show "Numb3rs"

• The song "Silent Night " "a last minute ...cover thing " was featured on the television show "Gossip Girl (TV series)"

• The song "Like Alcohol " was featured on the movie "The Neighbor" with Matthew Modine

• The song "The Song Of Shine and Shame" was featured on the movie "The Neighbor" with Matthew Modine

• The song "Covered too " was featured and performed live on the Rockville, Ca internet tv show

• The song "Dead Pony " was featured and performed live on the Rockville, Ca internet tv show

• The song "Andy's House " was featured on the movie "Road House 2: Last Call"

• The song "The song of shine and shame " was featured on the movie "Road House 2: Last Call"

References

1. ^ "Then there were extra-curricular activities that, he says, are behind him. “I’m clean and sober now,” he says. “I was a f***ng wreck.” As someone who’s gone through the ringer of drugs, Stai has a strong opinion of the artistic myth that drugs and creativity mix. “I think that’s the biggest lie ever sold,” he says. “A lot of the machinery in rock ’n’ roll and the industry and the business works on hype. The easiest thing you can do in this life is put something in your arm. It’s the other stuff that’s not.”
2. ^ Tinpaco, Stai’s former band, “self imploded” before finishing a deal with Producer Garrett Lee (Snow Patrol) and London Records (Warner UK).While you’re in it, you see failure all around, but in hindsight it afforded me the opportunity to do what I want to do. Stai walked away with ownership of the masters and began his solo career.

Videography

• "The Skies Over your Head" Live Acoustic ( by Elliott Glass)
• "Miss Friday" Live Acoustic ( by Elliott Glass)
• "Green Lines" Live Acoustic ( by Elliott Glass)
• "3000 Dollar Girl" Live Acoustic ( by Elliott Glass)
• "Falling Off The Moon" Live Acoustic ( by Elliott Glass)
• "Dead Pony" Live On Carson Daly
• "Dead Pony" Live At The Echoplex ( Spaceland Recordings )
• "One October Song" Live Acoustic ( by Elliott Glass)

References

• Last Call With Carson Daly Interview
• Spin Magazine
• SXSW SPINNER INTERVIEW OFFICIAL ARTIST NICO STAI
• BEATCRAVE NICO STAI
• LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY DEAD PONY PERFORMANCE
• CAMPUS CIRCLE INTERVIEW
• AMERICAN NON FICTION REVIEW
• BEATCRAVE NICO STAI
• SUNSET JUNCTION REVIEW
• MISHMASH MAGAZINE LIVE REVIEW
• PASTE MAGAZINE ROCKVILLE ARTICLE
• GQ MAGAZINE BURBERRY NICO STAI
• PASTE MAGAZINE POST
• EL PAIS INTERVIEW ( SPANISH )
• Nico Stai - "The Skies Over Your Head" - SXSW 2010 Showcasing Artist
• BUZZBANDS L.A. POST

External links

• Nico Stai official website
• Nico Stai Facebook

Interviews

• Last Call With Carson Daly Interview
• Spin Magazine
• SXSW SPINNER INTERVIEW OFFICIAL ARTIST NICO STAI
• BEATCRAVE NICO STAI
• LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY DEAD PONY PERFORMANCE
• CAMPUS CIRCLE INTERVIEW
• AMERICAN NON FICTION REVIEW
• BEATCRAVE NICO STAI
• SUNSET JUNCTION REVIEW
• MISHMASH MAGAZINE LIVE REVIEW
• PASTE MAGAZINE ROCKVILLE ARTICLE
• GQ MAGAZINE BURBERRY NICO STAI
• PASTE MAGAZINE POST
• EL PAIS INTERVIEW ( SPANISH )
• Nico Stai - "The Skies Over Your Head" - SXSW 2010 Showcasing Artist
• BUZZBANDS L.A. POST