Big City Rock

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Big City Rock
Background = lightskyblue
Origin = Los Angeles, California USA
Genre = Rock
Power pop
Years_active = 2001-Present
Label = Atlantic
URL = http://www.bigcityrock.net/
Current_members = Nate Bott
Frank Staniszewski
Tim Resudek
Kaumyar
Andy Barr

Big City Rock is a rock band based in Los Angeles, California who are signed to Atlantic Records. Their music type is self-described as "energetic, anthemic pop" with "an uplifting sound" [http://www.bigcityrock.net/bio/] , with keyboards, guitar, and drums.

History

Tim Resudek,Frank Staniszewski,Jeff Conrad and Nate Bott, who grew up together in Madison, Wisconsin started a ska-punk band in eighth grade named Stinkfish. Bott, Conrad and Staniszewski later started another band, Siren Six!, when they moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Siren Six! broke up in 2000 after they moved to California to try to get signed to a music label. Big City Rock started when Resudek was asked to join Staniszewski, Conrad and Bott in Los Angeles, California. In 2003, drummer Jeff Conrad left to join the band Phantom Planet, and was replaced by Kaumyar. In March 2004 guitarist Andy Barr, who had played with Kaumyar before, joined also in 2004. Becker also joined in 2004. Signed to Atlantic in late 2004 after having opened for Gratitude, Rooney, Phoenix, and Maroon 5, in 2005, the band relocated to New York City to record their debut album at Stratosphere Studios.

Big City Rock's debut album was released on Atlantic Records in March 2006 and generated critical acclaim. Blender magazine gave the album 3.5 stars proclaiming it "... like the Killers without the self-consciousness, powered by exquisitely engineered hooks that are nearly impossible to forget." and placing the song "All of the Above" at the number 10 slot of their annual Top 100 Singles chart.

Throughout 2006 Big City Rock toured the country almost non-stop, supporting acts like Morningwood, Rock Kills Kid, Under The Influence of Giants, Sugarcult, Head Automatica, Diamond Nights, The Rocket Summer, Jason Mraz, The Click Five.

In 2008, Big City Rock will embark on some shows with Simple Plan.

Band members

*Nate Bott: vocals, guitar
*Andy Barr: guitar, Vocals
*Frank Staniszewski: keyboards, Vocals
*Tim Resudek: bass guitar, Vocals
*Kaumyar: drums, percussion

Discography

*Big City Rock (2006)
**Sink
**All of the Above
**As Soon As I Find Out
**I Believe In You
**Human
**Kind
**Better Place
**Shelter
**They Won't Mind
**Touch The Horizon

Trivia

*The band recorded a cover of the song "Black Betty" for the 2007 film TMNT.

*The band also recorded a cover of Silent Night during the 2007 holiday season and released it as a single.

* "All of the Above" from Big City Rock was featured on the 2006 Bionicle: Free the Band website, as well as songs from Undertones, Over It, Carbon Leaf, and a few others.

* "Human" was used in the 2006 Warren Miller Movie "Off The Grid" - It was used in a section about 2 skiers (Kevin Bramble and Monte Meier) with disabilities (one paralyzed from the waist down, and one missing one leg) Heliskiing in the Alaskan Cugache mountain range.

*Made a video for "Do you know what you want" Hard to find

Equipment

Frank Staniszewski uses a Nord Lead 2 synth, Micro Korg and Yamaha S90 as well as using Hammond B3 organs and various grand pianos in the studio.

Nate Bott uses Fender Deville amplifiers with no effects pedals. He uses Fender Stratocaster and Fender Jaguar guitars.

Andy Barr uses Fender and Mesa amplifiers and Gretsch guitars with a multitude of effects pedals including Line 6 Delay, Electro-Harmonix Micro Synth and Tremelo, Vox Wah, Ibanez Tube Screamer and others.

Tim Resudek uses Gallien Krueger and Ampeg amplifiers and Ampeg cabinets with MXR, Ibanez and Boss effects and plays Fender basses - One modified with Seymour Duncan pickups.

Kaumyar plays Pearl drums and Zildjian cymbals with the exception of his Paiste Hi-Hats.

External links

* [http://www.bigcityrockmusic.com/ Official band website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/bigcityrock/ Myspace Page]
* [http://www.virb.com/bigcityrock/ Virb Page]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigcityrock/ Flickr Page]
* [http://www.google.com/musica?aid=EYaUXHcSjXJ&sa=X&oi=music&ct=result Google Music discography]