The Parlor Mob

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Parlor Mob

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Img_capt = Mark, The Parlor Mob, Lollapalooza 2008
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Background = group_or_band
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Origin = Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
Genre = Rock and Roll
Years_active = 2004–Present
Label = Roadrunner Records
Associated_acts = The Blackbirds
URL = MySpace|theparlormob
Current_members = Mark Melicia
David Rosen
Paul Ritchie
Nick Villapiano
Sam Bey
Past_members =

The Parlor Mob, formerly known as What About Frank?, is an American rock group founded by Mark Melicia, David Rosen, Paul Ritchie, Nick Villapiano, and Sam Bey in 2004. [http://www.myspace.com/theparlormob The Parlor Mob's Myspace Page] ]

History

The beginning

The band started out as What About Frank? in 2004 in Red Bank, New Jersey, playing very progressive rock and roll. During their career as What About Frank? they were twice recognized as Best Live Band at the Asbury Music Awards. They played many many shows including the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, the Van's Warped Tour, The Great Bamboozle Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and South by Southwestcite web|url=http://www.audiocrushpr.com/WhatAboutFrank/WhatAboutFrank.htm|title=The Parlor Mob|last=Caputa|first=Joelle|publisher=Audio Crush PR|accessdate=2008-07-14] . Their debut self-titled release was the #1 top-selling album in local retailcite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/03/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/05njrock.html?fta=y|title=This Mob Wants to Stand Out From the Crowd|last=La Gorce|first=Tammy|date=November 3, 2006|work=The New York Times|accessdate=2008-07-14] , and received airplay on both satellite and commercial radioFact|date=July 2008.

The Parlor Mob

In 2006 the band changed their name to The Parlor Mob so as to "...have a name that's less hokey and more representative of our music" said drummer Sam Bey in a New York Times interview. Their sound had progressed into a more straight forward blues based experimental rock n' roll style. At the same time, they signed a small record deal with Capitol Records. The band soon after travelled to Los Angeles in the summer of 2006 to record a 4-song EP in 4 daysFact|date=August 2008 with producer Howard Willing (Smashing Pumpkins, OK Go, Counting Crows). However, the merger between Capitol and Virgin records left The Parlor Mob stranded – after recording the EP, the band "came home and sat around for nine months," according to guitarist David Rosencite web|url=http://seemagazine.com/article/music/music-previews/parlor-mobs-success-secrets/|title=Parlor Mob's Success Secrets|last=Kmech|first=John|date=July 3, 2008|work=SEE Magazine|accessdate=2008-07-14] . Eventually, after watching most of their supporters lose their jobs, the band was dropped by Capitol. Without a label to release it, they decided to release the EP themselves, digitally, free of charge to anyone who wanted to download it.

In the summer of 2007, The Parlor Mob signed with Roadrunner Records. On September 28, 2007 they began the process of recording their début album at Asheville, NC's Echo Mountain studios. Jacquire King (Tom Waits, Kings of Leon, The Dwarves, Modest Mouse), who first contacted the band while they were recording their EP, contacted Roadrunner Records to express his interest in producing the album. The band was impressed that he sought them out (rather than their management reaching out to him)cite web|url=http://www.theaquarian.com/artistfeatures.php?a=446|title=Aquarian Weekly Online Feature Article with The Parlor Mob|last=Halo|first=Martin|date=April 9, 2008|work=Aquarian Weekly Online|accessdate=2008-07-14] , as well as with his enthusiasm and involvement throughout the recording process. The recording was completed on Halloween, 2007, and The Parlor Mob's debut album, "And You Were a Crow", was released digitally on March 11th, 2008 and in stores everywhere on May 6th, 2008.

Reviews

The New York Times

BMI

The Aquarian Weekly

Members

*Mark Melicia – vocals
*David Rosen – Guitar
*Paul Ritchie – Guitar
*Nick Villapiano - Bass
*Sam Bey – drums

Discography

tudio Albums

As What About Frank?

* 2004: "What About Frank?" (self-released)

As The Parlor Mob

* 2008: "And You Were a Crow"

EPs

* 2006: "The Parlor Mob EP" (self-released)

References

External links

Official sites

* [http://roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/ParlorMob/ Roadrunner Records Artist Website]
*MySpace|theparlormob
* [http://www.reverbnation.com/theparlormob The Parlor Mob] at ReverbNation
* [http://somafm.com/articles/dlfest-parlormob.html Interview with SomaFM]