Big House (band)

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Big House


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Origin = Bakersfield, California, USA
Genre = Country
Years_active = 1994-2000, 2007
Label = MCA Nashville
Dead Reckoning
Associated_acts = Eddie Money
Past_members = Monty Byrom
Tanner Byrom
Sonny California
Ron Mitchell
David Neuhauser
Benny Rappa
Chuck Seaton
Steve Vines

Big House was an American country music band with origins in Bakersfield, California. Originally, the band consisted of Monty Byrom (lead vocals, guitar), Tanner Byrom (drums), Sonny California (harmonica), Ron Mitchell (bass guitar), David Neuhauser (guitar, piano), and Chuck Seaton (guitar). Under this lineup, Big House recorded two albums for MCA Nashville: 1997's gold-certified "Big House" and 1998's "Travelin' Kind". These two albums produced four chart singles on the "Billboard" country charts, including the #30 hit "Cold Outside".

After the release of their second album, all of the band's members departed except for Monty Byrom and David Neuhauser; Benny Rappa was then signed the band's new drummer, and Steve Vines assumed the role of bass guitarist. The revamped lineup recorded one album for Dead Reckoning Records before disbanding in 2000, although all six original members held one reunion concert in 2007.cite web |url=http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/106771.html |title=Big House packs Palace in Reunion |accessdate=2007-12-30 |last=Loyd |first=Erik |date=2007-03-22 |work=The Bakersfield Californian]

Biography

Although its six members (all natives of Bakersfield, California) had all performed together in various lineups, Big House was not officially formed until 1994, when brothers Monty and Tanner Byrom first performed with four other musicians at a venue in Oildale, California.cite web |url=http://www.pollstar.com/news/viewhotstar.pl?Artist=BIGHOU |title=Big House |accessdate=2007-12-30 |date=1997-06-02 |work=Pollstar] After realizing that they all seemed to work well together, the six musicians decided to form a band. Monty Byrom, who had previously penned hit singles for Eddie Money, assumed the role of lead vocalist and guitarist, while Tanner served as drummer; the other four original members included harmonica player Roy Lackey (who assumed the stage name Sonny California),cite web |url=http://www.bakersfield.com/138/story/64251.html |title=And the Big House band played on |accessdate=2007-12-30 |last=Loyd |first=Erik |date=2006-07-26 |work=The Bakersfield Californian] bass guitarist Ron Mitchell, and guitarists David Neuhauser and Chuck Seaton.

Major-label debut

Throughout the 1990s, Big House played throughout their native state of California. They had also tried to make themselves known in Nashville, Tennessee; however, Big House was not well-received by Nashville until Neuhauser suggested that the band submit a demo tape to Tony Brown, president of MCA Nashville Records. A demo tape was sent to the label, and by 1997, the re-tooled demo tape was issued as the band's debut album, also titled "Big House".cite web |url=http://wc02.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jifqxqqhldke~T1 |title=Big House biography |accessdate=2007-12-30 |last=Ankeny |first=Jason |work=Allmusic] cite web |url=http://www.bakersfield.com/static/FP/baksound/house.htm |title=Like a House Afire |accessdate=2007-12-30 |last=Price |first=Robert |work=The Bakersfield Californian] Three of the album's singles entered the U.S. "Billboard" Hot Country Songs charts, including "Cold Outside", which peaked at #30. In addition, the album received RIAA gold certification for U.S. sales of more than 500,000 copies. A second album, entitled "Travelin' Kind", followed one year later; its lone single, "Faith", peaked at #63.

Membership changes and disbanding

After the release of their second album, however, most of Big House's members parted ways; Tanner Byrom and Seaton had left to start families. Monty Byrom and Neuhauser then recruited Benny Rappa and Steve Vines, who took over on bass guitar and drums, respectively. The four-piece lineup recorded one album, "Woodstock Nation", which was issued in 2000 on Dead Reckoning Records, an independent label owned by songwriters Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch. [cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1478102/20030911/big_house_country_.jhtml |title=Western Beat Welcomes Bakersfield Rockers |accessdate=2007-12-30 |date=2000-08-12 |work=CMT] Big House disbanded shortly afterward; the six original members did, however, reunite in March 2007 for one concert in their native Bakersfield.

Discography

Albums

ingles

*^AFailed to chart.

References

External links

* [http://www.deadreckoners.com/artists/big_house.html Big House] at Dead Reckoning Records
* [http://www.montybyrom.com Monty Byrom official website]
*myspace|bighouseboysofbakersfield|Big House