Megaphone (band)

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Megaphone
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Background information
Origin Orlando, Florida Flag of the United States
Genre(s) Rock
Alternative rock
Pop rock
Years active 2004–present
Website http://www.megaphonemusic.net
Members
Matt Bloodwell
Paul Smith
James Woodrich
Scott Smith

Megaphone is a modern rock band from Orlando, Florida whose influences include such bands as Foo Fighters, Butch Walker and Led Zeppelin. They formed in late 2004 when founding member Matt Bloodwell (former drummer of the well known Orlando band Precious) put down his sticks, picked up a guitar, and recruited local rock musicians from the Orlando music scene. megaphone is: Paul Smith - Lead guitar, former touring guitarist for Seven Mary Three - Mammoth/Atlantic, and Vonray - Elektra Records. James Woodrich - Bass guitar, formerly of My Hotel Year - Doghouse Records. Scott Smith - Drummer, formerly of Cori Yarckin and newest member of the band joining in March of 2007. [1] [2]

Contents

[edit] About the Band

Many Orlando local music fans may know megaphone's founding member Matt Bloodwell as the former drummer for punk rock band Precious. [3] While a successful drummer, Bloodwell had also been writing songs for years. In October of 2003, Matt left Precious to put together a band around the music he had been writing. "Being someone who everyone knows as a drummer but no one really knows as a song writer, I felt like if I wanted people to take me seriously as a song writer I had to do something really different. OK, so I'll sing and play guitar in megaphone." [1] With a handful of self-produced songs, Matt put down his sticks, picked up a guitar and went looking for the right players. "I knew exactly what I wanted and I had a pretty good idea of who could pull it off. Now it was just a mater of are they going to like the material?" Guitarist Paul Smith, who has worked with Seven Mary Three, was just come'n off the road with Vonray in support of their first Electra release when drummer Matt Brown turned him on to Bloodwells' demos. Matt Brown had been the drummer for 3AE signed to RCA before tragedy ended the band to soon.[4] Matt Brown joined megaphone and was with the band till March of 2007 when he was replaced by former Cori Yarckin drummer Scott Smith. [1] "I did back flips when I found out bass player James Woodrich from My Hotel Year was not only available but also interested in the project." With James finishing off the line up, megaphone had become kind of an Orlando super-group. "Everyone in this band has had such a great history individually, our hope is that our future together will be even better." [5]


In addition to being the lead singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist for megaphone, Matt Bloodwell's primary instrument is drums which he began playing at the age of seven. He is currently a part-time percussionist for Blue Man Group at Universal Studios in Orlando Florida and he is the drummer for the rock cover band Mulch, Sweat, n' Shears at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Bloodwell has also arranged, performed and produced music for Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom's Villains Mix and Mingle show at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2006 & 2007 and his voice was heard singing lead vocals on Disney Tokyo's Haunted Rock'n Streets Halloween parade 2007.[6][7][2]

[edit] Notable Shows

On August 12, 2004 megaphone played their first show at Wills Pub with New Roman Times and Spacebar. They have played on nearly every rock stage in Orlando. megaphone was named Best Rock/Pop act in Orlando 2007 by The Orlando Weekly magazine. They were also named second best live act in the same publication. (An improv comedy show took first place.) [8]

megaphone has opened for such national acts as Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Seven Mary Three, Everclear, Edwin McCain and The New Left. They've also made appearances at WJRR 101.1's Earthday Birthday 12 & 14, and the 2005, 2007, 2008 Florida Music Festival Main Stage.

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current members

  • Matt Bloodwell – vocals, guitar
  • Paul Smith - guitar, background vocals
  • James Woodrich – bass, background vocals
  • Scott Smith – drums

[edit] Former member

  • Matt Brown – drums (2004–2007)

[edit] Discography

  • For Cryin' Out Loud (April 15, 2005)
  • The Perfect Gift Christmas song - single (November 24, 2007)[9]

[edit] Awards

  • Best Rock/Pop act & 2nd Best Live Act in Orlando 2007 by The Orlando Weekly magazine [8]
  • Net Music Countdown's Top Net Unknown for January 5, 2007 [10]


[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Prezioso, Nicole (2006-02-09). Loud and Clear. Orlando Weekly. Archived from the original on 2007-11-20. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
  2. ^ a b Sheer, Quinton (2007-01-16). Soap Boxes and megaphone. Qs House. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
  3. ^ Curiously catching on. Orlando Weekly (1998-12-16). Archived from the original on 2007-11-20. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  4. ^ Hinton, William Dean; Jeffrey C. Billman. "3AE singer dies in car crash", Orlando Weekly, 2002-09-12. Retrieved on 2007-11-20. 
  5. ^ megaphone band history. Archived from the original on 2007-11-20. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  6. ^ Maupin, Elizabeth. "Needed: More Blue Men", Orlando Sentinel, March 22, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-26. 
  7. ^ Los Lawn Boys aka: Mulch, Sweat, & Shears (http://loslawnboys.com/).+Archived from the original on 2007-11-26. Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
  8. ^ a b [Best of Orlando 2007 Arts and Entertainment Best of Orlando 2007 Arts and Entertainment]. Orlando Weekly (2007-07-20). Archived from the original on 2007-11-17. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  9. ^ Anderson, Tim (2007-12-18). Megaphone, “The Perfect Gift”. Orlando MetroMix. Archived from the original on 2007-12-18. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
  10. ^ Lawrence, David (2007-01-05). Megaphone Top Net Unknown Week of January 5, 2007. Net Music Countdown. Archived from the original on 2007-11-24. Retrieved on 2007-01-18.

[edit] External links