The Smyrk

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The Smyrk
The Smyrk
The Smyrk
Background information
Origin New Haven, Connecticut
Genre(s) Alternative Rock
Years active 2004–Present
Label(s) Unsigned
Website http://www.thesmyrk.com/
Members
Chirs Barone (drummer)
Doran Flake (Vocals)
Nick Logan (guitarist/bassist)
Ari Sadowitz (guitarist/bassist)

The Smyrk is a band from New Haven, Connecticut. The current members are Doron Flake, Nick Logan, Ari Sadowitz and Chris Barone.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The Smyrk formed in 2004, when singer Doron Flake joined up with instrumental trio of guitarist/bassists Nick Logan and Ari Sadowitz, along with drummer Chris Barone, who had been playing the Connecticut club circuit under the name "Canine Smyrk".

[edit] Independent Success

Monsters on Maple Street the bands debut EP was produced with Eric Rachel (Saves the Day, Dillinger Escape Plan) and mastered by Alan Douches (Thrice, Run DMC) at West West Side Music. The self-released record garnered praise from sources such as AbsolutePunk.net.

After circulating around the internet and the Northeast playing over 300 shows [2], Monsters on Maple Street caught the ear of Incubus bassist and former Roots guitarist Ben Kenney. The band then set out on tour, performing across the country and back, including performing in Los Angeles for Kenny, who invited them to record at his home in August 2006. Monsters on Maple Street was picked up for distribution by Mr. Kenney's label, Ghetto Crush, and quickly became a top seller on the label's website, [1].

The Smyrk traveled to Los Angeles in August, 2006 to record six new tracks for the album New Fiction. This album was recorded over a month in Mr. Kenney's home studio.

In October 2007, The Smyrk, was chosen as one of the top 6 bands out of ~4000 bands to compete in MTV2's Dew Circuit Breakout, a TV battle of the bands sponsored by Mountain Dew. MTV2's contest has brought to the music spotlight bands such as Halifax (Band), the 2006 winner and Taking Back Sunday. [3]

[edit] Media Coverage

You'll really set aside the fact that you've heard nothing like this and welcome these new grooves with open arms... A call to all label execs or otherwise still reading: get interested in these guys, [they] have made my summer a whole lot better.

- AbsolutePunk.net[4]

"When a band comes along that actually sounds different, it makes people pay attention and makes people curious to hear more. One such band is New Haven, Connecticut's The Smyrk... simply a sound that is different and striking."

- rockpress.net [5]

"Volatile and edgy. They now put soul into post-hardcore, playing jazz chords with the energy of a punk band. The band's garnering great press from far and wide...The Smyrk's going places."

- New Haven Advocate

"[The Smyrk] offers a taste for nuance married perfectly with the all-out aggression of power chord rock. At the core of it is guitar work, which trades tired licks for thoughtful ornament, cliché for relentless riffs dispensed with digital precision. With a studio sound honed to perfection... The Smyrk deliver a live show that is all that and more."

- Brooklyn Academy of Music

"We do believe that they've got something that's pretty special."

- Play Magazine Philadelphia [6]

"Polite but quite righteous."

- The Village Voice[7]


[edit] Discography

Date of Release Title U.S. sales
2003 The Smyrk
2004 The Hartt Sessions
August 10, 2005 Monster on Maple Street
March 23, 2007 New Fiction

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dew Circuit Breakout
  2. ^ http://www.thesmyrk.com/bio.html
  3. ^ Dew Circuit Breakout
  4. ^ Smyrk, The - New Fiction - Album Review - AbsolutePunk.net
  5. ^ RockPress
  6. ^ PlayPhilly.com - Smyrkin' at Philly
  7. ^ The Village Voice: Ye Olde CMJ Blog

[edit] External links