| Bronze Radio Return | |
|---|---|
Bronze Radio Return performing live in Hartford, CT |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Hartford, Connecticut, United States[1] |
| Genres | indie-roots rock, revival rock, alternative/indie rock[2] |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | independent |
| Website | Bronze Radio Return |
| Members | |
| Chris Henderson Patrick Fetkowitz Robert Tanen Matthew Warner Robert Griffith Craig Struble |
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Bronze Radio Return is an American indie/roots rock, revival rock sextet from Hartford, Connecticut. The band was formed by singer/songwriter/guitarist Chris Henderson after he attended the Hartt School of Music.[3] Fellow Hartt School Alumni Rob Griffith (drums), Bob Tanen (bass) and Matt Warner (organ/keyboards/samples) help complete the line-up with Patrick (Packy) Fetkowitz (Lead Guitar) and Craig Struble (Harmonica, Banjo). The name Bronze Radio Return was inspired by an old radio Henderson grew up listening to in his fathers art studio in Maine. Each of the band members are greatly influenced by the music they grew up listening to. "As a result, [the band] decided [they] wanted to pay a certain homage to their influences with the music that [they] would make together...the return of the bronze radio."[4]
Producer, Doug Derryberry (Bruce Hornsby, Ben Folds Five) discovered Bronze Radio Return at a NYC show and produced their first self-titled EP in 2008. In 2009 the Northeastern band’s collaboration with Midwestern producer/multi-instrumentalist Chad Copelin brought them to a Southern studio in Nashville and resulted in the creation of a ten-song album Old-Time Speaker.[5] Songs from Old Time Speaker were licensed by Hollister Co. (Digital Love - Labor Day Playlist 2009[6]) and the new CW Series 90210 (Lo-Fi on Season 3:305 Catch Me if You Cannon[7]). The album also charted in the College Music Journal (CMJ) Top 200 where it peaked at #102 charted in the top 10 and even reached #1 for weeks on several stations.
On it’s sophomore full-length recording, the Hartford, CT, based Bronze Radio Return (BRR) continued to define its sound. Shake! Shake! Shake! found the band continuing to move beyond the roots rock leanings of its debut EP.[8] SHAKE!SHAKE!SHAKE! reunited Bronze Radio Return with Chad Copelin as producer and was recorded in Norman and Tulsa Oklahoma. Since its release on March 29, 2011 SHAKE!SHAKE!SHAKE! debuted at #4 on the Billboard NE Heatseakers Chart[9] made the College Music Journal (CMJ) Top 200 List where it peaked at #129 and has been licensed by American Eagle[10] Hollister[11], Anthony Bourdain's Travel Channel show The Layover (Season 1, Six Episodes), HBO's 24/7 Flyers/Rangers Road to the NHL Winter Classic [12] and Polo Ralph Lauren.
Along with extensive tours of the entire East Coast and Midwest, Bronze Radio Return has performed at several music festivals including: Mountain Jam,[13] Gathering of the Vibes,[14] Summerfest[15] and Musikfest.[16] Acts Bronze Radio Return have opened for include Grace Potter, John Mayer, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Pete Francis (of Dispatch), Blues Traveler, Buddy Guy, Dennis DeYoung, Nikka Costa, Sugar Ray, Ed Kowalczyk (of Live) and more. They even performed for President Obama last October (2010) at a rally in Bridgeport, CT.[17]