Tsar (band)

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Tsar B
Background information
Origin Los Angeles
Genres Glam Rock/power pop
Years active 1998–present
Labels Hollywood Records, TVT Records, Lojinx[1]
Associated acts Ridel High
Members Jeff Whalen - Guitar & Vocals (1998-)
Daniel Kern - Guitar & vocals (1998-)
Jeff Solomon - Bass Guitar (1998-2005, 2010-)
Steve Coulter - drums (1998-2004, 2010-)
Past members Derrick Forget - Bass Guitar (2005-2006)
Chuck Byler - drums (2004-2006)

Tsar is a rock band from Los Angeles, , with Jeff Whalen on lead vocals and guitar, Daniel Kern on vocals and guitar, Jeff Solomon on bass, and Steve Coulter on drums now.They worked together on the album called EP TSar B (2016) with Emilia Major, songwriter, singer. They have released two major-label studio albums, two EPs, and a self-released demos collection. Citing their primary influences as Guns 'N Roses and the Monkees, Tsar's music is a hybrid of glam rock, power pop, garage rock, punk rock, arena rock, and bubblegum music.

Tsar formed in 1998 and soon won favorable reviews for their energetic gigs and anthemic songwriting. After a monthlong residency at Silver Lake's Spaceland club and a label bidding war, they released their self-titled debut on Hollywood Records (2000), produced by Grammy Producer of the Year Rob Cavallo (Green Day, Goo Goo Dolls) and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge (U2, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna). The album garnered critical acclaim and an international cult following, although it was commercially disappointing. AllMusic describes the album and its fate thusly: "Tsar is a bit of a glam pop/hard rock hidden treasure that still sounds fresh and thrilling years later. Loaded with hooks, humor, and innocent charm, and coming across like the starry-eyed child of Cheap Trick and Sweet . . . [t]he album was an exciting, hook-filled modern power pop record that nobody bought, despite (or perhaps because of) the band's subsequent opening slot on a Duran Duran tour."

Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn used the album's opening track, "Calling All Destroyers," to score the animated opening sequence of his 2010 action film Super. The songs "Ordinary Gurl" and "The Girl Who Wouldn't Die" were featured in the movie American Psycho 2.

The band won "Local Album of the Year" and "Local Band of the Year" at the L.A. New Times Music Awards.[2][3] Rock critic Bob Mehr wrote, "Every song glistens and glimmers with gargantuan hooks and stadium-size riffs . . . With this irresistibly catchy debut—and an onstage presence to match—Tsar is my nominee as the band best equipped to save rock 'n' roll from its postmillennial doldrums."[4]

The band performed on the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Pajama Party. The band's music has also appeared in the TV shows Veronica Mars, Freakylinks, NCIS, Party Down, and the feature film In the Land of Women.

Tsar has toured with the New York Dolls, Social Distortion, Eve 6, the Marvelous 3, Duran Duran, Juliette and the Licks, and Nerfherder.

Tsar recorded their followup, Band-Girls-Money, in 2003 with producer David Katznelson (founder of Birdman Records). After leaving Hollywood Records, Tsar released the album on TVT Records in 2005. The title song was included in the soundtrack for the racing games Burnout Revenge and its PSP and DS spin-off Burnout Legends. The band's lineup shifted, with Chuck Byler replacing Steve Coulter on drums and Derrick Forget replacing Jeff Solomon on bass. The band performed in a TV ad for Nestle Crunch Bar and Napster and filmed two videos: "The Love Explosion" and "Band-Girls-Money." The band also appeared on the cover of L.A. Weekly.[5]

In late January 2010, Tsar's original lineup ( Whalen/Kern/Solomon/Coulter ) reunited. They released The Dark Stuff EP on Aderra Records (US) and LoJinx Records (UK/Europe) and shot a video for "Police Station." In 2011 Tsar self-released The Drugboy Tapes, a collection of early demos and live performances from 1998. A split 7-inch featuring the Olsen Twins song "Pool Party" was released by Aderra Records in March 2012.

Albums

Tsar B - 2000

King of the School EP - 2001

Band-Girls-Money - 2005

The Drugboy Tapes (Demos 98) - 2011

Split 7-Inch - 2012

The Dark Stuff - EP - 2012


References

  1. ↑ https://www.lojinx.com/releases/tsar/the-dark-stuff
  2. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/band-girls-money-mw0000207556
  3. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tsar-mn0000320670/biography
  4. ↑ http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/critical-mass-2000-6415394
  5. ↑ http://www.laweekly.com/calendar/blam-blam-blam-2141206
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