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MGMT Mix
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After a year of performing regionally to their expanding fan base, they sold their first 1000 home printed CD’s out of the back of their cars, attracting the attention of promoter and international touring artists. They soon found themselves sharing the stage with reggae legends such as Steel Pulse, The Wailers, Israel Vibration and Yellow Man in addition to rock headliners such as Hoobastank and Flogging Molly.
Lionize continues to tour relentlessly, playing more than 250 dates over two years and selling another 2000 copies of their subsequent album Danger My Dear (2005).
Barely in their 20s, their work began drawing the attention of producers and musicians living in their area. With their follow-up EP Mummies Wrapped in Money (2006), they enlisted the aid of producer/engineer Scott Spelbring whose resume includes Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews Band, OAR, Linken Park among others. Neil Fallon, the lead singer of Clutch, lends his vocal talents to the title track.
Building a strong regional presence among fans, promoters and musicians alike, Lionize continues to excite the masses through their dynamic live performances at clubs, colleges, and festivals. Despite’s the band’s success and great improvements musically, they all remain single.
A Boston based trio band led by singer and primary songwriter Chad Urmston (a former member of Vermont jamsters Dispatch), State Radio largely managed to avoid the usual post-Phish clichés, injecting a punk-influenced sound and politically charged viewpoint while staying true to the tenets of the band's chosen style, which infuses a blend of Roots-Reggae, Ska, Punk and Rock.
Urmston, who disbanded Dispatch at the height of its popularity in 2002, formed State Radio later the same year. Focusing exclusively on guitar and vocals instead of the instrument switching he was previously known for, he brought in second guitarist Pete Halby, bassist Chuck Fay, and drummer Mike Greenfield to round out the lineup. After the exploratory debut EP Flag of the Shiners was released by Fenway Recordings in late 2002, State Radio went on a temporary hiatus throughout 2003 as Urmston recovered from throat surgery. Returning to active duty in 2004 as a slimmed-down trio with new drummer Brian Sayers, State Radio followed a second EP, Simmer Kane, with the release of 2005's Us Against the Crown. Another personnel change occurred before State Radio toured in support of the album, with drummer Mike Najarian replacing Sayers.
The sophomore effort Year of the Crow followed in fall 2007, bringing with it an emphasis on louder guitars and sociopolitical themes. State Radio reinforced such themes by launching service projects in each city the band visited, and Urmston briefly reconvened Dispatch for a three-night charity performance at Madison Square Garden, with funds going toward Zimbabwe relief. State Radio maintained such political awareness on 2009's Let It Go.
Official recording sessions for their third album began on November 3, 2008 in North Brookfield, Massachusetts at Long View Farm Studios. The album, entitled Let It Go, was released on September 29, 2009.
Following the release of "Let It Go" State Radio launched their winter tour. The winter 2010 tour was titled "Lefty Rides Again" and visited many cities across the United States. State Radio also completed a small European tour during the last two weeks of March.
In 2007, the group became an instant Sirius radio sensation with the release of their acclaimed double-disc debut album, Whale, driven by hit tracks “Operation of Flight” and “Sleep.” Major festival darlings, The Heavy Pets are regulars at Bonnaroo, moe.down, Langerado, New Orleans Backbeat Jazzfest, and their namesake PetZoo, a two-day, multi-band festival that draws hordes of Pets devotees to Bucks County, PA, to feast on the headliners’ live alchemy.
With five skilled musicians, who are also composers and lyricists, The Heavy Pets have amassed a deep catalog of original music that critics call, “full blown musical salvation”; “elegant songwriting with blazing chops, thought-provoking lyrics and a heavy, danceable backbeat”; “funk-reggae rock hybrid that’s laid back and sexy”; and “funky, loose-limbed rock and soul.” Their undeniable magnetism compels audiences to move and groove along a musical journey full of unexpected harmonic treats punctuated with fantastical lyrics revealing inspired philosophical leanings.
They were first embraced in the jam scene for their raw talent and tenacious commitment to making great music. But like their unmistakable sound, The Heavy Pets themselves have transcended boundaries, crossing a bridge few bands survive intact – into the still-respected periphery of mainstream music through upbeat, danceable, homegrown, skillfully executed tunes, and passionate live shows that keep crowds lining up for more.
