Atomic Brother
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Atomic Brother, based in NYC and Northern NJ, formed in 2003, can be described as hard rock with heavy metal, pop and punk rock influences.
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About
Atomic Brother
The New York City based alternative hard-rock band, Atomic Brother, was formed in 2003 by James Melillo (lead vocals/guitar) and S.A. Sebastian Gnolfo (bass/vocals). While categorized mainly as hard-rock, the diversity of the band's musical influences is apparent in their ability to master a number of different styles--from rock to metal to punk, and even toward slower songs and ballads.
Melillo and Gnolfo met on their first day of college; their instant bond began with a mutual love for music, which developed into a close friendship and professional alliance. Over the years, they have been in numerous bands together--they travelled to Europe to play in the Montreaux Jazz Festival, they played on Nickelodeon, and the even played live from the back of an 18-wheeler in front of over one million spectators.
The musical partnership that became Atomic Brother brought the duo to Lausanne, Switzerland, where they recorded their debut album See Me Comin. The album was recorded at Soundlake Studios, owned and operated by the band's close friend and former music partner Patrick Aeby. Aside from co-producing and mixing, Aeby also played drums on the album.
The band felt that getting away from New York and their normal day-to-day in order to record helped them concentrate on the quality of their music--and their dedication shows in each of the 12 original songs on the album, which was released worldwide on iTunes on July 4, 2007.
Listeners are often surprised at the wide range of musical styles found on See Me Comin'. After the heavy riffs in "Not My Fault" and the title track "See Me Comin'"," it's refreshing to find that the band is also capable of playing punk rock tunes like "Employee of the Month," and even slow ballads such as "Home in the Sky" and the Spanish-feeling "Never Home."
When writing music, Melillo and Gnolfo pay no attention to the style each song turns out to be. According to Gnolfo, they were "tired of hearing bands both live and on CD that sound the same from start to finish," so they decided to focus more on writing good music and less on keeping it within a particular genre. "If it sounds good and we both like it," stated Melillo, "we'll use it. Period. A good song is a good song."
But being in a rock band in New York City can be difficult; Atomic Brother fans can get a glimpse of what life is like for the band backstage on their podcast, "Wastin' Time with Atomic Brother," which is available free of charge on iTunes. These videos follow the band through shows and rehearsals, giving the audience an idea of the trials the band must face daily.
While on the topic of videos, be sure to check out the music video for the song "Take You Away." The videos-as well as the podcasts-were directed and edited by Atomic Brother's live drummer, Mike Carrasquillo.
To find out about upcoming shows and projects, log on to atomicbrother.com, or check them out at myspace.com/atomicbrother. If you haven't already, be sure to pick up a copy of their album, See Me Comin--but be prepared to hear some diverse, extraordinary music, and make room on your calendar, because this is definitely a band you'll want to hear live.
See Me Comin
See Me Comin is Atomic Brother's first full-length album and is a collection of 12 original songs. The album was recorded and produced in March and April of 2006 by James and Sebastian with their friend Patrick Aeby (formerly of Switzerland's hard rock bands Krokus and Sideburn) playing drums and helping out with the production. The album was mixed by Patrick, and mastered by Joe Lambert at TruTone Mastering Labs, NYC
Pre-production, writing and recording for See Me Comin was done in Atomic Brother's Montclair, NJ studio and the album was recorded at Soundlake Studios, in Lausanne, Switzerland. They recorded their first album in Switzerland to get away from their hectic NYC lives, and the distractions that go along with it and to play and record the songs with their old friend and killer drummer, Patrick. See Me Comin was released May 2007.
In October of 2006, Atomic Brother filmed a music video for the song "Take You Away," from the album See Me Comin, in Brooklyn, NY. The video was produced by Atomic Brother and directed and filmed by the band's friend and collaborator Michael Carrasquillo for iSOL8ED Pictures. The video made it's debut on ManiaTV in January 2007 along with an acoustic performance and interview by James.
Elected
The single "Elected" was Atomic Brother's debut release in October 2004 and was recorded and produced by James and Sebastian. The single, not an Atomic Brother original, is a revamped version of the Alice Cooper classic that was inspired by the 2004 Presidential Election.
Atomic Brother decided to remake "Elected" after listening to how the lyrics of the song remain as relevant today as they were when it was written over 30 years ago. Atomic Brother reworked the song to be more modern by giving it a new ad lib ending, and a middle section that includes reenacted excerpts of speeches from the 2004 Democratic and Republican National Conventions.
The single was recorded at Atomic Brother's studio in Montclair, NJ and mixed at Cowboy Technical Services, Brooklyn, NY by Tim Hatfield, and mastered at Classic Sound, NYC, NY by Joe Lambert. "Elected" was digitally released on iTunes, Sony Connect and Yahoo!Music, and released to commercial and college radio on October 11, 2006.
After it's release, "Elected" got spins all across the U.S. on stations such as KIOZ in San Diego, CA, WCLH in Wilkes-Barre, PA, WRBC in Lewiston, ME, KZCD in Lawton, OK, WRIF in Detroit, MI, WKGB in Rochester, NY, WGIR in Manchester, NH, WVBR in Ovid, NY, and Extreme Radio, US/UK, WWSP in Custer, WY, WSUP in Plattville, WI, WFCS in New Britain, CT, WWVU in Morgantown, WV, WNRN in Charlottsville, VA, WEBN in Cincinnati, OH, WORT in Madison, WI.
News
Tours & Concerts
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| May 5, 2008 | The Cutting Room, New York, NY |
| Apr 18, 2008 | Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ |
| March 28, 2008 | Arlene's Grocery, New York, NY |
| Jan 25, 2008 | Arlene's Grocery, New York, NY |
| Dec 6, 2007 | The Underscore, New York, NY |
| July 27, 2007 | The Mean Fiddler, New York, NY |
| June 22, 2007 | The Charleston, Brooklyn, NY |
| June 06, 2007 | The Bitter End, New York, NY |
| May 10, 2007 | Trash Bar, Brooklyn, NY |
| Apr 19, 2007 | Crash Mansion, New York, NY |
| Mar 03, 2007 | Trash Bar, Brooklyn, NY |
| Feb 03, 2007 | Blaggards Pub, New York, NY |
Announcements
11.06.07 - Atomic Brother album, See Me Comin' is released on CD at atomicbrother.com and CDBaby.com.
07.04.07 - Atomic Brother album, See Me Comin' is released on iTunes.
05.28.07 - Atomic Brother album, See Me Comin' is released on eMusic, Sony Connect, Napster and Rhapsody music services.
04.18.07 - Atomic Brother launched their video podcast called Wastin Time With Atomic Brother. The video series is a look inside the band's world, taking you behind the scenes in studio, band practice, in concert, wherever, whenever.
01.03.07 - The video for "Take You Away" made its internet premiere on ManiaTV Wednesday, January 3 at 2PM ET on A.D.D.
12.14.06 - Atomic Brother is currently working with director Michael Carrasquillo on "Take You Away," the first video from the album See Me Comin'. The video will be released at the end of December.
Discography
2007 - See Me Comin'
2004 - Elected (single)
Albums
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Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 2004 | Elected | Atomic Brother Recordings |
Compilations & Live Releases
Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- Sebastian appeared as an extra in the NBC show Lipstick Jungle
- James is an avid surfer
- James and Sebastian have played together in 4 bands before Atomic Brother.
- James and Sebastian toured in a band in Europe with See Me Comin drummer Patrick Aeby.
- Patrick Aeby, drummer on See Me Comin, played in the Swiss rock band Krokus.
- Sebastian appeared as an extra in Howard Stern's Private Parts and was killed by a vampire in Strange Things Happen at Midnight.
- James received the Hartford Advocate's Readers’ Choice award as best guitarist.
Reviews
External Links
- Atomic Brother's website
- Atomic Brother's MySpace
- Atomic Brother's Video Podcast - Wastin Time With Atomic Brother
- Atomic Brother's EPK
- Atomic Brother video site
- Atomic Brother on SkyRock
- Atomic Brother on MusicNation
- S.A. Sebastian's website
- S.A. Sebastian's blog
- Michael J. Carrasquillo's blog
- Patrick Aeby's Website
