18 Shades

18 Shades

Genres: modern rock, alternative rock

About 18 Shades

Members: Jesse Bennett - lead vocals / guitar Jason Stoddard - bass / vocals KC Carter - drums Cory Howard - guitar / vocals "Imagine doing 118 in a Dodge Charger in a race against a freight train, and just as you jump the tracks and the whistle screams, it rips off your back bumper but you make it out alive; 18 Shades would be the soundtrack." If you ask 18 Shades what they sound like, they might spark your interest with a sentence similar to the one quoted above. Jesse Bennett's intense and melodic vocals top off the band's larger than life style. Cory Howard's hard hitting guitars and infectious bluesy solos blend perfectly with the thunderous boom that is the rhythm section provided by Jason Stoddard on bass and KC Carter on drums. “To put it simply, they sound like they’re already famous” wrote Zach Hagadone - The Sandpoint Reader (Sandpoint, Idaho). "We feel like there's something missing in rock today..." says Stoddard "... and that something is vocals. There aren't many bands around these days who use one of the best weapons in the rock arsenal; harmonies! It makes people want to sing along..." With three very accomplished vocalists being part of this 4-piece, they have been drenching their sound with big hook harmonies throughout. "There's just something to be said about a band that comes out and kills it vocally, not only on their album but during their live set. Jason and I have both been lead vocalists in other bands and having three guys that can melt and run our vocals together like we do is rare." explains Howard. To ask Carter to put his two cents in, about where 18 Shades fits into the musical world, you'll have to catch him between arms flying and kick drum rhythms that knock you off your wobbly bar stool. Already this year, 18 Shades has brought their live chaos to some of the most sought after clubs in the business, more recently including an opening slot for indie rockers The Spill Canvas at The Knitting Factory. They've also shared the stage with acts like: Everclear, Jet Black Stare, Presidents of the United States of America, and Powerman 5000. Late last year they caught the attention of producer Jeff Johnson - Bailey Way Entertainment (Jet Black Stare, Adelitas Way). They began working together at Greenhouse Studios in Vancouver B.C. with recording engineer Chris "Hollywood" Holmes (Korn, Katy Perry, The Veer Union). From Bennett's point of view, "The recording process has been an entirely different experience than we've had in the past. This is our first time working with a major production company and it’s pushed to a whole new shade!" "Something clicked for us while we've been in the studio. We understand where we're going with the music and have a clear vision of what we want to capture in the tracks!" Stoddard adds. So far the band has recorded three new songs and is hard at work writing more material for their debut release. "The new songs are the best material I have ever had my hands in. They are addicting and stuck in my head all day long." says Howard. The writing process for 18 Shades is simple, and it works. They get together almost on a nightly basis and experiment with rhythms and melodies. "We'll just jam on something for hours, and almost like clockwork new parts will start to form and the song will take on its own new life." reveals Bennett. He does know a thing or two about new life... He raced motorcycles until it killed him. For whatever reason, Jesse came back to us after two minutes dead. Breathing stopped. No pulse. Two minutes on the other side and then brought back to life again. According to Jesse, the two minutes seemed like two years on the other side – and it shifted his consciousness. Let’s face it, he was a little strange before but now the two sides of his brain are like opposing magnets that push his thoughts in every direction imaginable. On the other hand, his lyrics have never been better. Some people say they can even open a doorway to the 18th shade. "You’ve never really lived until you’ve died”. – Jesse James Bennett - 18 SHADES With the help of Dummy Boy Management and Bailey Way Entertainment, 18 Shades is gearing up for what seems to be a great future. With touring on their brains and writing in their blood the band is itching to make an impact on the music scene by creating mystery, tension, and love making between music and listener. Their first single, "Happy Ending", drops July 27, 2010 with a follow up EP in the works for later in the year. So put the pedal to the floor because this train is haulin' ass and doesn't have time for any stops.

Taken from Last.fm

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