Firework Show (band)
Firework Show | |
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Firework Show in Charleston, SC Left to right: Bodtorf, Gallagher, Robinson, Atwater. | |
Background information | |
Origin | Charleston, South Carolina, United States |
Genres | rock, folk, blues, jazz, psychedelia, space rock |
Years active | 2005–present |
Labels | none |
Associated acts | Ruddy Choss, Shores of Africa, The Fifths |
Website | Official website |
Members | Zach Bodtorf (guitar/vocals), Brandon Gallagher (drums), Casey Atwater (bass), Braxton Brown (keys), Sean Robinson (saxophone) |
Past members | Sean Robinson (bass), Bradley Morris (guitar), Alex Borgen (bass) |
Firework Show is a rock band formed in Charleston, South Carolina in 2005. The band consists of Zach Bodtorf (guitar/vocals), Brandon Gallagher (drums), Casey Atwater (bass), Braxton Brown (keys), and intermittently they have Sean Robinson play saxophone. They can seamlessly jam for hours on end if given the opportunity, with hints of psychedelia, blues, and jazz.
History
Bodtorf and Gallagher began playing music together in 8th grade at Greenville Middle School in Greenville, South Carolina in 1999 along with bassist John Hallman and guitarist Paul Goerner under the name Ruddy Choss. The band name came from a band called Rude Chaos, but everyone pronounced it wrong calling them "Ruddy Choss". They went through a few bass players; Hallman, and Steve Wolozyn, until they found bass prodigy Jason Hudson during their junior year at Eastside High School (Taylors, South Carolina). They then renamed themselves the Shores of Africa. They went on to win several of the high school's battle of the bands.
Band Members Bodtorf and Gallagher went to College of Charleston together in 2004 leaving bassist Hudson behind. The two were dormant in the first year due to the limitations of music in the dorms. However, in the August 2005, the two moved into a house at 69 Bogard Street with former bassist Hallman, and soon to be bassist Sean Robinson, from Clover, South Carolina ; thus forming the Firework Show. In Early 2006 they made a home recording of a three song EP called the Hightail EP; it included the songs Girl, Washout, and Mountain Man. Ed Blanton from the local band Rosemont, helped the band along with the recording.
The Trio went on to win the College of Charleston's Battle of the Bands at the Music Farm as sophomores, winning free recording time. The limited recording time at Fusion 5 Studios was used to record a radio friendly version of the song Washout.[1] Firework Show continued to gig around and recorded the Bring It On Home EP in the summer of 2006 with the help of Carter Sowers. This project was not released until late 2006, and contained the songs Down by the Water, Mountain Man, Fine Photographer, Girl, Heavy Heavy Light Light, Some Things, and Washout.
The band left their residence at 69 Bogard and their two other room-mates to a new residence at 255 Ashley Ave in August 2006, which has now become a hotspot for the underground music community; attracting all sorts of bands from the east coast. During this Robinson left the band for artistic and personal reasons, and began several new projects and during this time. Bodtorf and Gallagher started side project the Fifths at this point with friend, Bradley Morris, downstairs neighbor (from 69 Bogard) Braxton Brown, from Conway, South Carolina, and found a new bassist Alex Borgen. The group played gigs throughout the year until the decided to reform the Firework Show with keys player Brown and brand new bassist Casey Atwater, from East Grand Rapids, Michigan; rounding out the present lineup.
EP II was recorded in Zach and Brandon's apartment on George Street in the summer of 2008 and contained the songs Porch, Astrogen, Oh the Harps!, and Some Things.
Present
The Band recently finished up a new EP which was recorded at Awendaw Green in late 2008, early 2009 and was produced by Sadler Vaden, guitarist/vocalist for the rock group Leslie. The EP has been called Zebra Board, but there is not a decided name at this point. The EP contains the songs Voodoo, Two, and Lights on the Horizon (Camels and Flannel). They most recently recorded the song "Echoes" with Charleston Sound for the compilation CD "I Got Music."
Musical style
rock, folk, blues, jazz, psychedelia, space rock
Members
- Zach Bodtorf - vocals, guitar (2005–present)
- Brandon Gallagher - drums (2005–present)
- Casey Atwater - bass (2008–present)
- Braxton Brown - keys (2007–present)
- Sean Robinson - saxophone (2008–present)
Former
- Sean Robinson - bass (2005–2007)
- Alex Borgen - bass (2007)
- Bradley Morris- guitar (2007)
Studio albums
- The Hightail EP (2006)
- Bring It On Home EP (2006)
- EP II (2008)
- EP III or Zebra Board (2009)
- "Glee Noise EP" (2010)
=Featured on=
- "I Got Music" (2009) Compilation by Charleston Sound; "Echoes"
Unrecorded Material
- The Birthday Song
- 5/4
- Secret Sonata Jam
- Bells
Covers
- "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" Beatles
- "Cortez the Killer" Neil Young
- "LA Woman" The Doors
- "Benny and the Jets" Elton John
- "Thriller" Michael Jackson
- "Have a Cigar" Pink Floyd
- "Hang me out to dry" Cold War Kids
- "Baby Please Don't go" Van Morrison
- "Billie Jean" Michael Jackson
- "I Turn My Camera On" Spoon (band)
References
- ↑ Lesemann, T. Ballard (March 26, 2006). "The 'Charleston Battle of the Bands' introduces a winner". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved 2009-02-24.