Five A.M.

Artist Information

Biography

UPDATE:

Five A.M. has recored 2 new songs with producer Jeff Dawson. A music video for the song "Weightless" is currently featured on the band website www.fiveam.com.

Five A.M. songs "Be Still" was included on KFOG 104.5's "Local Scene CD". The band also played a KFOG Summer Concert with Rocco de Lucca August 14th.

Song "Fall Apart" placed on ABC show KYLE XY for 2009 season.

In April 2008, Five A.M.'s single "Be Still" became the #1 podcasted song in America (source: Podsafe Music Network), and stayed in the Top 5 for an entire month. Meanwhile, the track "Just Say Anything" has been added to playlists across the country (see list below).



BIOGRAPHY

In a small California town, in a small bar like many across the country, Five A.M. took the stage to once again prove themselves in front of a crowd who knew nothing of them or their music. As the sound swelled up and began to win over fans one by one, it poured out into the street until it reached a tired business man on his way home. Compelled by what he heard, he soon found himself in the club taking in the music. This chance encounter would be the first step of many, and he would quickly become a friend and energized supporter of the band, providing them funding akin to a record label. Thus began the year long adventure that became “Raise the Sun.” Recorded in Vancouver B.C. and San Francisco, Five A.M.'s third full length album teams the band with Grammy nominated producer Jeff Dawson (Daniel Powter's "Bad Day") and Grammy winning mixer Mike Fraser (Aerosmith, Hinder, AC/DC, Terri Clark). “Raise the Sun” was released in 2008.

Their angel investor had only just begun his crusade for Five A.M. He was so moved by the album’s first track, “Still in Love With You,” he wrote and produced a short film around it, featuring Ice T, Eddie Furlong, and Rumer Willis. It’s a powerful mini movie that speaks to the violence and atrocities humans inflict on each other, and aims to promote peace - a message perfectly keeping with the soul of the band.

“’Raise the Sun’ is an album of love, hope, and reaching for something bigger than oneself,” says lead singer and songwriter Trent Yaconelli. “I grew up believing the best kind of music was more than something to dance to. It was something that could change someone’s perspective, change someone’s life, bring people together or change the world. That’s what this collection of songs is about, and that’s what this band is about.”

Incredibly, “Raise the Sun” marks the third time Five A.M. fans have helped the band realize their music. In 2003, Five A.M. fans raised $21,000 to fund the groups’ debut album, “Degrees of Falling.” For their second outing “This Morphine Life,” they were literally pushed into the studio by the president of a recording college, who happened to hear them playing live for a campus webcast.

It’s this unique combination of energy and passion, both in their music and message, that compels listeners to Five A.M., and keeps them on the road playing over 70 dates per year throughout the western states. Their intense live energy has brought them into the league of national acts, where they've been billed with Train, Rocco DeLuca, Dishwalla, Cracker, Guster, Bob Schneider, The Gin Blossoms and Sister Hazel. And now, armed with the radio ready promise of “Raise the Sun” and the support of industry veterans, Five A.M. has stepped up to the plate, looking to make the same impact on a national level.


“By virtue of a highly polished radio-ready album, Five A.M. are poised, now more than ever, to break into a larger market. Full of solid hooks and thoughtful lyrics, there's no logical reason why ‘Raise the Sun’ shouldn't splash onto radio play lists in the Bay Area and across the country.” (The Bohemian).

Instrumentation

Five A.M. is:

Trent Yaconelli - lead vocals and guitar
Zach Hammer - lead guitar and vocals
Jason McGrath - bass
Benjie Kushins - piano/keys & percussion
Jed Friesen - drums

Discography

"WEIGHTLESS" (single)
Release date: June 2009

"NOW" (single)
Release Date: June 2009

"RAISE THE SUN" (full length CD)
Release date: Feb 2008
Sold to date: 4,000

"THIS MORPHINE LIFE" (full length CD)
Release date: June 2005

"DEGREES OF FALLING" (full length CD)
Release date: January 2002
Sold to date: 6,000 copies


Radio airplay:
KFOG 104.5fm San Francisco, CA
KSAN/The Bone 107.7 fm San Francisco, CA
KINK/Kink FM 101.9 fm Portland
KMVY/mvy radio 92.7 fm Martha's Vineyard, MA
KMHX/The Mix 104.1 fm Santa Rosa, CA
KXFX/The Fox 101.7 fm Santa Rosa, CA
KZST 100.1 fm Santa Rosa, CA
KRSH/The Krush 59.9 fm Santa Rosa, CA
KUSF 90.3 fm San Francisco, CA
KVYN/The Vine 99.3 fm Napa, CA
KSUN 91.5 fm Rohnert Park, CA
KHUM Eugene, OR
KCLC 89.1 fm St. Louis, MI
WOCM 98.1 fm Ocean City, MD
KRVM 91.9 fm Eugene, OR
KAXE 91.7 fm Grand Rapids, MN
KTAO 101.9 fm Santa Fe/Taos, NM
WRRW 100.9 fm Virginia Beach, VA
KMTN 96.6 fm Jackson, WY
WBWC 88.3 fm Cleveland, OH
WholeWheatRadio Alaska

XM RADIO (Unsigned Artist Channel)
Yahoo Launchcast ("Be Still" reached #1 in the internet/podcast charts)
Pandora

Radio activity:

"Be Still" will be included in KFOG's 2008 "Local Scene" CD.

"Just Say Anything" was included on Radio MVY's "Fresh Produce" CD 2008.

KRSH 59.9 named "Degrees of Falling" their "CD Pick of the Week." This was the first time in the station's history that an unsigned band was given this distinction.

Five A.M.'s single "Paper Bag," from "Degrees of Falling" reached the Top 10 on Santa Rosa's 104.1 FM KMHX (The Mix), and stayed there for ten weeks.

Live/In Studio performances:
104.1 The Mix/KMHX (Santa Rosa), 100.1 KZST (Santa Rosa), 59.9 The Krush/KRSH (Santa Rosa), 90.3 KUSF Radio (San Francisco), 99.3 The Vine/KVYN (Napa), 91.5 KSUN (Rohnert Park). KRVM (Eugene), KINK (Portland), KMTT, KPND (Spokane), KVRO (Kalispell), Radio MVY (Martha's Vineyard).

Official Website

http://www.fiveam.com

Links

• official website

Audio

• Be Still
  Listen   Download
• Just Say Anything
  Listen   Download
• Every Now and Then
  Listen   Download
• Fall Apart
  Listen   Download
• Still In Love With You
  Listen   Download
• Lillian
  Listen   Download
• Lipstick
  Listen   Download
• The Distance
  Listen   Download
• Weightless
  Listen   Download
• Sunshine
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Be Still
• Still In Love With You
• Lillian
• Weightless

Video

Five AM "Still In Love With You"

Photo Gallery

Press

• MuzikReviews.com [+ Show ]
  

  The last album I covered for Five A.M. was the 2002 release Degrees of Falling. I was impressed with...The last album I covered for Five A.M. was the 2002 release Degrees of Falling. I was impressed with this band six years ago; in fact, I gave that release 5 stars. So the question is now would Raise the Sun be just as impressive? I can honestly answer that with a reverberating yes!
  
  This recording is well produced and their musicianship has reached another level. Jason McGrath (bass), Jed Friesen (drums), Trent Yaconelli (lead vocals and guitar), Zach Hammer (lead guitar and vocals) and Benje Kushins (percussion and keyboards) are a cohesive unit, firing on all their cylinders.
  
  The tracks comprising Raise the Sun feature jangling echoing guitars, a rhythm section that can drive home a point with power or lead the way with subtle layered rhythms that are followed by tasteful yet poignant guitar licks. Trent Yaconelli provides the emotionally distinctive vocal workouts to bring their lyrics to the top of your mind while you are listening. The best part is the fact that you can understand every word, what an unexpected bonus!
  
  This is not overproduced pop rock; they still have an alternative rootsy feel to their general sound. On their CD Baby page it is noted that if you like U2 (listen to the guitar parts), The Foo Fighters and The Fray you will enjoy Five A.M. That correlation is a fair representation of their sound.
  This is an all around listening experience for any age. There are no inappropriate lyrics and the music is very appealing, Five A.M. offers everything to a perspective listener. “Lipstick” is my favorite track, lyrically. I love it when Yaconelli sings “I just want your lipstick on my heart,” instead of being predictable and saying “on my lips,” he invites you to think how deep emotionally this person the song is dedicated to has affected him. Or “Sunshine” offers lines like “In the morning when I get up, the rain won’t stop inside my head,” but then as the song develops the sun become more thematic and important, making the rain go away.
  
  The lead off track has a lot of impact upon first listen and it placed as the first track for a reason. It becomes more thought provoking when you watch the bonus video for the song, and it ties in nicely. The video is very interesting about a man walking and crawling through the streets of the city with a TV chained to the front of him. It implies that forgetting the girl that went away will be impossible and everywhere he goes there are images to remind him of his lost love.
  
  Five A.M. have reached a creative zenith on Raise the Sun and I am sure they will garner plenty of attention from listeners and press alike.

• The Bohemian [+ Show ]
  

  "By virtue of a highly polished radio-ready album, Five A.M. are poised, now more than ever, to brea..."By virtue of a highly polished radio-ready album, Five A.M. are poised, now more than ever, to break into a larger market. Full of solid hooks and thoughtful lyrics, there's no logical reason why Raise the Sun shouldn't splash onto radio play lists in the Bay Area and, across the country”.
  Gabe Meline
  -The Bohemian 1.23.08
  

• Ex’pression Center for New Media [+ Show ]
  

  “…I love the direction and production the band has taken with Dawson/Fraser. The production is finer...“…I love the direction and production the band has taken with Dawson/Fraser. The production is finer detailed than ever, the sounds are excellent and the songs as terrific as ever. This latest release is further indication that Five A.M. is here to stay…”
  
  Gary Platt
  -president of Ex’pression Center for New Media 2007
  

• KZST 100.1FM [+ Show ]
  

  “This is a hit. A hit a hit a hit a hit! You know at hit in the first 10 seconds, and this is an und...“This is a hit. A hit a hit a hit a hit! You know at hit in the first 10 seconds, and this is an undeniable hit"
  
  Brent Farris
  -KZST 100.1 fm 2.01.08
  

• The Press Democrat [+ Show ]
  

  “The hardest working band in the North Bay, Five A.M. can blow the doors off with driving roots rock...“The hardest working band in the North Bay, Five A.M. can blow the doors off with driving roots rock, but they also have that rare ability to hone a song to its essence with lyrics that demand attention.”
  

• Amplifier Magazine
  

  "Five A.M. is a wake-up call to modern rock fans, with melody and muscle.”

• Indiemusic.com
  

  “*****(highest rating)...music that will set your soul afire and moisten your eyes.”

• Indie Crit [+ Show ]
  

  “After listening to Degrees of Falling once through, I was ready to award it Album of the Year honor...“After listening to Degrees of Falling once through, I was ready to award it Album of the Year honors.”
  

• SF Weekly
  

  “This album might make Five A.M. the next big band out of Northern California.”

• Argus Courier [+ Show ]
  

  “The album itself captures a vital mix of energy and passion. Songs like ‘Lost and Found,’ ‘Paper Ba...“The album itself captures a vital mix of energy and passion. Songs like ‘Lost and Found,’ ‘Paper Bag,’ ‘Joker’ and others demonstrate an effortless versatility along with expert musicianship and vocalization.”

Setlist

Five A.M. does all they can with the time they have. They play sets of original music ranging from 20 minutes to 4 hours.

Basic Requirements

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