Honor By August

Artist Information

Biography

For acclaimed modern rock quartet Honor By August there is a lot in a name. The “August” in the Washington, D.C.-based band’s name refers to another interpretation of the word: to inspire awe or admiration. Taken as a whole, “Honor By August” means gaining honor by doing something admirable or awe-inspiring. “The name informs our music in several ways. We all believe in doing things the right way, with integrity, and making music that comes from a place of true inspiration,” says lead vocalist/guitarist Michael Pearsall. On their latest release, the stunning Monuments To Progress, out April 23, 2013, the band does just that. Honor By August delves soulfully deep and delivers its finest collection of emotionally charged contemporary rock.

Honor By August’s poetic sincerity and infectious blend of mesmerizing atmospherics with anthemic choruses have drawn favorable comparisons to U2, Kings of Leon, Snow Patrol and Bruce Springsteen. The Washington Post has called the quartet “one of the most promising new talents on the East Coast.” Recently, the band won Billboard’s “World Song Contest.” The group has shared stages with such diverse artists as Bon Jovi, Imagine Dragons, Third Eye Blind, Switchfoot, Hanson and Parachute. As a main attraction, Honor By August has pulled over 900 into DC’s esteemed 9:30 Club. The group’s music has been broadcast to millions many times over on ESPN, E! and popular MTV shows, and Honor By August has worked with Grammy-winning producers, mixers and engineers including Jack Joseph Puig (U2, Snow Patrol, Rolling Stones), Paul David Hager (Goo Goo Dolls), Jeff Juliano (John Mayer, O.A.R, Lifehouse), Toby Wright (Third Eye Blind) and Jim Ebert (Butch Walker, Meredith Brooks).

Honor By August formed in 2005 and is Michael Pearsall, lead vocals/guitar; Evan Field, guitar/piano/backing vocals; Chris Rafetto bass/piano/backing vocals; and Brian Shanley drums/percussion. The brave emotionality in its music reflects the band’s commitment to writing honestly about life. “We hope that our music finds a place in people’s lives wherever they may be on the spectrum of life’s highs and lows,” Pearsall says. “If you’re going through a tough time, hopefully one of our songs will help you through it. If you’re having a great time, hopefully one of our songs can enhance that experience. Life is what we make of it so why not try to make the most of it?”

Monuments To Progress benefits from a period of fluid creativity within the band. “The writing process was much more collaborative in nature this time around. Everybody contributed songs and/or lyrical ideas so there’s a real sense of collective ownership,” Pearsall reveals. Letting the songwriting process flow organically has enabled the band to write its strongest material. The upliftingly introspective “Last Chance” is the album’s lead single. It’s a gorgeously cathartic track with a nuanced and shimmering verse exploding into a soaring chorus hook. The song’s immediacy and messaging is refreshingly empowering. “It’s about that moment where you feel like things are falling apart around you but you’re not quite ready to throw in the towel,” Pearsall says. “The song is about recognizing that you have a chance to turn it around.”

Other standouts are “Believe” and the propulsive “Already Yours.” “Believe,” the track that gave the album its title, builds from stately acoustics to a walk-on-the-clouds climax, its sweeping dynamics perfectly tailored to suit powerfully introspective lyrics like “working so hard to build these monuments to progress, though we may never see tomorrow.” “That lyric represents a theme threaded throughout the record,” Pearsall says. “Whether it’s something as serious as faith in yourself and your ability to love and care for another person or something as simple as pursuing happiness in the moment...All we do in our lives makes us who we are. All these things are monuments to progress.” “Already Yours” is boldly romantic. “It is a song about putting up a fight for love,” Pearsall says. “It’s also an invitation for someone to love you. It’s saying, ‘I’m here…All you have to do is step up and give me some sign that you’re ready to take a chance on us.’”

Monuments To Progress was recorded at Cue Recording in Falls Church, VA, and produced by Jim Ebert (Butch Walker, Meredith Brooks). This time the band went for a richer sonic tapestry than their previous releases, opting for a fuller sound and a variety of elegantly subtle textures. The recording was fan-funded through a tremendously successful Kickstarter campaign. “It was encouraging and humbling to see how much people believed in us and wanted to hear more music from Honor By August,” Pearsall says.

“We’ve met a lot of great bands and made a lot of great fans on the road. We’ve seen more of this beautiful country in a few years than most people see in a lifetime,” Pearsall says, reflecting on the band’s 8-year history. “Up until recently we’ve done it all without much help from anyone in the industry. Thanks to our fans, families and friends, as well as our continued belief in ourselves, we’ve been able to share what we love to do with a small part of the world. We hope this record allows us to continue that journey and share our music with even more people all over the world.”

Press / Accolades:
Grand Prize Winner – Billboard Magazine, World Song Contest

Winner – Sirius / XM contest to open for Bon Jovi at Verizon Center (Washington DC)

"Now widely considered one of the most promising new talents on the East Coast." - Washington Post

“Distinctive, inviting vocals and anthemic, reverb-drenched guitars.” - MetroMusicScene.com

“Award-winning songwriting, strong vocals, catchy melodies and dynamic live performance” - OnTap Magazine

"With comparisons to U2, Snow Patrol, Kings of Leon, and Bruce Springsteen... their music is inspired by observations on life, loss, love and hope." - Los Angeles Magazine


Management:
Jason Spiewak
JLS Artist Management
HonorByAugust@jlsmgmt.com

Booking:
David Redick
(540) 525-9002
booking@honorbyaugust.com

Press:
Carina Contreras
Press Here Publicity
carina@pressherepublicity.com
212-246-2640

Radio:
Bob Catania
Right Way Music Group
bob@rightwaymusicgroup.com

College Booking:
Nick Ferrucci
Redd Promo & Talent
Office: 630-435-5251
Cell: 973-214-9207
Fax: 630-435-6549
nick@reddpromo.com
Talent Division www.rptalent.com

----------------

Discography:
"On Our Own" (EP)
"Found" (Full Length)
"Drowning Out the Television" (Full Length)

Instrumentation

Michael Pearsall - Lead Vocals / Guitar
Evan Field - Lead Guitars / Piano / Backing Vocals (Endorsed by Caroline Guitar Company and Curt Mangan Strings)
Chris Rafetto - Bass / Backing Vocals / Piano
Brian Shanley - Drums & Percussion (Endorsed by Innovative Percussion)

Discography

"On Our Own" (2010)
"Found" (2009)
"Drowning Out the Television" (2007)
"Overlooking Virginia" (acoustic)

Official Website

http://www.honorbyaugust.com/

Links

• Twitter
• Facebook
• MySpace

Audio

• Last Chance
  Listen  
• Somebody Real
  Listen  
• Found
  Listen  
• Awake & Alive
  Listen  
• Into the Light
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Into the Light
• "Found"
• "Awake & Alive"

Video

"Unbreakable" live from the 9:30 Club (headlining show)

Photo Gallery

Press

• Washington Post [+ Show ]
  

  “Now widely considered one of the most promising new talents on the East Coast…” "Crisp alt-rock ...“Now widely considered one of the most promising new talents on the East Coast…”
  
  "Crisp alt-rock that's as radio-ready as it could possibly be."

• High Remarks and Comparisons to the Greats [+ Show ]
  

  "With comparisons to U2, Snow Patrol, Kings of Leon, and Bruce Springsteen, Honor By August is on th..."With comparisons to U2, Snow Patrol, Kings of Leon, and Bruce Springsteen, Honor By August is on the right path. Their music is inspired by observations on life, loss, love and hope."

• Capitol Scene Listeners' Choice Top 10 [+ Show ]
  

  "Anyone who saw these guys open Bon Jovi’s sold-out show at the Verizon Center knows why they’re one..."Anyone who saw these guys open Bon Jovi’s sold-out show at the Verizon Center knows why they’re one of the most buzzed-about bands on the East Coast.
  
  "Their award-winning songwriting, strong vocals, catchy melodies, and a dynamic live performance are not to be missed."

• Concert Preview (9:30 Club)
  

  "...distinctive, inviting vocals and anthemic, reverb-drenched guitars."

• Album Review [+ Show ]
  

  “…quite possibly the catchiest, turn-it-up-loud-and-sing along quintessential rock album since Match...“…quite possibly the catchiest, turn-it-up-loud-and-sing along quintessential rock album since Matchbox 20’s Yourself or Someone Like You.
  
  'Drowning Out the Television' is a steady diet of powerful melodies, tight harmonies, and irresistible hooks. The songwriting is solid...well-balanced, with hook-laden, peppy tracks…
  
  “Somewhere in the middle of ‘alternative rock’ and ‘pop’ is the middle ground of ‘mainstream rock’ that has been void of a champion for quite some time. 'Drowning Out the Television' easily puts Honor By August in the running for the title.”

• Honor By August [+ Show ]
  

  "D.C.'s Honor By August has something that not every young band does, a true fanbase...They have peo..."D.C.'s Honor By August has something that not every young band does, a true fanbase...They have people up front singing the words, shouting out for songs and looking like the type of people who will bring friends to the next show."

• Capitol Scene [+ Show ]
  

  "Hometown rockers, Honor By August, are creating 'major-label buzz' by way of a refreshingly origina..."Hometown rockers, Honor By August, are creating 'major-label buzz' by way of a refreshingly original approach to the time honored pop-rock formula.
  
  "Their recent 5-song 'Photographs EP' is an inspired collection of earnest ballads and full-bore rockers -- woven together with impressive songwriting, achingly beautiful vocals and sonically vibrant musicianship.
  
  "If possible, the band's latest body of work builds upon an already impressive foundation, established when they won the Grand Prize in the Pop category of 'Billboard’s World Song Contest.'
  
  "It’s our opinion that Honor By August shows all the potential of some of today’s most well-known rock bands."

• Restoring DC's Place in Music [+ Show ]
  

  "Honor By August has some of the best song-writing around. Great harmonies, and amazingly in-sync in..."Honor By August has some of the best song-writing around. Great harmonies, and amazingly in-sync instrumentation make me think that we'll be hearing from these guys again very soon...A super polished sound that’s destined for the radio."
  
  

• Editor's Pick
  

  "Impassioned lyrics set a romantic tone for this state-inspired tune ["California"]."

• Billboard World Song Contest Winners Announcement [+ Show ]
  

  "...the best and brightest new songwriting talent." *Honor by August won the Grand Prize in the P..."...the best and brightest new songwriting talent."
  
  *Honor by August won the Grand Prize in the Pop category of the Billboard Magazine World Song Contest for the song "Only in Photographs."*

Setlist

With 75+ original songs to draw from Honor By August can play shows of any length, from 30 minutes to 3 hours or more.

The band can play either full electric, acoustic or in various acoustic / electric 'hybrid' arrangements to suit venue needs.

A typical setlist might include any of the following original songs:

Only in Photographs (*Grand Prize winner, Billboard World Song Contest)
Into The Light
Good Enough
Found
I Stand
Be Beautiful
Don't Give Up On Us
Unbreakable
Hometown Heroes
Sleepwalking
On Our Own
Half a Day Away
There You Were
Love Lies Awake
Say That It's Over
See This Through
Shout It Out
Johnny (Pass Me Another One)
The Quiet Sky
Awake & Alive
Stuck On Survival
Wish You Were Here
Hometown Heroes
Someday
Put Up a Fight
Waking Up
California
Honesty
Better
Black & White
To Be Free
Opportunity
Diamond Eyes
Overnight
Phoenix
All Afternoon
Holding On
Levitate
Our Little Secret
Main Attraction
Last Goodbyes
Only Rational Thing
The Main Attraction
I'm Sorry
The Money
Happy Holidays
Jack and Jill
Down for Whatever
Texas Hold Em
Wonderful World
Overlooking Virginia
Dexterious
Some Kind of Connection
Goodnight

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

Detailed Stage Plot / Input List

Calendar