Biography
Robbie Hazen and the Riot
With a bright voice and sharp music sensibility, singer-songwriter Robbie Hazen knows it takes just three to start a riot. Hazen’s trio records and performs compositions that blend acoustic college rock, alt pop, and indie folk with an invigorating sense of fun, cleverness, and confidence. A recent Notre Dame graduate, the 23-year-old Floridian is a veteran songwriter and performer who got his start as a young teenager, playing carnivals, festivals, and church events and building on those experiences, recording, putting out demos, learning the business side of music-making and production and attracting the attention of recording-industry movers and shakers.
Primed to be an indie/college radio darling, Hazen appeals to mainstream tastes as well as to hipster music hounds, thanks to his lyrical sincerity, catchy melodies, and solid tune-making. This talented vocalist is also an accomplished guitarist, and he is backed and grounded by the Riot, consisting of gritty Renaissance man G.I. Jo on bass and passionate percussion from classically trained Brandon McClaskey.
“I want not only the music and melody to move people, but the lyrics and story as well,” says Hazen. His buoyant songs deal with the connections between people, our relationships, the ties that survive and the ones that don’t. More recently he’s exploring the themes of politics, social issues, and what unites us in the wider world.
Hazen’s well-received demo is out of print, but two CDs are available for order as well as in downloadable format online via iTunes, Napster, and similar venues: Remedy and Come to Life.
2010:
- Heavy national and international touring starting January 1, with intent to perform in markets several times throughout the year in order to build and maintain a solid fan-base.
- Tour press/publicity in every touring market, including (but not limited to) internet and print press releases and ads, radio and TV interviews/performances, all coinciding with tour schedule.
- Heavy fan growth and maintenance through consistent communication on FanBridge, Facebook, MySpace and other social networking mediums.
- Brand-building through CD and Merchandise sales.
ACCOLADES:
- Radio play and extensive touring of Canadian Maritimes Aug 21-31
- Performed at Florida Music Festival 2009
- Performed at RedGorilla Music Fest/SXSW 2009
- October 2008, Come To Life was charted at #21 on CMJ's Radio 200
- Second EP entitled "Come to Life" produced by Duane Lundy at Shangri-La Productions in Lexington, KY, January 2008. Released October 25, 2008.
- Song "We're Not Alone" featured and incorporated into "Red: the Book" compilation album, May 2007
- Top 5 finalist in famecast.com music competition. Performed in Austin Texas at a live showcase and podcast, April 2007
- Single "Advertunity" played on over 200 college and community radio stations across the country, September-December, 2007
- Appeared several times as featured artist at Legends for University of Notre Dame's "Best of Acousticafe" 2005-2008
- Featured several times as the musical guest on Notre Dame's "Late Night ND" (Notre Dame's Late Night Television Program)
- Showcased several times at St. Mary's College 2005-2008
- Winner of University of Notre Dame's "Battle of the Bands" 2005
- "Time to Shine" showcase winner in NYC, Fall 2005. Appeared on compilation album produced by LaSmouve Records
- Debut EP entitled "Remedy" produced by two-time Grammy award winner and Dove award winner Freddy Pinero, Jr.
-College Crowds:
University of Notre Dame
St. Mary’s College
University of Central Florida
University of Florida
Flagler College
University of North Florida
Florida State University
Rollins College
-Clubs/Bars/Fairs/Festivals/etc.
Tobacco Road
Florida Music Festival
Big Daddy's
RedGorilla Music Fest/SXSW
Side Bar
Cheers
Underground Bluz
Jack Rabbits
Kitchen305@Newport Beachside
Acqualina Resort Lounge
Van Dyke Cafe
Legends
Broward County Fair
Casanova Lounge
Florida Orange Festival
Hollywood Bandshell
The Talent Farm
Mix Ultra Lounge
Delray Beach Garlic Fest
Central Station Rock Bar
Dizzy Rooster
1982 Bar
The Foggy Goggle
Teazer's Pub
The Warehouse
Uncle Larry's
etc, etc, etc.
-Has shared the stage with:
Los Lonely Boys (Epic/Sony Records)
Dave Barnes (Razor & Tie)
Matt Wertz (Universal Republic Music)
Select Start
Ingram Hill (Hollywood Records)
Ari Hest (Project 4 Records)
Bangladesh
Stages and Stereos
The Title
The Arch
The Apathy Eulogy
Thee Armada
The Downtown Fiction
Cory Branan
Kids of Survival
The Sneak Preview
A Modern Love Story
Robots & Butterflies
Fallen From The Sky (Eulogy Recordings)
And Then There Way You (Indianola Records)
Words Now Heard (JMB Records)
+others
All Business Inquiries:
Ellen DeRose
Backdraft Artists
754-244-4801
ellen@robbiehazen.com
All Booking Inquiries:
Freddie Dunlap
Edlynd Music Group
865-977-1053
freddie@edlyndmusic.com
Instrumentation
Robbie Hazen - Vocals, Guitars, Harmonicas
*the Riot*
Brandon McClaskey - Drums, Percussion
Jo "G.I. Jo" Leutz - Bass
Discography
* "Come to Life," Released October 25, 2008
* Single 'We're Not Alone' Released on "RED: The Book" Compilation May 2007
* "Remedy," Released November 2005
* Self-Titled demo, 2003
Links
| http://www.myspace.com/robbiehazen |