Apollo Run
New York City, New York, United States | SELF
Music
Press
...The band strutted their virtuosic stuff. Supporting their new release, “Here Be Dragons Vol. 1,” AR sprinted through an impressive selection of songs, highlighting “Nightingale” and “Love Song,” which melded sonata piano arpeggios, fervent call and response falsetto, and bass-driven reggae rhythms... - The Deli Magazine
"...Led by the genre-hopping intensity of multi-instrumentalist (guitar, piano and trumpet) John McGrew, the band’s sound falls somewhere between a stripped down, recession-era form of Queen or Muse, (sans all the cosmic (and keyboard-y) spiritual references) or even Beirut, with McGrew and (professionally-trained) bassist Jeff Kerestes at the helm dripping with the swagger of stars from the arena rock days, as drummer Graham Fisk rolled right along as every song proved an encore-worthy thrill with jumping, screaming, swaying, instrument hugging, table-dancing and a set-closing a cappella stomp-along. A sweaty, saloon-rocking gospel jam along if I’ve ever seen it...." - Future Sounds
"Apollo Run is a puzzle: Emo Rock? Horn-laden jam? Sweaty gospel pop? But it’s all played with impressive assuredness bolstered by John McGrew’s Buckley-ite vocal passion." - Time Out NY
"...The group merits far more widespread attention than it’s received thus far; how many others can fashion compelling entertainment out of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?..." - NPR.org's Song of the Day
"...I went to a Lower East Side venue a few months ago to see my friend’s band play, but a singer named John McGrew that came on later upstaged them and everyone else on the bill that night. Brooklyn singer-songwriter McGrew’s fearless vocals and showmanship won me over immediately, as did his (band Apollo Run’s) spontaneous brand of indie-folk and pop-gospel…Singer/guitarist/pianist/trumpeter McGrew has an almost innate gift for melodies…" - Crawdaddy!
"...Apollo Run sounded fantastic…The piano and McGrews vocals filled the small venue with crisp, clean sound. The bass and drums, which could easily overpower the piano if not played properly, blended in perfectly…I really enjoyed seeing Apollo Run live and I think you will too..." - IHeardTheySuckLive.com
"...Admittedly, when Apollo Run stands out the most, it is when they are playing time-tested material. Riffs coded genetically as the DNA of arena rock music a la Queen, minus the machismo. Their music takes you through a collage study of rock music’s history: from loose cabaret, to tight Journey-style anthems, to horn lines straight from Cetera-era Chicago, all channeled through fairly intimate lyrics for such a large sound…" - Bowery Boogie
"...The three band members—multi-instrumentalists John McGrew, Graham Fisk and Jeff Kerestes—have developed a sound you can’t help but share with others. Each show is full of surprises and their tight playing reflects a natural precision most often found in bands comprised of siblings. Plus the guys know how to have a good time. Whether it’s through an old-fashioned stomp, robust harmonies, or a show-stopping trumpet solo, the audience is taken in by the music and the charisma…
The group’s music was so good that at times it was hard to differentiate their original stuff from the standards, and songs included folk, funk, a cappella, gospel and rock components. At various points during the set, McGrew’s bandmates would yell, laugh and “ooh” to emphasize a facet of the song, and their performance created something akin to the atmosphere of a Prohibition-era speakeasy (I imagine)…" - The LAist.com
Discography
Here Be Dragons, Vol I (2010)
Here Be Dragons, Vol II (2011)
Photos
Bio
“The group merits far more widespread attention than it’s received thus far” says NPR’s Song of the Day about Brooklyn’s three piece indie group Apollo Run. With the release of Here Be Dragons, Vol. 1 in October 2010, their first EP in a series of three, these newcomers are prepared to prove them right, with an album boasting six songs that are both viscerally moving and musically varied. John McGrew, Graham Fisk, and Jeff Kerestes bring a musical aptitude and inherent fluency in music theory to every note, making for fantastic pop songs that are both smart and moving. The proof is in the pudding: an Apollo Run live show means a packed venue with a mixed crowd with one common denominator- everyone is frankly addicted to the band’s catchy yet complex songs, and they’re there to get their fix by singing along.
New York City music manager Dave Sandford, who has worked with superstar acts such as Sting and Ben Folds, fell in love with Apollo Run and paired them up with David ‘Dibs’ Shackney, whose album credits include work with artists Blake Lewis, Cat Power, and Noel Gallagher. Together, Dibs and Apollo Run recorded HBDV1 and HBDV2 in the hopes of expanding the band’s accessibility and bringing the incendiary sound of their live shows into the living rooms, offices, and car stereos of longtime loyal fans and recent converts alike.
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