BAM!
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Music
Press
It is seldom that a band is worthy of lengthy praise, but in this case an exception will be made. There is a band, called BAM!, that roams Philly bars, laughing and chuckling their way through hoards of unexpecting citizens who had no idea what to expect when they came out to see a live show. These people show up, mutter as they pay a cover charge, tap their friends on the shoulder asking if anyone has heard of this group or any of their "stuff."
Well, they have stuff alright. This group is musically gifted and if there was no soft "2 a.m. bars close" rule, they would probably go until 2 p.m. the next day. Drawing inpspiration from such bands as Phish, Iron Maiden, and Rush, Benjamin Visich is the real deal on guitar. Yes, that's right, he cites Iron Maiden as an influence. Does this article even need to continue?
All four members have excellent chemistry and that is the most important thing for any successful artist. There is absolutley no question you will remember Steve Honsberger on vocals. The rhythm section of Mitch Beer and John Ardito still have yet to miss a beat.
When not playing around Philly, the band heads up to New York to terrorize the local bar scene, only to return even more confident than before. Speaking of confidence, they've been known to play on NBC 10 news and if there's one thing thousands of people watch, it's the news. In fact, the best piece of news people would get is the existence of BAM!.
Witness the greatness Friday, March 25th at the Triumph Brewery. If you are reading this article past that date, you can find more info on the band here:
http://www.myspace.com/bamphilly
They also frequent World Cafe Live! so you will surely catch them there, but you may have to pick up your face on the way out... - Ryan Rodden - examiner.com
BAM!: The four-piece jam band BAM! (pictured right) opened with a cover of the “Kill Bill” theme song and continued with guitar solos, and head-spinning tempo changes and breaks. Definitely the most energetic of all the acts, BAM! impressed with a mastery of their instruments, and kept it entertaining with humor and stage presence that made them seem larger that life. Almost like a funk/fusion hybrid with a little Rush thrown in, I would recommend seeing these guys if you get the chance. - Critical Mass - City Paper
This is not a review. It is a video of BAM!'s performance on the NBC 10 show - NBC
Join us for the annual event where the Best of Philly Rising s Open Mic winners battle it out for the top spot on the big stage at World Cafe Live! Hosted by Boy Wonder. A partial list of the performers: January - Dominic Ditanna February - The Absolute Zeros March - Andi Rae Healy April - Flux Capacitor May - Candace Benson June - Bam July - Kickin Bear August - The Sobriquets September - Shelly Bhushan Wednesday, January 12th, 2011 | Doors 6pm | Show 7pm | Downstairs Live Tickets: General Admission Seating plus Standing Room: $12 ($10 ticket $2 processing fee) Please note: Full dinner service is available.
- Zvents - NBCphiladelphia.com
Don’t miss out on some cool jazz to kick off summer at the 1st annual Summer Jazz Series at Concert Garden.
The Series kicks off Sunday, May 16 and the best part about it? It’s totally free!
Sit back and relax as you take in jazz and funk performances from such acts like The Big Unkle, The Modern Day Jazz Collective, BAM!, Wavelenght and many others.
If you decide to make a $5 donation cold brews and snacks are all yours to enjoy. The beer will be provided by Penn Distributors and the food by Paddy Whacks South Philly, Mexican Post, Philly Soft Pretzel Co. and more. The proceeds will go to the PB-Pioneers and the NGA to aid in their mission to revitalize the neighborhood through green efforts. - Genevieve Lemay - NBCphiladelphia.com
Discography
Album set to release in Summer of 2011. Live show recordings are available on the internet and at their shows.
Photos
Bio
A fitting name for a band with such a powerful presence. In a world of conventional music, BAM! has found an unconventional approach to fitting in. In January 2011, BAM! came in 2nd place out of 1,200 performers in the Philly Rising competition, a yearly series that showcases Philadelphia's performers, selecting only the top performances as the standout artists. Their profound rhythmic ability has allowed them to function as the backing band for established artists, most recently MTV’s Next Top Pop Group finalists, Ju-Taun. BAM! has showcased with Ju-Taun in front of music legends Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff of Philly International Records, appeared on network television with them, and backed them through a regional NBC sponsored competition, which they won without a stutter. NBC's interest in BAM! has led to more appearances on various NBC shows in the last year. They have been asked to be the house band on the 10 show in summer 2011. BAM! performs regularly at clubs along the east coast, displaying a live performance packed with entertaining antics.
This Philadelphia collaboration exemplifies years of chemistry, providing a breath of fresh air to the music listener searching for artistry in music making. Their creativity allows for a colorful canvas of sound exploration; from funky grooves to experimental jazz to driving drum and bass, accented by relentless power. Their goal is not to pinpoint a genre, but to display advanced musicality, highlighting the array of possibilities that exist. BAM! approaches song writing with sophistication and technicality, challenging themselves to find simplicity in their methodology. The result is a collection of sounds captivating for the mind and pleasing to the ear. Their talents continue to deliver as the anticipation surrounding them grows leaving crowds, promoters, and club owners consistently pleased.
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