LANSDOWNE
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LANSDOWNE

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Band Rock

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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Press


"Featured Profile - Wagner College"

"Boston's Lansdowne is a band on the brink. With a hectic touring schedule that has them on the road indefinitely, the melodic modern rock group is steadily making their mark on music fans....a musical product that becomes the embodiment of quality rock music." - Laura Gardner, The Wagner College Wagnerian, 4/20/07 - The Wagner Wagnerian


"Featured Profile - Simmons College"

"...enjoyed greatly by audiences around the country... an idle candidate for being a chart-topper." - Jomin Glausen, The Simmons [College] Voice - Simmons College Voice


"Featured Profile - Tarrant County College"

"I have had several students come up to me and comment on how good the band was. Many have said Lansdowne is the best live band they have ever seen." - Vesta Wheatley, Director of Student Activities @ Tarrant County College (Fort Worth, TX) - TCC News


"Industry Quotes"

"Their fanbase is die-hard and their recent trip to perform for troops in the Middle East has this band in the buzz." - TheDailyChorus.com

"...homegrown heroes LANSDOWNE, whose insane touring schedule and radio-ready modern rock sound, have us thinking they’re this close to making it huge." - Going.com

"’Just Let Go’ is some of the catchiest sh*t you will ever hear." - Steve Henderson, Absolutepunk.net

"We LOVE this song!" - Billy Costa, Kiss 108 FM (on Hours In Between)

"Great vocals, really enjoyed their show" - Shaant Hacikyan, Lead Singer for Cute Is What We Aim For (Fueled By Ramen) - Various


"Press One-Page Summary for Gretsch"

"'We all have different opinions about the war,' said Ricci. 'But we all realize that these men and women can’t feel like they’ve been forgotten. Playing these shows was about making sure they understood we remembered their sacrifice, about having a guy come up to me and say, ‘For a couple hours you gave me a little bit of home.’ ” - Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, Excerpt from "Tour of duty: Boston band rocks troops overseas," 5/28/08

"I have had several students come up to me and comment on how good the band was. Many have said Lansdowne is the best live band they have ever seen." - Vesta Wheatley, Director of Student Activities @ Tarrant County College, TCC News (Fort Worth, TX)

“The day's entertainment, a Boston-band that donates its time and talents to entertain troops around the world..." - ABC News Channel 5 WCVB, July 4th segment

"Lichtenstein and Migliori sported wide eyed smiles during the alternately chugging and driving new tune 'OK' and put their best stage moves on display during Burn This standout “Anatomy of a Symphony”. The two have perfected a combination of Metallica’s head-banging, Fallout Boy’s jump spins, and Pete Townshend’s windmill in which they jump, cock their guitars over their heads and to the side, then swing them around their body in unison in a move I’m dubbing the Axis in honor of Lansdowne Street’s late club." - Jed Heneberry, Boston Music Spotlight, excerpt from "Lansdowne heat up the Middle East" show review, 6/2/08

“Unsigned or not, Lansdowne have been sailing over the speed bumps of a musical career and if they continue their aggression and channel it into continuing to advance as artists, the sky's the limit." - Tony Pascarella, Album Reviewer for AbsolutePunk.net, 2/16/08

"Their sound was characterized by a great combination of both melodic and heavy guitar riffs, pounding drum beats and beautifully crooning vocals...From the first note, the lead guitarist, Lichtenstein and bassist Migliori were swinging the guitars back and forth like true performers. Fans of the Guitar Hero games would have been impressed by the myriad of power-stances, guitar swings and stage jumps exhibited by members of the band." - Kegan Zema, Maine Campus, 2/11/08, "Boston's Lansdowne Lands at the Frequency"

"The hardworking band, whose music can be described as alternative pop rock, is crisp and pounding with sharp vocals and blending harmonies." - Dennis Shaughnessey, Lowell Sun, 12/20/07

"The main concern of most young, independent bands is doing everything they can to book shows and get signed. While Boston-based pop-rock quartet Lansdowne is focused on those things too, they have another goal in mind: being patriotic..." - Stephanie Shore, Northeastern News (Article: "Boston's Got Talent"), 11/5/07

"Lansdowne headlined the show, and many students claim to have stayed all night for their set. [The Band] combined soulful vocals with driving guitars, ending with a rock performance that had band members jumping and kicking around the stage, the entire crowd dancing and female audience members screaming." - Stephanie Shore, Northeastern News, 9/27/06

"As a new band, Lansdowne has a surprisingly wide repertoire and is on an impressive trajectory...Their hardcore acrobatics paired with lead vocalist Jon Ricci's lighter pop melodies, formed an unexpected aural and visual dichotomy that kept the charisma and energy of the band at a high throughout the entire performance." - Leah Driska, Wellesley [College] News, 5/3/06

"...homegrown heroes LANSDOWNE, whose insane touring schedule and radio-ready modern rock sound, have us thinking they're this close to making it huge." - Going.com
- Various media outlets


"Show Review - Wellesley College"

Wednesday, May 3, 2006

With catchy songs and dapper attire, OK Go rocks Alumnae Hall

By LEAH DRISKA ’08
Assistant Arts Editor

The line was surprisingly short for a rock concert, even for a Thursday night, running only from the entrance of Alumnae Hall to the sidewalk outside. The audience eventually grew after doors opened at 7 p.m., and if anything was lost in turnout numbers, it was more than compensated for by the absolute fanaticism of the crowd who came to see the band OK Go perform as part of SBOG’s Spring Week on April 27.

Lansdowne, the opening act, brought the audience to its feet with their first number, “Can’t See.” The band appeared a little tentative as they walked onstage and picked up their instruments, but immediately got into the show when they started playing, especially once guitarist Shawn Lichtenstein and bassist Tom Sargent began bashing around the stage and jumping up and down to the music, performing crazy backward spins with wireless guitars. Their hardcore acrobatics, paired with lead vocalist Jon Ricci’s lighter pop melodies, formed an unexpected aural and visual dichotomy that kept the charisma and energy of the band at a high throughout the entire performance, presenting only a slight challenge to the musicians’ abilities to stay on their feet.

As a new band, Lansdowne had a surprisingly wide repertoire, showing enough musical maturity to differentiate between the mood and tone of each piece and not fall into the common trap of playing every song in exactly the same way. “Leaving Boston”—also the title of Lansdowne’s new EP—turned a little introspective, allowing the band to slow the pace before bringing it back up again and closing with the expansive “Defy the Universe.”

The response to the opening act was positive and enthusiastic. The audience was charmed—if not by the band’s competent musicianship, than at least by its endearing performance antics.

It was between Lansdowne and OK Go, when the instruments were set out, the microphones were checked and paisley designs were projected onto the stage backdrop, that the real crush towards the stage began. As lead singer Damian Kulash of OK Go walked out, the audience went wild, melting into hysterics.

Known for their wit and catchy, danceable tunes, OK Go originates from Chicago. Their latest album, “Oh No,” brings the band’s style to the next level, going beyond simply catchy music to crunchy chords and uncontainable energy.

The set began with “Television, Television” from the new album, a swinging and infectious song to get the audience going—not that there was any need. Dancing, bobbing and clapping, the crowd matched the band’s energy level to the very end.

All four members of OK Go were decked out in retro blazers, button-down shirts and tight-fitting pants.

Kulash sported a paisley shirt and massive tie pin, his shaggy hair falling over his eyes and sweat flying into the first row as he played spastically. Obviously used to touring, he worked the audience smoothly, mentioning that his mother and father, Wellesley and MIT alums respectively, met in college.

At one point, Kulash, mic cord trailing, jumped off the stage into the audience amidst a swarm of screaming girls. After he got back on stage and finished the song he grinned playfully. “When I was out there in the crowd, all of a sudden I thought, ‘Wow, it really is all women,’” he said.

OK Go played both new songs and numbers from their previous, self-titled album, released in 2002. “Don’t Ask Me” and “Get Over It” were favorites of the audience, who sang along enthusiastically.

The finale to OK Go’s unflaggingly high-powered show was the performance of the four men dancing to “A Million Ways.”
Made famous through hundreds of postings of the video on the Internet, the choreographed dance taped as a home video in Kulash’s backyard has made the band famous.

Now OK Go performs the dance after every show. The four grown men earnestly dancing in impressive synchronism elicited hooting and cheering in approval from the crowd as cameras flashed.

Bassist Tim Nordwind looked only a little preposterous with his exaggerated moves and thick, square-rimmed glasses. He made a totally loveable star, ending the most successful of the three Spring Week concerts on his bandmates’ shoulders and to the audience’s wild applause.
- Wellesley College News


"Featured Profile - Wellesley College"

Wednesday, May 3, 2006
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Boston-based band Lansdowne reveals backstory and iPod contents

By LEAH DRISKA ’08
Assistant Arts Editor

Jon Ricci sauntered in first. As the lead singer of the Boston-based band Lansdowne, it comes naturally to him to be at the front. His fellow band members followed—first Shaun Lichtenstein, the band’s guitarist, and then bassist Tom Sargent. The guys were ready for their first show at Wellesley College.

But before they take the stage, they have to sit down and talk with me.

“Wow,” Ricci comments, looking around. “This place really is red.” The guys have pulled up chairs around one of the tiny tables in a rather deserted Punch’s Alley and we get to business.

Lansdowne is a new band, formed in January 2006, named for “the legendary Boston street cradled between historic Fenway Park and the clubs that have been home to generations of music.”

Ricci originally put out an ad, searching sites like Craigslist and Boston’s Weekly Dig for instrumentalists. When Lichtenstein and Sargent responded, Lansdowne was formed.

For such a new group, Lansdowne is on an impressive trajectory, having played gigs with bands like Averi, Dakota and Medicated Kisses, as well as national acts such as Wyclef Jean and Blessid Union of Souls.

The guys are seasoned musicians, having had a good amount of experience on their instruments that dates all the way back to middle and high school bands that Lichtenstein and Sargent played in together.

Ricci, a recent graduate of Babson College, only began singing after high school, but credits his pre-Babson days with writing poetry, which sets him up as the band’s lyricist.

That being said, Lansdowne’s songwriting process is actually a fairly nonchalant, collaborative effort. “Jon usually puts out some lyrics or maybe just an idea,” Lichtenstein explains, “and then we add music.”

Lansdowne’s audience is primarily high-school and college-aged. “Our lyrics are about stuff people our age are going through,” says Ricci. “They can identify with us.”

On songs like “Defy the Universe,” Ricci belts Lansdowne’s pop-y melodies above the rock texture created by Lichtenstein and Sargent, reminiscent of the Goo Goo Dolls, with a little bit of Matchbox Twenty and Switchfoot thrown in the mix.

When I ask the guys what is on their iPods right now, though, I find that their taste in music runs harder than the rock they are actually playing. “My iPod isn’t working, so I’m back to the CD player,” Sargent says. “Let’s see... Taking Back Sunday, Poison the Well, The Receiving End of Sirens...” he points to his black shirt, a Receiving End design plastered on the front.

Jon is a fan of the Goo Goo Dolls (which definitely comes through in Lansdowne’s music), Ryan Adams, Circa Survive, Thrice’s new album “Vheissu” and lately, Iron and Wine.

“Okay, this is kind of hard to believe,” Lichtenstein warns when the question comes around to him, “but I really like Rascal Flatts.” He grins. “Yeah, they’re country. Kind of country rock.” But he also adds Oasis and the hardcore metal band Between the Buried and Me.

I ask the guys how they create a fan base as a new band joining the already-crowded Boston music scene.

“A lot of it is word of mouth,” Ricci says. He smiles a little sheepishly. “And then there’s MySpace...”

A check on the time shows the guys have to be onstage soon. “Our fans really help to promote us,” Ricci says as they get up to leave. “We’re not entitled to them, so it’s important to us to show them some appreciation.”
- Wellesley College News


"Album Reviews"

BURN THIS FOR YOUR FRIENDS

"Five songs threaten to burst from the headphones on the band’s second EP, Burn This for Your Friends, which is packed with unadulterated emotion and just enough sweetness to hook the listener for good...As far as a step up from Lansdowne’s first EP to their second, they have managed to shatter expectations while still leaving plenty of room for the band to continue growing...Unsigned or not, Lansdowne have been sailing over the speedbumps of a musical career and if they continue their aggression and channel it into continuing to advance as artists, the sky’s the limit." - Tony Pascarella, Album Reviewer for AbsolutePunk.net, 2/16/08


LEAVING BOSTON

"From the murky whirlpool of bands tagged with that funky word, "unsigned," it seems to take a bigger and bigger effort from the bands to distinguish the contenders from the pretenders. Bands are forced to squeeze more and more out of the ever-shrinking wallet in the hopes of putting an EP or full-length on someone's desk that will blow them away. Lansdowne is one of those bands. The Boston quartet is only a year old, but their music expresses maturity well beyond their years. With their EP, Leaving Boston, they have made an indelible mark on this reviewer's memory. Continued perseverance and creative advancement will put Lansdowne on the map in a big way.

Initially, the most striking element of Leaving Boston is the vocals. Jon Ricci sings with the musical presence of Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, displaying a smooth delivery that simply melts into your ears. Lansdowne's mix of soothing pop music layered over antagonistic instrumentals provides the perfect balance for their five-song adventure. "Leaving Boston" is a clear standout as Ricci's restless lyrics carry this down-tempo sing-along. While the vocals and lyrics are excellent on this EP, "Can't See" shows that Lansdowne isn't just a one-dimensional band, featuring Shaun Lichtenstein's guitar riffs that can't help but sizzle from your speakers. After raising the amps to 10 with "Can't See," the moody "Amidst the Gray" brings everyone back to Earth. "I don't need permission/from the sun to start my day," Ricci insists; given the darker edge to the EP, listeners will agree, Lansdowne seems to thrive in the unknown.

What will it take to get this band on the map? A lot more enthusiastic critics (and label executives) would be a good start. Leaving Boston is a fantastic radio-ready rock EP that sounds ready to trigger a huge creative leap in the near future. The one thing they could improve a bit on is structure; some of the songs blend together at times, and while they seem to have both the heavy and softer sides covered, it would be interesting to hear them expand into rougher fare as well as a piano ballad or two when the time comes. Boston has no lack of great bands, but very few leave the lasting impression of Lansdowne." - Tony Pascarella, Album Reviewer for AbsolutePunk.net, 1/30/07

"Ricci lays it on the line, revealing his rock star motto: 'The world is watching, I'm out of options / And I refuse to burn away, to burn away.' From the momentum he and his bandmates seem to be gaining, it doesn't look like he'll have to do that anytime soon." - Brett Cromwell, Performer Magazine (December 2006)
- Various


"Feature Profile - Northeastern University"

Boston's got talent

On the verge of hitting it big, three local bands expand their fanbases beyond the city's borders.

Stephanie Shore

Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: The Inside


Lansdowne

The main concern of most young, independent bands is doing everything they can to book shows and get signed. While Boston-based pop-rock quartet Lansdowne is focused on those things too, they have another goal in mind: being patriotic.

Recently, the United Service Organizations (USO), which focuses on supporting armed forces overseas chose Lansdowne to travel to Iraq and perform for the troops.

"It's so cool to be able to give back," said lead vocalist Jon Ricci. "The bottom line is [the troops] let us do what we do because they're making the sacrifices."

With his buzz cut, broad shoulders and dog tags, 24-year-old Ricci could pass for a soldier himself. In fact, he describes Lansdowne as "literally, a band of brothers."

Lansdowne has been together about a year, but the members have grown close throughout this time. They've released two albums - Leaving Boston and their latest, Burn This For Your Friends - and played countless shows from Boston to Los Angeles. However, they say no city can compare with the town where they found their namesake.

#"It's almost unfair that we get to do this and get to see all these places that are just amazing," Lichtenstein said. "But nothing's ever going to beat coming home to Boston."

Lichtenstein, who dropped out of Berklee College of Music, has wanted to be a musician his whole life.

"I have a memory of Christmas one year, when I got a plastic guitar that wasn't even real," he said. "It had like, built-in sounds and I would jump up and down on my parents' bed with it and pretend I was in front of 10,000 people."

In contrast, Ricci, a self-described former "math geek," saw himself following a different path when he grew up. He graduated from Babson College with a degree in finance and planned on becoming "a corporate kid in a tie, driving a Beamer," he said.

However, once he got on the music track, it completely re-prioritized his life.

"I could literally be buying a house right now with the money I could have been making," he said. "But there is nothing better than playing a live show and watching kids sing back your lyrics. You can't buy that. So, if money comes with this, great. Security's good. But we've got an opportunity that not a lot of people are ever going to have and I just feel lucky."
- Northeastern News


"Featured Profile - UMaine Orono"

"Their sound was characterized by a great combination of both melodic and heavy guitar riffs, pounding drum beats and beautifully crooning vocals...From the first note, the lead guitarist, Lichtenstein and bassist Migliori were swinging the guitars back and forth like true performers. Fans of the Guitar Hero games would have been impressed by the myriad of power-stances, guitar swings and stage jumps exhibited by members of the band." - Kegan Zema, Maine Campus, 2/11/08, "Boston’s Lansdowne Lands at the Frequency" - Kegan Zema


Discography

ZK Sessions
Lansdowne recently recorded 3 brand new songs with Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount (Cartel, Mayday Parade) and is available on iTunes. This EP features "I'll See You Again", a tribute to our troops and their families.

1) All I Ever Wanted
2) OK
3) I'll See You Again

BURN THIS FOR YOUR FRIENDS (Released 9/1/07)
The band's sophomore release, "Burn This For Your Friends," is available at smartpunk.com and on iTunes and was the #1 selling record from an unsigned band for 4 straight weeks.

1) The Anatomy of a Symphony
2) Just Let Go
3) Revolution
4) California Time
5) Her Eyes Will Tell You Everything

LEAVING BOSTON (Released 6/24/06)
Lansdowne's debut-EP, "Leaving Boston," has completely sold out since its release in June 2006 and includes:

1) Hours In Between
2) Leaving Boston
3) Can't See
4) Amidst The Gray
5) Defy The Universe

Photos

Bio

The members of Lansdowne, one of Boston's premiere rock acts known for its explosive live show, are tireless in their efforts. Jon Ricci, Shaun Lichtenstein, Glenn Mungo and Josh Migliori have earned a grassroots following built upon a sound filled with radio-ready choruses and hard driving instrumentation that, when performed live, are blended to match the perfection of their records. The foursome's catchy songs, charisma and dynamic stage antics have wowed fans at over 300 performances since they formed in 2007, including 12 sold-out hometown shows.

List of entertainment industry-related appearances, awards, and accomplishments:
- Over 10,000 units sold online and at shows
- Over 350 shows played
- Ranked one of Top Unsigned Bands in the Country by industry resource The Daily Chorus
- Chosen as one of the Top 100 Bands of 2008 by industry resource Absolute Punk
- Over 1,000,000 plays on MySpace
- Over 1,000,000 views on MySpace
- "Burn This For Your Friends"? debuted as #1 selling CD by an unsigned band (#2 overall) on Smartpunk.com, and remained #1 for 4 consecutive weeks
- Chosen as finalist to open for Bon Jovi at Gillette Stadium
- Chosen by Armed Forces Entertainment to tour Middle East (Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, 12/22/07-01/05/08)
- Played with major label recording artists Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Sara Bareilles, Saving Abel, Wyclef Jean, Eve 6, Madina Lake, Lights, Blessid Union Of Souls, OK Go, Cute Is What We Aim For
- Music has been featured on radio stations across the country including Kiss 108 FM, Mix 98.5, WBCN 104.1, WFNX 101.7, Yahoo! LAUNCHcast
- Official entertainment partner of USO New York
- Featured in/on Alternative Press, Boston Herald, ABC News, Buzznet, Warped TV, Fuse TV, MTV, The CW, New York Post
- MTV-featured blogs has over 600,000 total views
- 12 sold out Boston headlining dates
- Picked as "One of Boston's Best Bands" by Mix 98.5 FM
- Official entertainment partner of New England Revolution soccer team
- Chosen for Red Gorilla Festival 2009
- Chosen for Summerfest 2009
- Chosen as Mainstage showcase act for NACA Northeast Fall 2007

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"I have had several students come up to me and comment on how good the band was. Many have said Lansdowne is the best live band they have ever seen." - Vesta Wheatley, Director of Student Activities @ Tarrant County College (Fort Worth, TX).

"Leaving Boston is a fantastic radio-ready rock EP that sounds ready to trigger a huge creative leap in the near future....Continued perseverance and creative advancement will put Lansdowne on the map in a big way...Boston has no lack of great bands, but very few leave the lasting impression of Lansdowne." - Tony Pascarella, Album Reviewer for AbsolutePunk.net, 1/30/07

"Boston's Lansdowne is a band on the brink. With a hectic touring schedule that has them on the road indefinitely, the melodic modern rock group is steadily making their mark on music fans....a musical product that becomes the embodiment of quality rock music." - Laura Gardner, The Wagner College Wagnerian, 4/20/07

FOR MORE FEATURED PROFILES, SHOW REVIEWS, AND ALBUM REVIEWS, PLEASE VISIT THE PRESS SECTION!
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FOR COLLEGE BOOKING

We are always willing to work with your budget and technical capabilities. For references on past college performances, please feel to ask and we will provide them!

List of college dates played in the past three years:

5/8/09 - Marshall University (Huntington, WV)
3/26/09 - Belmont University (Nashville, TN)
3/24/09 - Tarrant County College (Ft. Worth, TX)
2/20/09 - Eastern Tennessee University (Johnson City, TN)
2/18/09 - Georgia Military College (Valdosta, GA)
2/14/09 - Marshall University (Huntington, WV)
2/13/09 - University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
2/12/09 - College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA)
2/10/09 - Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)
11/20/08 - Umass – Lowell (Lowell, MA)
10/29/08 - University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH)
9/17/08 - Worcester State College (Worcester, MA)
9/4/08 - Lyndon State College (Lyndonville, VT)
4/29/08 - St. Anselm College (Manchester, NH)
4/23/08 - Lasell College (Newton, MA)
4/11/08 - Anna Maria College (Paxton, MA) w/ Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (Virgin Records)
4/3/08 - St. Joseph's College (Standish, ME)
3/28/08 - Amherst College (Amherst, MA)
3/27/08 - Wentworth Institute of Technology (Boston, MA)
3/14/08 - Assumption College (Worcester, MA)
3/13/08 - Middlebury College (Middlebury, VT)
3/12/08 - Nichols College (Dudley, MA)
2/7/08 - University of Maine Orono (Orono, ME)
1/25/08 - University of Maine Machias (Machias, ME)
11/30/07 - Northeastern University (Boston, MA)
11/3/07 - NACA Northeast Showcase (Mainstage)
10/13/07 - Bethany College (Bethany, WV)
5/5/07 - Fashion Institute of Technology (New York, NY)
4/21/07 - Wagner College (Staten Island, NY)
4/19