Lloyd Dobler Effect

The billboard outside of the University Center on campus said in big black letters, "Lloyd Dobler Effect “High Energy Band." Clearly, this was an understatement. The auditorium was filled in nicely by fans of the band. From the very first moment LDE began playing to the end of the show, people were up dancing and singing along. They played a couple of new songs mixed in with some favorites such as "Sabrosa" and "Radio". One particular student brought a homemade "MY RADIO ENCORE" sign up to the front. Lead guitarist Chris Bruno later picked it up playfully and taped the sign onto his mic stand.

The band started off with "Harvard" and then went into a new song titled "Going Back." Lead singer and guitarist Phil Kominski then switched up to acoustic guitar. The drums started off and were coupled with the congas for a nice percussion intro of "A Million Ways."

Percussionist Rusty Williams is not only an added bonus to the band, but is the special ingredient to their infectious recipe of sounds. Rusty Williams brings out the unique flair in nearly every song and is anything but a background player. He displays his talent well and certainly isn't shy about doing so. Immediately following "Sold Out" Rusty jammed out with a conga solo which the band then took into "No Voy a Llorar." This song can be found on the third DX volume (::wink::) and has a nice Latin feel to it which will make you want to get up and dance along. Also, if you get the chance to see the band live, you'll get to witness lots of hip gyrations on this one from Mr. Chris Bruno.

The upbeat new tune "This Might be Love" held a more poppy feel to it. The band also performed a new one called "Spain" which has only been played about four times previously.

LDE's cover of "Two Step" by Dave Matthews Band is unbelievable. The band truly makes it their own, adding a latin guitar sound along with shakers. Saxophonist Doug Rock started off in the beginning playing the sax back and forth with the guitar. All six members of the band got to show off their stuff with individual solos throughout the song. The guys also threw in a little "Eye of the Tiger" tease in the middle which a few listening ears caught. (I'm sorry but all I could think of was "Roy! Roy Roy Roy!") Bassist Johnnie Castro held the song down throughout and drummer Donnie Williams owned the stage during his solo. Phil then took this opportunity to jump off stage and grab a random broom nearby. He then stated, "Man, it's dirty in this place!" while sweeping the ground. Then he dropped the broom to the ground and fell to a crouched position, whipping out two drumsticks from his pockets. He began to drum on the ground along with the beat and then jumped back onstage where the energy was brought up to an all-time level. Phil and Chris busted out the cowbells and shakers and then began to sing nonsensical vocal scats into the mic. The crowd danced along and went nuts. Plain and simple, this is probably one of the most unique live covers done by a band.

The band also introduced a new song called "Fingertips." The lyrics revealed a grim tale about a thief stealing a car and then murdering the owner of it. Singer Phil joked, "It's really just a happy song."

"Until I'm With You" featured guitarist Chris on mandolin which he later played a small solo on. The band finished off with "Meet Me in London." Sadly I must report, and along with the displeasure of those energetic male students, "My Radio" was not encored.

If Lloyd Dobler Effect happens to be in your area, I urge you to check them out. Their onstage energy is contagious and every band mate is immensely talented. Not only are they gifted musicians, but they are genuinely nice guys. The band takes the time out after every show to talk to each individual and to sign autographs. The Lloyd Dobler Effect is, to put it quite simply, amazing.
- Decent Xposure

It seems all too fitting that one of the most diverse music scenes in the country is giving birth to one of the country's most diverse up and coming bands.

Blending elements of jazz, rock, go-go, folk and Latin music, D.C.-based Lloyd Dobler Effect has already carved out a reputation as a highly entertaining, and highly skilled group of performers among mid-Atlantic enthusiasts. Now with a recent recording deal with Wine Dark Records, the band is hoping to take its sound nationwide.

The home to government officials from across the country and diplomats from around the world, D.C. has developed a reputation as a bit of a musical crossroads. And with four of its six members hailing from the D.C. area, it's no wonder these paths merge in the music of Lloyd Dobler Effect.

"There's just so much diversity in D.C., and a fabulous jazz and blues scene. There's a lot of great rock bands," Dobler lead singer Phil Kominski says. "The only thing I haven't really heard a lot of here is country.

"People say that New York is the Mecca of music, and I don't disagree, but it's almost too much sometimes. Down here the music is more spread out, like the city itself."

But the six-piece Dobler Effect sports unique blends producing tracks ranging from the playful, jam-band-esque "In the Water" to the Santana-like "Sabrosa."

"Our style of music has definitely helped us stand apart," Bruno says. "We'll meet people who see us for the first time and they'll tell us, 'I've never seen a band that plays like you guys.' I love that. I love people telling us we have our own style."

That style has been aided by the various influences each band member brings to the group. Percussionist Rusty Williams and drummer Donnie Williams played in go-go bands in high school, while bassist Johnnie Castro played in gospel bands.

"Phil and I have played with different area musicians our whole lives," Bruno, an alumnus of Good Counsel High School, says. "You learn and pick up things from whoever you play with."

"It's not that different," Kominski adds, referring to their sound. "It's rock and roll. But we make sure that all six of us have a part that supports the song. Everyone gets a turn in the spotlight. Everyone gets a chance to shine."

Starting this fall, the band members will get to shine across the country on a two-month long tour before heading to the studio, likely in late November, to record their first full-length studio album. There they'll be in the capable hands of producer Gary Katz, who has worked with groups and artists such as Steely Dan, 2Pac, Diana Ross and Dire Straits.

"Lately we've been writing a lot of new material and it's been getting shot down," Kaminski jokes. "But we've never had any trouble getting together to write. In a day we can generally write a song or two that we're pretty happy with. Most of the stuff we've written lately just hasn't fit the theme that they want for the album." In addition to two or three new tracks (possibly new tunes "Fingertips" and "Going Back to the End"), the album will feature reworked versions of nine songs off of the band's independent live album, Live 2004 .

After the album's release, which Kominski estimates to be around March, the band has no concrete plans, "they'll probably tell us what to do," Kominski laughs.

"They" includes not only Katz, but Camille Barbone, the group's A&R agent. Barbone managed Madonna for the first ten years of her immensely successful career. Regardless of the specifics, the future will definitely hold more live dates, something the band is looking forward to.

"We love playing live," Kominski says. "What I really enjoy is meeting new people at shows and getting new people interested in music. And I enjoy hearing their thoughts on things."

With a mindset such as that, it seems safe to say that Lloyd Dobler Effect's diverse influences will remain intact.
- Falls Church Press

Rock bands play up their diverse influences the same way college applicants cite insubstantial extracurricular activities.

Equally unimpressive as the high school senior who congratulates himself for a single season spent bench-warming for the junior varsity badminton squad is the drummer who taps a cowbell four times and credits herself for incorporating Latin rhythms.

Too many bands advertise eclectic sounds that sound like more of the same.

The guitarist who strums a minor seventh chord while wearing a Misfits T-shirt isn't fusing jazz with punk, he's playing rock music, a genre that has always been a stylistic melting pot.

When the Washington, D.C.-based rock sextet, Lloyd Dobler Effect, bills itself as "popular rock with Latin rhythms and go-go beats," one can only hope the music avoids the loathsome trend towards faux-diversity.

And to some extent, the songs on LDE's independent release, "Live 2004," do successfully incorporate eclectic musical influences. The rhythm of the song, "Sabrosa," is convincingly Latin, and Spanish lyrics lend authenticity to the chorus. Up-tempo tunes like "Million Ways" and "Meet Me In London" feel like they may in fact use a go-go beat (whatever that is).

Unfortunately, the band's genuine attempts to, as they put it, "(unite) the members' individual music influences with the changing multicultural make-up of today's American music listener" don't always coalesce into a workable whole.

Some of the songs sound like approximations.

"Harvard" is a studious rehashing of Dave Matthews Band's monotone pulse, "Kangol Black" features stylized rap-rock chants that might resonate with fans of frat-tastic bands like Dispatch, but would likely make a hardcore hip-hop listener chuckle.

On the other hand, songs such as "In the Water" drift towards a lively pop-rock feel that could be the band's natural niche. Between guitarist Chris Bruno, percussionist Rusty Williams, drummer Donnie Williams and guitarist/vocalist/bandleader Phil Kominski, Lloyd Dobler Effect has a wealth of creative talent and fine melodic tendencies.

When LDE lets its varied influences work freely, the result sounds fresh if not familiar. Still, the band's "Latin" and "go-go" influences are at best vaguely descriptive tags for what is a mainstream pop-rock band.

What's wrong with that? People seem to like it anyway. LDE's rigorous touring schedule and energetic live show have attracted fans along the Eastern seaboard, garnering the group back-to-back "Wammie" award nominations for Best New Artist, Rock Band of the Year, Song of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year by the Washington Area Music Association.
The Washington Post says that "the band ably (and surprisingly) fold(s) go-go, funk, salsa, folk and hip-hop into ... modern rock." That may be an unrealistic course load for a couple of guys from Maryland and Virginia.

Bandleader Kominski majored in music marketing at University of Maryland and oversees much of the band's promotion. Judging from his smartly packaged product, it looks like the coursework paid off.
- Charleston Post and Courier

No bright lights. No exotic scenery. Not even a paycheck. The Lloyd Dobler Effect's visit to the [Virginia Baptist] Children's Home on May 26 was purely for the residents' sake. Nestled between a performance in
North Carolina's Outer Banks the night before and a concert at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA that evening, the residents and staff did not comprise the largest audience the band would play for that day, but by the band's account, they were the most enthusiastic.

"I hope the kids will take a second to appreciate music and how people are playing it. I hope they'll like what we're doing and it will inspire them to keep doing what they're doing," said lead singer Phil
Kominski.

After the Washington, D.C.-based band powered through their unique combination of Latin-flavored rock and uplifting lyrics, residents had the opportunity to freely interact with the musicians.

"I really love the band. I think thy all have plenty of talent. I want to thank them for their time, and patience to come and play for us," said Portsmouth resident Mia. "They were very respectful when we spoke.
I hope they can come back one day," added Kayla.

Guitarist Chris Bruno has been coming back to the Children's Home for the past three years. First with a former band, then as an individual, Bruno has often shared his musical talents with Children's Home residents. The Lloyd Dobler Effect presented their free concert at Bruno's request.

"I'd been with the band six months when I told them about the opportunity to come here and they were ecstatic about it. It's a honor to come here and do this," said Bruno.

Though the music faded away, the impression these young musicians made on their younger fans most likely will not. As the musicians and residents conversed after the concert, the residents discovered that professional musicians are not magical beings. They are ordinary people, much
like the residents themselves, who develop their talents and strive to overcome the obstacles in their paths.
- The Virginia Caring Times

In the week leading up to Christmas, it's hard not to have sugarplum dreams from the never-ending chorus of "Jingle Bell Rock" playing everywhere one goes. Thankfully, rock fans who need a little break from the yuletide music can catch several rising local acts this week.

Lloyd Dobler Effect isn't a newfangled weather gadget, but an unsigned Silver Spring five-piece band that will more than likely have a record deal by the end of the new year. The band plays Saturday at Whitlow's On Wilson in Arlington.

Just don't make the mistake of calling lead singer and guitarist Phil Kominski "Lloyd" at the show.

"I get it all the time," explains Mr. Kominski via cell phone, on his way back to Maryland from a meeting with a record label. "Everybody thinks I'm Lloyd Dobler."

For those not familiar with the name, Lloyd Dobler is the lovelorn character John Cusack played in Cameron Crowe's popular film "Say Anything." The name Dobler sounded so close to the weather-related term "Doppler effect" that the band decided to add the word "effect" to its name for the humor.

The band's reputation has grown such that Mr. Crowe has a link to the band's Web page from his own site. Though the group has had its current lineup for only two years, those years have been busy ones for the young outfit, all of whom are in their early 20s.

Lloyd Dobler Effect was born at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, where Mr. Kominski and drummer Donnie Williams went to school together. Throughout his high school years, Mr. Kominski played in various bands with different friends.

Explaining how each member came to join, he usually begins by saying, "We started jamming together..." Members came and went over the years until the lineup jelled into its current form, which also features Chris Bruno (guitars and vocals) and Rusty Williams (percussion/vocals).

Initially, playing music was all in good fun.

"I would use it as a form of therapy," Mr. Kominski says. "It started getting pretty serious really fast."

He switched colleges from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington back to the University of Maryland at College Park. Thinking ahead, he specialized his business major so that it focused on the music industry, giving him some valuable internships at record labels.

"I've learned a lot that's been able to help the band," he says.

In the meantime, the group began playing more and more and traveling outside the area. At one point, they were booked for shows almost every night some months.

What really marked the turning point, though, was the 2002 WHFStival concert and its local battle of the bands. Their win allowed them the chance to open before thousands of rock fans on the festival's main stage at RFK Stadium.

"We were really inexperienced before that," Mr. Kominski says. "We never played in front of more than 50 people at one place."

From there, things snowballed. The band was able to devote their lives full time to music and started getting calls from record labels. Several meetings since then have convinced the group that there are labels they might be glad to call home.

Since forming, the band has been able to add a full-time sound crew and buy better equipment, though money is rarely ever pouring in for any local band.

"We love to do it," Mr. Kominski says. "It's not a money thing."

They have been working with producer Gary Katz, of Steely Dan fame, on several songs and he has helped the group shop the tracks around. In January, they will again head into the studio, which means that this week's gig at Whitlow's could be the last time area fans see the band for several months.

As for its sound, the group likes to use a phrase called "collage rock," not to be mixed up with the more common phrase "college rock." It means that the group's pop-influenced rock songs also can move to a Latin beat or use a go-go rhythm. Nothing is really out of bounds.

Mr. Kominski's goals in the next few months are many: record a new album, tour outside the area (maybe even outside the country), tighten the live show and decide on a record label.

"I think we've made long-term goals into six-month goals," he says.
- Washington Times

The Lloyd Dobler Effect narrowly edged Newark's Stygian Veil last month to walk away with the grand prize at Kahunaville's "battle of the bands." Yet front man Phil Kominski sounds anything but cocky in discussing the victory over the phone. Instead, he begins the conversation by expressing his gratitude to the group's fans. "I was more overwhelmed by the support of our fans, who drove 120 to 150 miles to [attend] both rounds," Kominski says from his home in Silver Spring, Md. "I stop and I think about [that] a lot. I really do." The grand prize for winning the Kahunaville bash included opening the Boston edition of the Molson Snow Jam in late September, where the headliners included The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Juliana Theory and Unwritten Law. The band also received travel expenses, a $500 gift certificate redeemable at Sam Ash music stores, and 10 hours of studio time at Third Story Recording in Philadelphia. The win follows Dobler's triumph at the HFS-Tival last spring in Washington, D.C. The group emerged from a field of nine bands in the finals to open a concert for Eminem, Papa Roach and The Strokes.

The Lloyd Dobler Effect, which formed in 2000, takes its name from Say Anything, a 1989 teen film. [John Cusack played the part of Lloyd Dobler.] Thus far, the quintet has performed mostly in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, where it enjoys a strong following among college students. Kominski, 24, continues to downplay the possibility of a dramatic breakthrough. He sees the band's trip to Boston as an opportunity to expand their market. "The farthest north we've gone is, like, Scranton, Pa.," he says.

By winning the competition in the District of Columbia, Kominski and company attracted a larger booking agency and a hands-on manager. As a result, the band has started working in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Adding New England to their itinerary would be yet another coup. Kominski doesn't duck the frequent comparisons to the Dave Matthews Band. After all, the lineup features Kominski's acoustic guitar and saxophonist Doug Rock. Additionally, percussionist Rusty Williams is the nephew of Boyd Tinsley, Matthews' fiddle player.

But Chris Bruno rocks on electric guitar and during several songs, these louder, faster numbers suggest modern rock in all its raunchy, high-decibel glory. Though he occasionally tires of discussing the band's similarities to Dave Matthews, Kominski admits, "It's a real honor to me because some of the virtuosity in that band É is incredible." Similarly, Stygian Veil's Gina Degnars has grown accustomed to having her voice compared to Tori Amos' well-known pipes. "I think she's great and everything, but that's really not where I draw my inspiration from," says Degnars, who plays keyboards.

Indeed, Stygian Veil, which lost the contest by just a few points, blurs the lines between Degnars' passion for jazz and perhaps horror-film soundtracks. Her influences include Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Debussy and Radiohead. Degnars doesn't listen to pop nor does the band cater to mainstream audiences.

"We're not really accessible club music," she says. "It's worked for us, and it's worked against us. We are a little different, and that sometimes can grab people's attention."

As for Stygian Veil's showing at Kahunaville, Degnars is quite pleased: "We made good connections. We were heard by many people and already I notice some doors opening."
- The Dover Post

t is said that when you are on the right path, things just sort of fall into place. If there is any truth to that cliche, then Lloyd Dobler Effect are right where they need to be. Having formed eight years ago, Lloyd Dobler Effect's path has taken them on a whirlwind journey of show after show, performing over 1,400 shows in 39 states and 14 countries. Having just finished their third Armed Forces Entertainment Tour, being named Boru Vodka's Defend the Bar Band winner, and currently touring nationally in the United States, the Lloyd Dobler Effect may just be onto something. Don't be confused, Lloyd Dobler Effect is not your traditional bar band. With lyrics that are an infusion of Dylan, Springsteen, with a little bit of Yeats thrown in, and a sound that doesnt fit one genre but many, the band isn't your traditional bar band - they are probably one of the most dedicated and unique bar bands around.

I admit that my first taste of the Lloyd Dobler Effect came when I was researching the character Lloyd Dobler from the movie Say Anything for an article I was writing about the iconic figure that Lloyd Dobler had become. Always happy to find great music, I curiously took a listen and was impressed. When I had the opportunity speak with Phil Kominski, vocalist for Lloyd Dobler Effect, one of my first inquiries about the band was why they chose the name Lloyd Dobler. "We felt that we were kind of off-beat. We were using it when we were�at the end of our high school days and it just stuck. It's that mix of everything - kind of that off-beat but serious character."

When you listen to the band, the name makes sense. Just as the character Lloyd Dobler is A balance between self-assured and awkward, cool and not-so-cool, tough guy and sensitive man, Lloyd Dobler Effect fuses together sounds that�are�somewhat polar opposite, yet for them, it works. Their music sometimes has angry and progressive drum beats, dancing with an almost electronic sound, add in a bit of a Salsa flavor combined with the lyrical prowess and peaceful hum of Folk, and don't forget old fashion Rock-n-Roll and you have a band that is as versatile and it is talented, being able to pull off such a coup without it sounding forced or rigid.

In listening to LDE, you can easily tell that creating music isn't just about pursuing Rock-n-Roll dream to meet girls and get laid, rather it is about practicing a craft they all love and respect. When Phil speaks of the process that they go through when creating new music and writing new lyrics, the passion in his voice is easily detected. "We get together and throw something around. We mix up changes, and derive a melody. When the melodies are all in place, we put words around the melody that we created. The lyrics are not 99% until in the studio."

For LDE, it really is about the music. Being one of the few artists that will allow taping at venues and encourage burning music and sharing it, Lloyd Dobler Effect wants to perfect their live shows and share their music with the world. "You can look at footage from shows as a really good critique. You are able to see what is working front-of-house and what isn't and you can take that and improve on it."

This attitude towards music has gained them respect and quite a fan-base. In September of 2007, while touring the Midwest, the trailer holding all of the groups gear was stolen. After writing an e-mail about the bands loss, the support they received from their fans was phenomenal.

"It really showed us how caring our fans were and how supportive they were. They really helped us out a lot, not just financially, but the emotional support as well. I sent out an e mail and about an hour later I had 350 emails from people saying what can I do and it made us feel real good because it was like we had friends out there wanting to help."

In the meantime, the band had found ways to raise money and replace their equipment and went on to tour in November for Armed Forces Entertainment. The tour led them to the Middle East, performing for military personnel. As much as they were giving back to those serving, they gained something, too. "It was amazing. It was pretty intense and amazing. We were less than an hour away from where some of the fighting was and we were tourist walking around and seeing machine guns. It was an eye opening experience, "Phil told me. And they shared their experiences with their fans as well, creating road journals to share their experiences and some of the more positive things happening over there. "I think it's important for people to look at the human side of it and that is what we were doing with the road journals. In parts of Afghanistan, all the people hired to work in some of the rebuilding were Afghani people and they were making five to ten times as much as they would be making normally. We met a guy whose only job was rebuilding orphanages over there. No matter what your political affiliation, you need - Rack In The Back

DC's Lloyd Dobler Effect, named after John Cusack's lovelorn character in Cameron Crowe's "Say Anything," visits the Bluebird Monday night. Singer Phil Kominski started the band eight years ago with drummer Donnie Williams. The two were classmates at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, Md.

During their run, they have been a consummate bar band, incessantly on tour. The energized tunes found on their 2004 live CD sound like a blend of Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen, complete with some sax cheez.

The band has headlined three tours for the Armed Forces Entertainment, including trips to the Middle East, Asia and a few vowel-depraved countries like Kyrgyzstan.

They won a battle of the bands in November, sponsored by Boru Vodka. The prize, which included $10,000 of equipment, couldn't have come at a better time, as their trailer was stolen in Chicago in September.

***

RC: How was your 2007?

LDE: 2007 was kind of a crazy year. We've spent the bulk of the year working on our new studio album and we're almost done with it. We also won a pretty big contest. It was a battle of bands by Boru Vodka.

RC: And your trailer was stolen?

LDE: It was during the the last Midwest tour we did. Halfway through the tour we played in Chicago and had a few days off so I flew home and planned to join them in Omaha. I called Chris (Bruno, guitarist) at the airport before my flight left and he said he was going to get the van and trailer. When got on the plane I had no messages on my phone. When I got off the plane I had 15, so I thought, 'Oh god, something's wrong.' It was a mess. All of our equipment was in it so I ended up flying back home. I sent an e-mail out to our fans about the situation and within an hour, I got around 350 replies from fans freaking out, writing, 'what can we do to help?' It was an amazing thing seeing that kind of rallying of support. Then in December, we got a call from the Union City, Tenn. police saying they found the trailer! It turns out this guy had around 11 trailers, one ours with the equipment still inside. It was great there was a happy ending.

RC: Tell me about the 2007 Armed Forces Entertainment Tour you did.

LDE: We did a month long tour in the Middle East for Armed Forces Entertainment. It was amazing, the first one we've done in the Middle East. Most shows were well attended and interesting. So many of the areas were fairly hostile, so we couldn't really get out because it was too dangerous. So we were able to get to know the troops more and chat with them.

RC: What has been your experience with labels?

LDE: We had signed with an indie label (Winedark) and left them at end of '06 after having differences over personnel and song structures. When we got out, we decided to take some of the songs and rerecord them. We're both engineers, so recording wasn't a problem. As far as shopping the new record, we'll spend a month and a half shopping it around and if no bites, we'll release on own. We're excited, it has been a long time in making.

RC: Have you ever found yourselves playing in the same town as the (alternative/metal) band Say Anything on the same night?

LDE: It's kind of funny - I'm sure we have but we've never played a show together. We have showed up on Cameron Crowe's website. He's kind of supported it - he's not the grumpy type who would say, You can't use my material.' He kind of embraces it. Since he's married to a rocker (Nancy Wilson from Heart), I guess he's understanding about that.
- St. Louis Dispatch

Castle Brands Inc. (AMEX: ROX), an emerging international spirits company, has announced Lloyd Dobler Effect as the grand prize winner in its inaugural Boru Vodka "Defend the Bar Band" contest. The two-month search for the most authentic and passionate bar band began with over 100 applicants and culminated with the young energetic band from Washington, DC as the winner.

Along with the first place title in the Boru Vodka "Defend the Bar Band" contest, Lloyd Dobler Effect's grand prize package includes a digital release with Roadrunner Records and $10,000 of equipment from Musician's Friend.

Phil Kominski, lead singer and guitarist for Lloyd Dobler Effect said: "We have been in competitions in the past and we have never been in a competition this well organized. We are ecstatic to have won this battle. There were many great bands competing and we want to thank them for their music and for allowing us to get to know them. We also want to thank our fans for supporting us all the way through this competition and the judges for choosing us from such a wealth of talented artists. We are very excited to build an ongoing relationship with Boru Vodka in 2008 and beyond."

The victory could not come at a better time for the band. Earlier this fall while on tour in Chicago, the band woke up to find their trailer gone. Over $65,000 worth of equipment was stolen but the setback did not break their spirit. The band went on, rallying fans to help bring them to victory. They are now on a three-week tour of southwest Asia to support our troops, sponsored by Armed Forces Entertainment.

In honor of music fans everywhere, Boru Vodka also rewarded one lucky voter in the "Defend the Fan Sweepstakes" with a $5,000 Grand Prize. Libby Carnahan from St. Petersburg, Florida, won out of thousands of voters.

"This was an ambitious competition for us and we are very gratified by the results," said Roseann Sessa, Vice President Marketing & Public Relations for Castle Brands. 'Defend the Bar Band' was a huge success for everyone involved: the participating bands gained exposure and reached a new audience, the fans got to listen to brand new music and win prizes, and Boru Vodka established itself as the brand dedicated to the support of independent musicians. We are in the planning stages for next year's 'Defend the Bar Band' competition, which we expect will be even bigger and better."

Boru Vodka's "Defend the Bar Band" program drew over 100 band applications, representing 31 states and a wide variety of musical styles. Lloyd Dobler Effect's victory was based on votes received from Boru Vodka's music fans combined with the score from a panel of judges. The panel was comprised of judges from Roadrunner Records, up-and-coming artists Madina Lake, Blender.com, Musician's Friend and Boru Vodka. In the final round, Lloyd Dobler Effect narrowly beat out the other three finalists: The Righteous Hillbillies (Chicago, IL), Volume Runner (Cinnaminson, NJ), and Scarsboy (McKinney, TX).

More about Boru Vodka

Boru Vodka is made in Ireland from the best grain and most pristine water. The five times distillation process produces a clean vodka of unusual clarity and exceptional smoothness. It is named for the legendary king responsible for uniting Ireland, Brian Boru. Boru Vodka is also available in Citrus, Orange and Crazzberry flavors. Boru Vodka is available nationwide in the United States and Ireland and in a growing number of other international markets.

More about Lloyd Dobler Effect

The popular Washington D.C. band Lloyd Dobler Effect, (LDE) named after the loveable John Cusack character in the 1989 film "Say Anything," fuses high-energy rock and roll with Latin rhythms and go-go beats. Acclaimed by critics and fans for their thought-provoking lyrics, the group appeals to both mainstream rock lovers and culturally diverse audiences. LDE has performed in 42 states and eight countries and has developed a loyal and extensive fan base. Voted one of Washington D.C.'s top 10 live bands in 2005 by the Washington Post Reader's Poll, the band consists of Phil Kominski (vocals/guitars), Donnie Williams (drums/bass programming), Chris Bruno (guitars/vocals/mandolin), Rusty Williams (congas, percussion/vocals) and Patrick Hughes (bass/vocals). For more information on the Lloyd Dobler Effect, go to www.lloyddoblereffect.com.

More about Castle Brands Inc.

Castle Brands is an emerging developer and international marketer of premium branded spirits within four growing categories of the spirits industry: vodka, rum, whiskey and liqueurs. Castle Brands' portfolio includes Boru(R) Vodka, Gosling's Rum(R), Sea Wynde(R) Rum, Knappogue Castle Whiskey(R), Clontarf(R) Irish Whiskey, Jefferson's(TM) and Jefferson's Reserve(R) Bourbon, Sam Houston(R) Bourbon, Celtic Crossing(R) Liqueur, Pallini(R) Limoncello(TM), Raspicello(TM) and Peachcello(TM) and Brady's(R) Irish Cream. - New York Post