Nick and The Fireflies
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Nick and The Fireflies

Columbia, Missouri, United States

Columbia, Missouri, United States
Band Rock Singer/Songwriter

Calendar

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

Music

Press


"(multiple)"

Bassist Dave Muscato has appeared in Rolling Stone, People, Time, The New York Times, SPIN, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard Magazine, and on MTV News, VH1, NPR, MSNBC, ABC, Kevin & Bean/KROQ in LA, WNYC, Howard Stern, and others. - (multiple)


Discography

Nick Spina: "Nick Spina"
Dave Muscato: "Three Speed," 1999; "Live at Honest John's," 2000; "Say No More," 2001 (with Perfect Nine, feat. Chris Hatfield); "Extended Play," 2005; "Anathema," 2006 (with Treasure Junkie); "Ceiling Light Yogurt," 2007 (with Wayfare); others

Photos

Bio

"We focus on doing the most with what we have. Since we are a three-piece [piano, bass, and drums], we find ways to fill in the sonic gaps that would normally be filled from a guitar, or a synthesizer. I like that we're still a rock band, but being piano-driven and by focusing on vocals and strong harmonies, we've been able to infuse really strong melodies.

"Nick and The Fireflies is music that can reach a broad audience: I don't see us as directed toward one segment of the population. I see college kids enjoying it; I see adults having a good time with it. It's unique because our songs don't follow the standard format; we're radio-friendly, but we're not predictable. You don't hear enough pop music these days that's piano-based. The two-guitar, bass, drum-set has become the standard, but we're producing music that's equally marketable, but different, and more versatile. We can play coffee shops; we can play club dates; we can play basketball courts.

"Our songs are very dynamic; it's not just 3-chord rock. It's impressive to listen to because it takes some finesse, and willingness to try different chord progressions, different song structures that are scary to do if you're trying to get radio play, but we do it, and it works because it's something different and fresh."

- Nick Spina, lead singer and pianist of Nick & The Fireflies
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Influences: Elton John, Bob Segar, The Killers, Ben Folds, Fiona Apple, Billy Joel, The Police, Oasis
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Singer, pianist, and front-man Nick Spina was born in Delaware, USA. He has lived in Lansing, Michigan; San Francisco; Armenia; and most recently, in Columbia, MO. Nick started classical piano at age 4 and studied classical music until college, participating in multiple classical piano competitions & festivals at Michigan State University.

During college, he supported himself by playing standards & covers a lá The Beatles, Elton John, Billy Joel, and Top 40 music at piano bars & restaurants, working up a repertoire of original material along the way. Nick also played keys for the jam-band Papaskew in San Francisco and served in the Peace Corps in Armenia.

After moving to Missouri, Nick posted an ad on Craigslist looking for a drummer and bassist/guitarist to complete a minimalist piano-driven trio. Through this ad, he met Justin Fremont and Dave Muscato and together, they formed Nick and The Fireflies.

Did You Know? Nick is affectionately known as "Doc" because, aside from his music career, Nick is also a doctoral candidate of Political Science at the University of Missouri.

"I did not know that." - Nick
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Bassist Dave Muscato, Founder of Hitt Street, an efficiency, brand-awareness, and grass-roots marketing & consulting organization for non-profits, small businesses, and bands, is also a promoter, session musician, and animal & human welfare activist.

While attending two years of summer courses at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, he toured with the power-funk trio Treasure Junkie for 5 years and continues to perform & record with a variety of projects in between N&tFF's schedule.

Muscato has appeared in Rolling Stone, People, Time, The New York Times, SPIN, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard Magazine, and on MTV News, VH1, NPR, MSNBC, ABC, Kevin & Bean/KROQ in LA, WNYC, and Howard Stern, has traveled to more than 120 cities in 6 countries across two continents, and volunteers for a local animal shelter.
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Drummer and backup vocalist Justin Fremont hails from Notus, Idaho, and has also lived in California; North Dakota; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Missouri. Justin is an accomplished guitarist, bassist, and singer, aside from his role as drummer in Nick and The Fireflies. He earned the nickname "The White Jimi Hendrix" by more than one drunken hick with his show-stopping guitar antics.