Nine Days

HE process of a Long Island cover band moving on to become cover boys is more revolutionary than evolutionary. But that is just the transition the rock band Nine Days has made.

The quintet has accomplished, in a few years, what hundreds of local bands have attempted, unsuccessfully, for decades -- securing a major-label recording contract. Nine Days was signed by 550 Music/Epic Records Group, and their CD, ''The Madding Crowd,'' will be released this Tuesday. Their debut single, ''Absolutely (A Story About a Girl),'' has already reached No. 71 on Billboard's Hot 100 and has broken into the Top 15 on the modern rock chart.

The album is a collection of a dozen pop songs produced by Nick DiDia, who engineered hit albums by bands like Korn, Rage Against the Machine and Pearl Jam.

While Long Island has had pop superstars like Billy Joel, Debbie Gibson, Taylor Dayne and Mariah Carey, it hasn't fared as well in the rock band category. Since the 1980's, less than a handful of local bands have gained national attention, and they were borderline novelty acts, like the heavy metal Twisted Sister and the rockabilly Stray Cats. A few years ago, the wonderfully eccentric Bogmen made some minor waves, and in 1998, the transplanted-to-Long Island Marcy Playground served up a No. 1 single (''Sex and Candy''), but soon fell out of sight. What makes Nine Days think it will make it? ''We've been working toward this for a long time,'' said Brian Desveaux, 28, of Selden, the vocalist, guitarist and co-songwriter, along with John Hampson. ''We've been working on our songs, our playing and our harmonies. We have a really strong album.''

Coming up through the often unsympathetic local live music scene was not easy. Many Island bands find they have to play songs by Blink 182, Sugar Ray or the Beatles in order to survive. Local audiences, for the most part, are not interested in original music. For that they go to Manhattan.

''Some of us struggled in the cover band scene,'' Mr. Desveaux said. ''John and I got tired of the whole metal and heavy guitar-riff band we were in and in 1993, we took a year off and sat in an apartment in Deer Park and wrote a lot of music with big harmonies. We were greatly influenced by Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young. We got back to songs. We also got back to our own roots, which was 80's- and 90's-styled rock.''

Songwriting became the key. ''If the song didn't work on acoustic guitar, then it wasn't a good song,'' Mr. Desveaux said.

They eventually hooked up with Nick Dimichino, bassist, and a new project was in the works. The group recorded eight tracks with a studio drummer. Soon Vincent Tattanelli (who had been the drummer in the popular cover band Wonderama with Mr. Hampson and Mr. Desveaux) and Jeremy Dean, keyboard player, joined the band, and it released its first CD, ''Something to Listen To.'' The CD took nine days to record -- hence, the name Nine Days.

Nine Days began a weekly gig at the Village Pub in Port Jefferson, performing every Monday, attracting audiences ranging from 50 to 125 people. The band members continued writing, and by 1996, they had released their second CD, ''Monday Songs,'' which began attracting attention for its original material. Nine Days won several radio battle-of-the-bands competitions, like WBAB's Homegrown Talent Search and WLIR's Best Unsigned Band contest.

By 1997, the band used studio time it had won to record a third CD, ''Three.''

''We were ready,'' Mr. Desveaux said. ''We were raring to get something done.'' They took their four best songs and contacted Pat Thrall, a producer who had worked with Meat Loaf, among others. - New York Times

HE process of a Long Island cover band moving on to become cover boys is more revolutionary than evolutionary. But that is just the transition the rock band Nine Days has made.

The quintet has accomplished, in a few years, what hundreds of local bands have attempted, unsuccessfully, for decades -- securing a major-label recording contract. Nine Days was signed by 550 Music/Epic Records Group, and their CD, ''The Madding Crowd,'' will be released this Tuesday. Their debut single, ''Absolutely (A Story About a Girl),'' has already reached No. 71 on Billboard's Hot 100 and has broken into the Top 15 on the modern rock chart.

The album is a collection of a dozen pop songs produced by Nick DiDia, who engineered hit albums by bands like Korn, Rage Against the Machine and Pearl Jam.

While Long Island has had pop superstars like Billy Joel, Debbie Gibson, Taylor Dayne and Mariah Carey, it hasn't fared as well in the rock band category. Since the 1980's, less than a handful of local bands have gained national attention, and they were borderline novelty acts, like the heavy metal Twisted Sister and the rockabilly Stray Cats. A few years ago, the wonderfully eccentric Bogmen made some minor waves, and in 1998, the transplanted-to-Long Island Marcy Playground served up a No. 1 single (''Sex and Candy''), but soon fell out of sight. What makes Nine Days think it will make it? ''We've been working toward this for a long time,'' said Brian Desveaux, 28, of Selden, the vocalist, guitarist and co-songwriter, along with John Hampson. ''We've been working on our songs, our playing and our harmonies. We have a really strong album.''

Coming up through the often unsympathetic local live music scene was not easy. Many Island bands find they have to play songs by Blink 182, Sugar Ray or the Beatles in order to survive. Local audiences, for the most part, are not interested in original music. For that they go to Manhattan.

''Some of us struggled in the cover band scene,'' Mr. Desveaux said. ''John and I got tired of the whole metal and heavy guitar-riff band we were in and in 1993, we took a year off and sat in an apartment in Deer Park and wrote a lot of music with big harmonies. We were greatly influenced by Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young. We got back to songs. We also got back to our own roots, which was 80's- and 90's-styled rock.''

Songwriting became the key. ''If the song didn't work on acoustic guitar, then it wasn't a good song,'' Mr. Desveaux said.

They eventually hooked up with Nick Dimichino, bassist, and a new project was in the works. The group recorded eight tracks with a studio drummer. Soon Vincent Tattanelli (who had been the drummer in the popular cover band Wonderama with Mr. Hampson and Mr. Desveaux) and Jeremy Dean, keyboard player, joined the band, and it released its first CD, ''Something to Listen To.'' The CD took nine days to record -- hence, the name Nine Days.

Nine Days began a weekly gig at the Village Pub in Port Jefferson, performing every Monday, attracting audiences ranging from 50 to 125 people. The band members continued writing, and by 1996, they had released their second CD, ''Monday Songs,'' which began attracting attention for its original material. Nine Days won several radio battle-of-the-bands competitions, like WBAB's Homegrown Talent Search and WLIR's Best Unsigned Band contest.

By 1997, the band used studio time it had won to record a third CD, ''Three.''

''We were ready,'' Mr. Desveaux said. ''We were raring to get something done.'' They took their four best songs and contacted Pat Thrall, a producer who had worked with Meat Loaf, among others. - New York Times

Nine Days, the pop rock group best known for their hit 2000 song 'Absolutely (Story of a Girl),' have announced they're currently back in the studio with producer/engineer Paul Umbach, recording their first album since 2007. The Long Island, NY based band are at The Maze in Nashville, and their new album is scheduled for a Fall release.

The news of the upcoming album comes after Nine Days announced earlier this year that the five original members, who performed on their classic Gold sales certified album 'The Madding Crowd,' had reunited to play a string of East Coast dates. The songs scheduled to appear on the album include working titles such as 'Alchemy,' 'Protect Me (From What I Want),' 'Messin' Around,' 'Wine, Women and Song,' 'Viking Funeral,' 'Indian Summer' and 'Flying Saucer.'

"We recorded two prior albums with Paul, 1996's 'Monday Songs' and 2007's 'Slow Motion Life,' and Paul also mixed the majority of the songs on my last three solo albums,' the group's singer and guitarist, John Hampson, said. "Paul has also worked with (singer and guitarist) Brian (Desveaux) on his solo stuff, so there is a great history and understanding of how the band works, and what we want to achieve."

Hampson added that the band is "going for a very 'live' feel on this record, and Paul's studio is set up great for that. We're just playing as a band and recording it "live." There are a lot of different influences swirling around."

The singer added that there's a musicality to the album that he thinks will surprise people. "All my New York friends will hear 'country,' but it's not a country record at all, but certainly more of the Americana vibe that was present on out earlier indie albums pre 'Absolutely (Story of a Girl),'" he said.

The band will be performing live on June 22 at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City, on July 13th at Deepwells Mansion on Long Island, on July 25th at Hard Rock Cafe in Pittsburgh and on July 26th at Reverb in Reading, Pennsylvania. Additional July and August dates in Nashville and the surrounding areas will be announced as the band completes the record.

Fans interested in being a part of this recording can also do so by visiting Pledge Music's website and making a donation or purchase. The band has also released behind the scenes footage and photos of the recording sessions on Facebook. More information on the band can be found on Youtube, Twitter and their official website. - Yahoo Voices

Nine Days, the pop rock group best known for their hit 2000 song 'Absolutely (Story of a Girl),' have announced they're currently back in the studio with producer/engineer Paul Umbach, recording their first album since 2007. The Long Island, NY based band are at The Maze in Nashville, and their new album is scheduled for a Fall release.

The news of the upcoming album comes after Nine Days announced earlier this year that the five original members, who performed on their classic Gold sales certified album 'The Madding Crowd,' had reunited to play a string of East Coast dates. The songs scheduled to appear on the album include working titles such as 'Alchemy,' 'Protect Me (From What I Want),' 'Messin' Around,' 'Wine, Women and Song,' 'Viking Funeral,' 'Indian Summer' and 'Flying Saucer.'

"We recorded two prior albums with Paul, 1996's 'Monday Songs' and 2007's 'Slow Motion Life,' and Paul also mixed the majority of the songs on my last three solo albums,' the group's singer and guitarist, John Hampson, said. "Paul has also worked with (singer and guitarist) Brian (Desveaux) on his solo stuff, so there is a great history and understanding of how the band works, and what we want to achieve."

Hampson added that the band is "going for a very 'live' feel on this record, and Paul's studio is set up great for that. We're just playing as a band and recording it "live." There are a lot of different influences swirling around."

The singer added that there's a musicality to the album that he thinks will surprise people. "All my New York friends will hear 'country,' but it's not a country record at all, but certainly more of the Americana vibe that was present on out earlier indie albums pre 'Absolutely (Story of a Girl),'" he said.

The band will be performing live on June 22 at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City, on July 13th at Deepwells Mansion on Long Island, on July 25th at Hard Rock Cafe in Pittsburgh and on July 26th at Reverb in Reading, Pennsylvania. Additional July and August dates in Nashville and the surrounding areas will be announced as the band completes the record.

Fans interested in being a part of this recording can also do so by visiting Pledge Music's website and making a donation or purchase. The band has also released behind the scenes footage and photos of the recording sessions on Facebook. More information on the band can be found on Youtube, Twitter and their official website. - Yahoo Voices

t's a new dawn for Nine Days.

The St. James-based band best known for the No. 1 hit "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)" has reunited after a lengthy hiatus, working on its first album since 2003 and planning a possible summer tour.

"I always felt we weren't done," says singer-guitarist John Hampson. "I had other things that I wanted to do, but it also feels so right being back together."


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Hampson says he and guitarist Brian Desveaux, who has established a solo career in Nashville, have been working on songs together, as well as playing with bassist Nick Dimichino, drummer Vincent Tattanelli and keyboardist Jeremy Dean.

The band got together for a recent show at Rockwood Music Hall to celebrate. However, it's a May 3 show at the YMCA Boulton Center in Bay Shore where Nine Days plans to show off its fresh start, with new arrangements and a horn section to help showcase the new material.

"It's so great to play in the band situation again," Hampson says. "We can walk in and play like we've never been apart -- we've played together too long. There's just this positive energy that makes everything very enjoyable."

While the band is certainly happy to play songs from its breakthrough album, 2000's "The Madding Crowd," Hampson says the current incarnation of Nine Days feels more like the band before its chart-topping success.

"When we first started, Brian and I thought we would be this type of music that had its roots in Bob Dylan and Neil Young," Hampson says. "We're closer to that now. We're playing songs where we think, 'This doesn't sound like us.' That feels really good. We can't wait to see where this year takes us." - Newsday

t's a new dawn for Nine Days.

The St. James-based band best known for the No. 1 hit "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)" has reunited after a lengthy hiatus, working on its first album since 2003 and planning a possible summer tour.

"I always felt we weren't done," says singer-guitarist John Hampson. "I had other things that I wanted to do, but it also feels so right being back together."


advertisement | advertise on newsday

Hampson says he and guitarist Brian Desveaux, who has established a solo career in Nashville, have been working on songs together, as well as playing with bassist Nick Dimichino, drummer Vincent Tattanelli and keyboardist Jeremy Dean.

The band got together for a recent show at Rockwood Music Hall to celebrate. However, it's a May 3 show at the YMCA Boulton Center in Bay Shore where Nine Days plans to show off its fresh start, with new arrangements and a horn section to help showcase the new material.

"It's so great to play in the band situation again," Hampson says. "We can walk in and play like we've never been apart -- we've played together too long. There's just this positive energy that makes everything very enjoyable."

While the band is certainly happy to play songs from its breakthrough album, 2000's "The Madding Crowd," Hampson says the current incarnation of Nine Days feels more like the band before its chart-topping success.

"When we first started, Brian and I thought we would be this type of music that had its roots in Bob Dylan and Neil Young," Hampson says. "We're closer to that now. We're playing songs where we think, 'This doesn't sound like us.' That feels really good. We can't wait to see where this year takes us." - Newsday