Music
Press
“Introspective groovalicious pop rock” -Rolling Stone.com
“This modern rock quartet is taking the world by storm” - FOX News
“Kick ass black bands that came to save yo’ pale ass” - Village Voice (about pILLOW tHEORY, Gnarls Barkley, TV On The Radio, Earl Greyhound)
“Soul meets screamo” - Washington Post
“Full fledged musical virtuoso and accomplished songwriter” -Ocean Drive (about Kelsey)
“This band holds no punches while driving you to the wall with an energy that leaves you checking your pulse and trying to catch your breath” - St Croix Music Magazine
“Pillow Theory’s heavy 4/4 beats and full throttled distortion could probably buttress the house of rock itself” - Brooklyn Daily Eagle
“I gotta say, I love the unique sound these guys possess” - Steppin Out Magazine
“Listening to 'Outpatience' is like walking in to your own surprise party! When you hit 'play', your mouth gapes and you get that startling sensation on some songs as Kelsey's sweet voice turns screamo at the drop of a hat! You do not know what to expect on this rollercoaster ride of a CD-it's like opening up a Cracker Jack box and finding that little surprise inside!” - Kriselen .com
“Pillow Theory turns up the distortion with a sound dipped in molten metal and alt-rock urgency” - Brooklyn Academy of Music - Various
his NYC band has toured from places like CBGB, A Whiskey A GoGo and others in between in their van. They have also been hailed by magazines like RollingStone.com, Ocean Drive, and Village Voice. But what makes Kelsey, Jon, Scott, and Danos special is the unconventional way they approach their music. Kelsey writes the bands mostly deep lyrics while Jon arranges then, and in Kelsey's words Ryan "fills them with beautiful colors" and Scott is "an amazing beat master".
As I listened to the Cd Outpatience they made a couple of years ago, with some great songs such as Jealous, Makeout, and Four Drinks a song that sings of a post 9/11 New York City, I could see just how true Kelsey's words are. With a style that I cannot call anything else but down and dirty sex rock! They are now working on their own on their new Cd without their previous label. This high energy band with a rich history together started with band members meeting in Miami and Las Vegas. They have a great chance of making it with their Modern Rock sound, deeply moving lyrics and the sexual vibe found in many of their songs.
Recently two of their songs Jealous and Reason have been played several times on the soap opera Young and the Restless. If their sophomore Cd is just as diverse, sexy, and like the roller coaster ride as Outpatience and they continue to build momentum they can soon be heard everywhere.
They are a band that can fill an entire demographics desires right now, and it is their time to strike. - All Access Magazine
Discography
Album:
9 1/2 (2001)
Outpatience (2007)
Photos
Bio
ROLLINGSTONE.com described this NYC modern rock group's sound as "introspective groovalicious pop rock", OCEAN DRIVE magazine hailed Kelsey as "a full-fledged musical virtuoso and an accomplished songwriter" and STEPPIN' OUT magazine "loves the unique sound these guys possess".
Pillow Theory delivers a high-powered, dynamic live show while successfully genre hopping under the alt-rock umbrella (metal, punk, pop, free jazz). Selected as one of Tommy Hilfiger's "Best Unsigned Artists" and a semi-finalist in DiscMaker's Independent Music World Series, Pillow Theory was chosen to perform at the CMJ Music Marathon in NYC.
The band's debut disc, 9 1/2, was independently released in 2001. After a slight hiatus, Pillow Theory regrouped and collaborated with sonic genius Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies, NIN, PJ Harvey) for their sophomore release OUTPATIENCE. With Albini, they were able to manipulate their ever-changing moods to blend a sporadic yet cohesive sound. The album displays a delicate balance between heavy and light with change ups that may seem bizarre on paper, but work eloquently in sound.
Outpatience was chosen as one of the VILLAGE VOICE's best of 2005 in their yearly Pazz & Jop poll before the CD's official release in 2007 on Pursuance Records. One of the album's tracks, "Drama Fiction Fiend", was also pre-released on the Black Rock Coalition's 2005 CD compilation, ROCK N' ROLL REPARATIONS (with Terence Trent D'Arby, The Exit and Imani Coppola). The album's opening track "Jealous" was recently featured on the SONY PSP UK website. Both albums can be purchased via iTunes.com (download), CDBaby.com (hard copy), Amazon.com
Kelsey studied jazz guitar and classical vocal at the University of Miami before moving to NYC to pursue his rock endeavors. He immediately crashed into the downtown improvisational jazz scene working with Glenn Branca and opening up for Pharaoh Sanders.
Kelsey's musical world intertwined with future Pillow Theory anchor Jon Cornell in Brooklyn. At a young age, Jon was a highly sought-after session bassist in Las Vegas cutting his chops with Chaka Khan, Shirley Bassey and many other R&B/pop giants. Jon studied at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada and found his niche while traveling internationally with the university's acclaimed jazz ensemble.
While at UNLV, Jon befriended drum prodigy Chris Benham (who's been bangin' since the age of four). He became a first-call freelance musician while in Vegas, moved to Brooklyn and reconnected with Jon who lured him into the Pillow family.
Ryan Bull also attended UNLV where he studied jazz guitar and crammed for piano performance exams. His path crossed Chris' and Jon's within the music programs of the university and the rock clubs around town. Ryan shortly followed his brothers to Brooklyn, met Kelsey and became the band's utility man doubling as keyboardist and guitarist.
Danos Enrick and Kelsey were in rival bands and fans of each other's musicianship in the downtown NY scene. Danos has a classical guitar background but found his place in the NY punk and hardcore scene.
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