Second Street Saints
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Second Street Saints

Fairfield, Connecticut, United States

Fairfield, Connecticut, United States
Band Pop Rock

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"The Hour's Breaking the Band contest winners gearing up for Oyster Festival appearance"

Pop rock band Second Street Saints are no strangers to winning contests that place them in high-profile venues. As the grand prize-winning band in The Hour Newspapers' Aug. 17 Breaking the Band Contest, their appearance at the Oyster Festival as opening act for The Village People may bring them their largest audience yet, with a typical weekend Festival attendance in the tens of thousands
"We were very excited to win this contest and to get the chance to play at the Oyster Festival. We really didn't expect to win" said the Fairfield-based Saint's lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Rich McGowan.
"We're all about big melodies, big hooks, and upbeat party jams. Our goal is to have you singing along by the second bar. I think our style will really complement the Village People."
Earlier in 2012, the Saints edged out nine finalists to come out on top of Stamford's Bandapalooza contest, winning the opening act spot for Los Lonely Boys at Alive@Five to an audience of approximately 1,000 people. In 2011, they were named Connecticut's Best Band in The Hartford Advocate's "Grand Band Slam" competition.
Their rise to popularity has been increasing steadily since the formation of the band in early 2010.
"We've been making steady progress," said McGowan. "Initially, we'd done shows with five people in the audience. There's been a lot of growth."
After recording and releasing original songs individually throughout 2011, the Saints have developed a strong following. - The Norwalk Hour


"35th Oyster Festival to host an all-star lineup"

"The winner of the Hour’s Breaking The Band competition, Second Street Saints, takes the stage Saturday night as opener for the Village People. Since forming in early 2010, Second Street Saints have become one of Connecticut's fastest-rising bands. In 2011, they were named Connecticut's Best Band in The Hartford Advocate's "Grand Band Slam" competition. The band released its self-titled debut EP in May 2012. Shortly after, The Saints won an opening slot on Stamford CT's "Alive@Five" concert series--the area's most popular summer music event. The group came in first out of 10 finalists and opened for national headliners Los Lonely Boys to a crowd of over 1,000 people. Based in Fairfield, CT, Second Street Saints is comprised of Rich McGowan (Vocals, Guitar), Derek Kennedy (Bass), Tom Kelly (Drums), Erik Henry (Guitar) and Courtney Maxson (Vocals)." - Stamford Plus


"Congratulations to Second Street Saints! Winners of the first "Breaking The Band" competition"

We are happy to announce that Second Street Saints is this years winner of The Hour's "Breaking The Band" competition!

Catch Second Street Saints on the main stage Saturday Sept. 8th, 7:30pm at the Norwalk Oyster Festival

We would like to thank all the bands, venues and everyone involved in making the first BREAKING THE BAND competition a great success. - The Norwalk Hour


"CT Rock Festival Opens with Western Style"

One of Fairfield County’s best know outdoor music festivals, Alive @Five, kicked off its 2012 summer concert series with a western vibe, featuring the Texan rock band Los Lonely Boys, in addition to more local roots in bands PANA!, and Second Street Saints.
Held every Thursday throughout the summer in Columbus Park in Downtown Stamford, Alive @ Five has become well known for hosting on the rise bands from Southern Connecticut and the Metro Area debuting for more well known national acts.
This Thursday’s event kicked of with Second Street Saints, out of Westport, Connecticut, who debuted songs of their new EP. Backed by excellent percussion from drummer Tom Kelly, frontman Rich McGowan delivered fast-paced pop-rock vocals that screamed summer. - The Connection


"Heat Doesn't Stop Alive@Five"

STAMFORD -- Among those arriving at Thursday's Alive @ Five season opener before 6 p.m. were Courtney Neilsen, 23, and David Whipple, 26, two Stamford residents and Albany natives who cooled off with some white wine in Columbus Park during second-billed Pana's upbeat Latin rock set.

Milling about Neilsen and Whipple in Columbus Park were dozens of groups of young people, many of them under the age of 21.

Neilsen said she didn't mind spending a few more moments in line while security personnel electronically scanned driver's licenses before issuing wrist bands if it helped root out fake identification and prevent underage drinking.

Thursday's concert is the first to be held under a new set of measures implemented by the event organizer, the Downtown Special Services District, this season in hopes of curtailing underage drinking and wayward behavior at the summer concert series.

"I think it's a good idea to do that," Neilsen said. "We have an Alive @ Five in Albany and underage drinking is a problem."

The pair said that of the bands booked for the Alive @ Five event this summer they were looking forward most to hearing Creedence Clearwater Revisited.

"I know their music from my parents," Whipple said.

Mike DeFelice, 19, Ben McGorty, 19, and Becca Palko, 18, of Trumbull, said they came specifically to see Los Lonely Boys -- Thursday's main act -- and said that many younger concert-goers abide by the drinking laws but a more watchful presence reminds them to be good.

"We're just making a night of it," DeFelice said. "The license checks are both really good and kind of stupid. But they help."

Sweltering weather made for a smaller crowd at the opening of Alive @ Five's 15 season Thursday night, though attendance began to pick up as the sun waned after 7 p.m. and Texas-based Los Lonely Boys readied to take the stage.

Westport pop-rockers Second Street Saints and Pana, a Latin rock sextet hailing from Stamford played energetic warm up sets to smaller crowds clustered under the sprawling foliage of Columbus Park's signature oak tree.

Read more: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Heat-doesn-t-stop-Alive-Five-3653865.php#ixzz1ye6kBGy1
- The Stamford Advocate


"Alive@Five 2012 Lineup"

June 21st:
Los Lonely Boys
Pana!
Second Street Saints - Stamford Downtown


"All The Best - Our Readers' Picks for the Best Bands in the Reigon"

Best Band: Second Street Saints

facebook.com/secondstreetsaints

This pop trio is basically an object lesson in successful social media use. Singer/guitarist Rich McGowan is religious about putting new material up online, whether originals or covers. "YouTube is something I like to do on a weekly basis," he says. The Saints' video catalog spans tons of genres, from their own pop songs to covers of artists like Britney Spears, Lil' Wayne, and Gavin DeGraw. Meanwhile, they use Twitter "to just pose questions to start a dialogue and connect to people," says McGowan. "That way we have fans who are friends as well. Especially because a lot of the shows we play are 21+." This Westport band is working on their first demo, and are releasing songs on their Facebook page as they finish them. - The Hartford Advocate


Discography

Singles:
Time Is Running Out (January 2011)
It All Comes Back To You (March 2011)
Not Too Late (April 2011)
Shine (May 2011)
Is It A Miracle (July 2011)
My Weakness (September 2011)
Wonderful Day (November 2011)

EP:
Second Street Saints (May 2012)

Photos

Bio

CONTACT: Secondstreetsaintsband@gmail.com

Since forming in early 2010, Second Street Saints have become one of Connecticut's fastest-rising bands.

In 2011, they were named Connecticut's Best Band in The Hartford Advocate's "Grand Band Slam" competition.

In May 2012, The Saints won an opening slot on Stamford CT's "Alive@Five" concert series--the area's most popular summer music event. The group came in first out of 10 finalists and opened for national headliners Los Lonely Boys to a crowd of over 1,000 people.

In August 2012, the band was named the winner of The Norwalk Hour's "Breaking The Band" competition. This award led to the group's first feature article and a prestigious opening slot on the main stage at the Norwalk Oyster Festival, where The Saints opened up for Disco legends The Village People.

The band was the runner up in Radio 104.1's Talent Warz 3 competition at Up Or On The Rocks in Downtown Hartford. The band spent much of Summer 2012 performing in the event, eventually emerging as one of six finalists and earning praise from station DJs David Fisch and Amy Grey as well as other well-known CT music figures along the way.

The Saints have also become a regular presence on Connecticut's largest independent radio stations. The band's songs "Not Too Late" and "Wonderful Day" have been featured on Radio 104.1 WMQR's "Home Brew" series and 99.1 WPLR's "The Local Bands Show" multiple times.

The group has also made their mark in the social media world. Their YouTube page (YouTube.com/SecondStreetSaints), which consists of live acoustic covers and DIY music videos, has received over 420,000 views as of September 2012.

Based in Fairfield, CT, Second Street Saints is comprised of Rich McGowan (Vocals, Guitar), Derek Kennedy (Bass), Tom Kelly (Drums), Erik Henry (Guitar) and Courtney Maxson (Vocals). The group came together in early 2010. Over the next year, they wrote more than 80 songs in the hopes of perfecting the good-time essence they sought to showcase. After recording and releasing songs individually throughout 2011, the band released its self-titled debut EP in May 2012. During that period, the quartet also became a regular presence in the New England independent music scene, playing shows throughout the region and building a reputation as a potent live act.

Next on slate are a handful of DIY music videos, some charitable work for various organizations in their local community and ongoing live performances throughout New England.