solus rex.

Solus Rex is a alternative rock and roll band based out of the Camden County Area. Although the band has gone through several variants of membership and line up since 2008, the current quintet has been rehearsing and writing together since late 2011. They began recording songs as well during this time period, and eventually digitally released their debut album “Checkmate” in august of 2012, a concise ten-track, 39-minute collection of their work from that time period that was met with excellent reviews and spurred the start of an enthusiastic and growing fanbase. With a style often compared with the melodic sense of Coldplay, the ambient sound scaping along with the syncopated rhythms of Radiohead, and the pop sensibilities of The Killers, the album features a wide variety of timbre, using orchestral strings and horns alongside whirling synthesizers. The breakbeat percussion, melodic bass lines, and vocal themes are as catchy as they are captivating, providing entertainment to a wide demographic of audiences- even to the most hesitant and critical audience members.
The line-up consists of Tyler Perle on percussion, Rob Franchetti on Bass, Brian Cahill on Lead Guitar, Matthew Rogoff on Keyboards, and Colin Newell on Lead Vocals and Rhythm/Piano. Each member has an extensive background in a variety of genres, with the rhythm section bringing a funk and pop-punk energy to its motion, while Rogoff and Cahill’s classically trained ears install fluid and engaging chordal changes underneath the baritone-falsetto vocal melodies Newell sings. Well-known for a high-energy live performance, the band constantly uses their versatile background in order to perform different variations of the song, whether it be slowing down the fast-and-furious track “Captain” to a haunting jazz improvisation, or re-orchestrating the strings of “Snow” into an acoustic performance between a piano and guitar. This versatility has allowed Solus Rex to perform at large electric and small acoustic venues alike. Since October of 2012, Solus Rex has added a considerable list of venues to their resume that they have performed at, including the Trocadero, The Fire, Goldilocks’ Gallery, The North Star Bar, the VFW of Audubon, Studio Lulu, and an extensive amount of coffee shops and other acoustic settings.
With several upcoming shows in both the South Jersey and Philadelphia area, Solus Rex will be continuing and expanding their local tour in the year 2013, alongside preparing material for a second LP.