Sundown
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Sundown

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"Vaughan Rock Band Sundown on Golden Path"

Sundown is on the rise.
Since forming in 2008, the Maple rock band has performed dozens of live shows, released an album and won several large-scale music competitions.

"We've done so well," said Tyler Tsang, 17. "We're constantly being hit with new opportunities and new chances to evolve and just progress."

Sundown was born when two bands comprised of Grade 9 students at St. Elizabeth Catholic High School - Shane Preston (lead vocals), Vince Sasso (lead guitar), Tyler (bass guitar), Evan Gerolimon (keyboards) and twin brothers Nicholas (rhythm guitar) and Christian Selvaggi (drums) - merged to perform Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird at a talent show.

"It was awesome," said Shane, 17. "They were kids at our school but they loved it."

"There was a standing ovation, I remember," Vince, 17, added.

That summer Sundown competed in a battle of the bands contest at the Reverb in Toronto and won.

"We played three covers and an original," Shane said. "That was our first outside gig and we were kind of thrilled with that."

The band tasted victory again at the Genz Benz Summer Warfare contest later that year, which garnered them bass and guitar amps, plus a drum kit.

But their biggest win to date came this January at Guitar Wars in Downsview Park, which was sponsored by Long&McQuade. The victory took them by surprise.

"The last band that played had a whole bunch of people in the crowd and they were all cheering," Shane said. "Their band name started with an 's' sound as well and when they announced (the winner), it was like 's' and then they said, Sundown. And we were like, 'What?'"

"We were sitting down and we honestly jumped out of our seats," Vince added. "I've never seen Shane jump so high in my life."

Taking first place at that competition netted Sundown $5,000 in cash and $5,000 worth of prizes.

Jeff Long, from Long&McQuade, was one of the judges at the competition and invited the guys to play at his downtown location this summer during its customer appreciation day.

While chalking up wins at music contests, the teenagers were also busy writing songs.

They began recording their debut album, My Own Path, in March 2009 at Epik Productions Studio and finished up about nine months later.

Evan left the band in January, due to "creative differences," a few months before the official CD-release show this past May. That show ranks among Sundown's highlights to date and the album has been fairly well received.

"A lot of people like it," Shane said. "It's been getting a lot of good feedback."

The band plans to record a second album, but for now they're busy preparing for their upcoming gig at the El Mocambo on Aug. 14 and another major contest in Niagara Falls called the YouDiscover 2010 Summer Concert Series.

"We made the top 22 for that and we're going to be competing Aug. 18," Shane said. "If we make the top five then we'll be playing at the end of the month."

Victory there means they get to play the annual New Year's Eve concert at Niagara Falls and a recording contract.

"I'd say if we keep practicing we have a good chance (of winning)," Vince said.

Regardless of what happens in that competition, given their accomplishments so far, Sundown's poised for a bright future.

"It's really mind blowing," Tyler said. "We just started two years ago and the amount of things we've done ... it's just extraordinary." - Adam Martin-Robbins


Discography

"My Own Path" Album- May 1st- 2010

"Behind Closed Doors"- Single (ImageFM Rock Single of the Year, 2010)

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Bio

Sundown was formed in the Spring of 2008 when two separate groups of musicians joined forces. What began as an informal performance in front of their peers, resulted in the formation of a group of young musicians with a common passion and goal.

From that first performance, it was evident that this group of musicians had that something special. As time passed during those early years, Sundown dove head first into performing and perfecting their sound. Not satisfied with being labelled "that high school band", Sundown set their sights on being the best "rock band" they could be.

Song by song, and show by show, Sundown worked at becoming tighter, and more knowledgeable in the art of performing. Their hard work has been paying off. They have won many competitions and awards. Some include; Winners of the Genz Benz Summer Warfare Concert Series, First place at Long and Mcquades Guitar Wars, Top 10 in Indiscover Summer Concert Series, Top 5 in Indiscover Record Label Star Search, Sound Academy Best of the Best Concert Series, and many more.

The music of Sundown has evolved over the past few years. When they started, their sound was very heavily influenced by the classic rock artists of the past. They developed and released their very first album of all original songs in May 2010 entitled, "My Own Path." Included on this CD is the ImageFM Rock Single of the Year, "Behind Closed Doors".

What separates Sundown apart from other bands in the "rock" genre is that the boys, Shane Preston, lead singer, Vince Sasso, electric and acoustic guitar, Chris Savage, Drums and backup vocals, Nick Savage, electric and acoustic guitar and Tyler Tsang, bass guitar, although young are very talented, professional, and incredibly dedicated. When it is crunch time, the boys become men and do what they have to do, while having as much fun as they can.

Building on the success of their first album, Sundown is currently writing and performing new material for their soon to be released second album. Their electric stage presence combined with their polished sound makes a Sundown performance one you will not want to miss.