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South City Records’ recording artist group Sypher will perform with the band Taproot, currently on tour for its fourth album “Our Long Road Home,� Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. at M.J. Hooligan’s in Hattiesburg.
The event marks yet another milestone for South City Records, a label formed in 2005 as an extension of The University Southern Mississippi's recording industry degree program. Students at Southern Miss accomplish most of the work on the label.
South City Records’ CEO Blake Parker said the opportunity to network with bands on this level is important for the artists who perform with Sypher. “Our label is very proud to see our artists offered opportunities that can potentially affect their band’s future,� Parker said. “Being from the South means working harder to get your name out there for musicians, and Sypher definitely does their part.�
Tickets are available online by visiting the links below and start at $12 for advanced and $14 the night of the show at the door, and can be purchased at T-Bone Records and M.J. Hooligans.
Taproot released the album independently through the group’s management firm Velvet Hammer, whose past clients include System of a Down, Deftones, Alice in Chains and others. After releasing three albums from a major label, Taproot is looking forward to the independent “working band� journey.
Taproot guitarist Mike Dewolf said the band has not played in Hattiesburg before, but is looking forward to the opportunity.
“After being in this band for over 10 years, this album/tour represents the fact that if you continue to try to put good into this world, goodness will come back to you even in these hard economic times,� Dewolf said. “We have been very fortunate.�
Sypher, which is preparing for a spring album release, will join Allyria and Absence for Concern in opening for Taproot.
“Anytime you get to play with a national act who has songs on the charts, you know it’s going to be a great show, plus Taproot has become great friends of ours,� said Jon Horn, lead singer for Allyria, “And we are very excited to play in Hattiesburg because of the great support the town has given our band in the past.�
Allyria, finishing an album recorded by Brett Hestla, current lead singer for Dark New Day and former bassist for Creed, just finished an east coast tour with Taproot and Sevendust. The band will also begin a six- to eight-week tour with Saliva in Europe once the album is complete.
Mark Cheatham, guitarist for Sypher, looks forward to surprising the fans with the news of this lineup. “Our fans will be excited about this because they have seen us grow and will be proud to see us become a part of something this big,� he said. “It’s a really cool opportunity to play with guys that have made it to that level and see how they work as a band because Sypher hopes to achieve the same level of success.�
Cheatham worked for several months with Allyria to make this event possible for all the bands involved. “We made friends with Taproot during their tour with Sevendust after playing 18 shows with them,� said Horn. “Taproot needed shows to help them on their way home, so I called Mark and he booked the date.�
The scheduled performance brings Sypher one step closer to the success the band has pursued since their first album, "Walk Away," released in 2006. The album included the single "Asphyxiation" which has had extensive airplay on 103.7 FM for two years.
“I have liked Taproot ever since they came out because they have a sound Sypher can relate to, and they compliment us well,� said Koren Taylor, lead singer for Sypher. “I am just grateful for another opportunity to play with a great band and hopefully gain a larger fan base in the process.�
"We are very proud for the success of Sypher since they joined our label and look forward to their spring album release," said Darko Velichkovski, an assistant professor in the university’s entertainment industry program and president of South City Records. - South City Records and Southern Miss
" Jeff has a firm grasp on high intensity showmanship." - Daniel Black, Journalist for the Student Printz
"Koren Taylor sings with the vocal range of a master, proving that he can deliver anything he sings with an impeccable rock style tone appealing to anyone." - Nikki Criddle, Director of Public Relations for South City Records
Discography
Debut Album: Walk Away 2005
Available on Itunes and CD Baby
www.myspace.com/sypherband
www.southcityrecords.com
Photos
Bio
SYPHER, A ROCK BAND INFLUENCED BY SYSTEM OF A DOWN, DARK NEW DAY & CHEVELLE, STARTED OUT A COVER BAND, LATER EMERGING WITH ORIGINAL SONGS SHOWING THEIR RAW, UNIQUE & RANGE OF TALENT. THEY RELEASED THEIR DEBUT ALBUM IN 2005, WON ROCK WAR CHALLENGE IN 2007, HAS OPENED FOR BANDS INCLUDING SALIVA, TAPROOT, DROWNING POOL, 12 STONES AND MORE, AND IN 2008, SIGNED THEIR FIRST RECORD DEAL.
Sypher signed with South City Records, an independent record label in Hattiesburg, MS. and has already begun to plan for their album tour this summer.
Since winning Rock War Challenge and signing their first record deal with the independent label, they are anticipating the release of the groupâs second album due this spring.
The band's first album, "Walk Away," released in 2006, and included the single "Asphyxiationâ which enjoyed extensive air play for weeks, on the local rock radio station, 103.7.
"We are very proud to have Sypher join our label as we continue to expand," said Darko Velichkovski, Southern Miss assistant professor in the entertainment industry program and founder of South City Records, who signed the band on June 15.
"There are so many musicians out there that have had an effect on our music that we would not know even know where to begin," said Jeff Gichel, guitarist for Sypher, when asked how the band was formed. "We just try and learn from each experience as we continue to develop our own interpretation of music."
Sypher's influences include Dark New Day, Disturbed, Godsmack, Guns and Roses, Van Halen, Sevendust, and Chevelle.
Koren Taylor sings with the vocal range of a master, proving that he can deliver anything he sings with an impeccable rock style tone appealing to anyone.
"We want anyone who comes to hear us play or who listens to our CD to enjoy the music while we try to keep our music and messages straight forward," said Gichel.
Gichel and Mark Cheatham, guitarists for Sypher, deliver clean and crisp riffs throughout each song along with bassist Randall Jacobs' ground thumping beats.
Jayce Green's drumming style dynamically ties the main elements of the music together for an amazing presentation of today's rock while keeping it original and separate from other rock bands.
"What we needed most was proper representation and better distribution of our music. We feel this label can do that better than we could independently," said Cheatham.
For more pictures and to hear Part Time, visit the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJmtSYuYSEE
Links
