Music
Press
How they got this far: A rumor circulating among some competitors has this funk/blues/rock sextet as the frontrunner to win. While vocalists Chad Lantz and Ryan Waniata get the lion's share of attention, this band is at its best with diminutive lead guitarist Chris DuParri carrying the load. OUr favorite moments: when he switches to lap slide.
Why they may win: Lantz and Waniata-as well as drummer Ryan Weingardt-have a reputation with female fans for being dreamy. Plus, they have a loyal Top Hat-cultivated following from regular gigs there the last three-plus years.
Indy's odds:2-1 - Missoula Independent
-"The group gives off a sort of juvenile prankster vibe in conversation-albeit with a timbre grown-up enough to be beer soaked."
-"Pretty much every show someone comes up and says how much they really appreciated the night and how much fun they had," Lantz says. "To look out across the crowd and make eye contact with somebody who's completely entranced with what you're doing.... it's what we go for."
-"The Flying Rickshaw's music is a collaborative effort; most of the band members contribute to the writing and none of the songs on the album are labeled with specific credits. The album's tracks are good-time rock 'n' roll peppered with instrumental segments suited to guitar- and keyboard-driven jams. Getting down is the staightforwardly addressed topic of some tunes, exemplified by "Dance With the Devil" and "Sweet Rhythm," but there are a few change-ups as well. On "Poor Man," slow finger snapping and slide guitar lend the intro a front-porch-in-summer feel. that beginning eventually gives way to slapped-and-popped bass lines backing lyrics about the merits and struggles of getting by on less-than-enough income before the song slips back into a hayseed outro." - Missoula Independent
Discography
Debut, self titled album just released February 2007 getting local radio airplay on The Trail 103.3 FM
Photos
Bio
*(Hint: Read to the end of the Bio to get some Random Rickshaw trivia)
The Flying Rickshaw's goal has always been to create what was once the standard for all successful rock bands: great performances and great original music. We're not trying to sell the most t-shirts to 14 year old girls, we're trying to give people a real musical experience.
To that end, the Rickshaw will try any musical idea and have written songs about everything from the spoils of the top 5% of America, to the Girls Gone Wild commercials, to sending a nuclear bomb into Jupiter to "nuke us all a new sun". As long as it sounds good, and unlike anyone else we'll try it.
The Rickshaw completed many goals in 2007, including a victory in our second battle of the bands, in as many entries, as the winner of the 2007 PBR Band of the Year competition. The first win gave us our first high profile show, opening in front of thousands at the Missoula Adams center for Styx. Winning a second time has given us a little more local clout and just the springboard we needed to help with our June '07 CD release party for our debut, self-titled album. We broke out on the road in 2007, as well, gaining new fans in Idaho and throughout Montana.
The end of '07 has brought the beginnning of our exodus to Portland, OR. We hope to expand our west coast horizons as we complete the move.
We enjoyed the rock competition, but mostly what we like to do is throw a barrage of our new form of Rock'n Roll in your face. Watch closely, The Rickshaw is landing.
**(Trivia) "White Bread and the Tall Boys" was once considered for the name of the band.
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