The Loft

Frontman John Banzhoff is a rock n’ roll pied piper leading mesmerized audiences to a place where hair drips with sweat, throats are hoarse, and dance floors are full. With a voice that in a moment can melt from a rock n’ roll howl into a soothing tone fit for a lullaby, Banzhoff pleads his case with the soul of a 70-year-old blues man and the uninhibited energy of a two-year-old. Fueling Banzhoff’s fire is John Burke, Canadian-born guitarist whose scorching solos and on-stage passion is the stuff of rock stars. Tethered to a Marshall stack, the Gibson disciple splits time between a red flying-V and a Les Paul that’s splattered with bloodstains – lingering evidence of an over-capacity show that saw Burke finish the night with sliced fingers. Seated at the edge of the mayhem is Nathan Johnson, a prolific keyboard player from Kentucky who rips popping solos and spreads on think layers of Hammond tones with the ever-present cigarette clinched between his teeth. Chicago native Chris White uses an acoustic guitar and occasional slide to turn polished breaks and inject intricate melody into the band’s rhythm section. Holding down the low end is Phillip Banzhoff, brother of John and master of a driving bass and dead-on vocal harmonies. Not one to let the weight of his bass guitar keep him on the ground, Phil is animated testimony that abundance of energy is genetic in the Alabama/Tennessee-bred Banzhoff brothers. The foot on the Loft’s acceleration pedal belongs to drummer Jon Biggs. Armed with a double-pedaled bass and interpretive technique, the native Tennessean is a player who can roar with thundering assaults and provide noninvasive accenting with equal ease. Now in their 4th year as a 6 piece, The Loft are gearing up for the April release of their first full-length album. Recorded at Nashville’s Omnisound Studios with Engineer/Producer Eric “Honky” Tonkin, this 12 song musical adventure captures the energy and power of a sold-out live show. Through tireless touring (over 300 shows since Spring 2001) and grass roots distribution of their previous releases (sales of over 1700), The Loft are reminding us why we sing along to the car radio and slap drum beats on the steering wheel… because rock n’ roll is fun.