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San Antonio/San Marcos-based group “The StandOuts” is aptly named due to their anomalous sound, catchy lyrics and big personality. The StandOuts are Andrew Howard, singer/guitarist; Johnny Ballistic, drummer; Philip Prasek, singer/guitarist; and Junior Scott, singer/bassist. Their unique sound has earned them well-deserved attention from Playing In Traffic records and Los Angeles-based producer David Eaton. Eaton selected The StandOuts to be a part of his “Gimme-a-Break” program, a program where Eaton hand-picks a relatively unknown unsigned band to receive their biggest break in this “tougher than nails” music industry. As part of this program, Eaton and the band hit the studio early this year and recorded a self-titled EP to be released in early September.
Despite all this attention, there is no proverbial horn tooting or egomaniacal behavior typical of an extremely talented band of this caliber. “We feel it’s important to be who we are and to be grateful for the people who have helped us along the way,” said front man Andrew Howard. The band’s mantra focuses on being nice guys first and foremost and secondly staying true to who they are as individuals, friends and as a band. “Honesty is important to us. Staying true to our muse, and communicating truthfully and passionately— whether that truth is about chasing girls, finding your way through personal loss and pain, or reflecting on spirituality,” said Howard.
Whether listening to their CD or hearing them live, their music is loaded with significance and is extremely poignant; impacting music lovers from several generations. At one of their standing shows at Fralo’s Art of Pizza, audience members young and old danced and enjoyed their music. “Playing music and being part of a band is an immense blessing. It affirms for me that I have a voice and I’m supposed to use it,” explained Howard.
The songs from their new EP are written by Howard, Prasek and Scott. The album features a slow, heartfelt ballad by Prasek, “I Will Be There,” and an upbeat, southern salted song named “Good Thing Goin’ On.” The grooviest song “What It Does to You,” written by Howard has a sound similar to Sublime with its melodic and funky hooks. Also written by Howard, “Let Love Lead” and “Your Love Carries Me” are two tracks jammed packed with catchy hooks and melodies. Scott and Howard together wrote “Rewrite,” the quirkiest song of the album, which delivers unique chord progressions, and unusual, yet captivating lyrics. All of these creative lyrics coupled with three-part harmonies make for album that truly “stands out.”
For more information on The StandOuts, visit http://www.myspace.com/thestandoutsmusic.
- San Antonio Music Examiner
THEY ARE: Rockus Circus
MEMBERS: Andrew Howard, lead vocals and guitar; Adam Peterson, lead guitar and keyboards; Junior Scott, backing vocals and bass; Johnny Ballistic, drums.
THE SOUND: Pop-rock with southern roots, almost as if Wilco, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Beatles formed up for an evening.
ALBUMS: Welcome to the Circus (2007)
THE BACKGROUND: Howard met Ballistic when Ballistic's father caught one of Howard's solo shows and recommended the two meet. They did, decided to form a band and eventually settled on Peterson and Scott as the remaining pieces of the quartet. They've opened for Blue Oyster Cult, the band immortalized in the "more cowbell" skit on "Saturday Night Live."
PAYING THE BILLS: Howard has made the band his sole priority at the moment; Scott is a "house husband"; Ballistic is a supervisor at a metal shop; and Peterson - who recently received a master's degree - is a biochemist.
THEIR WORDS: "I think we all hope to be able to do this full time," Howard said. "We really love playing together, and at the end of every practice or gig, we can't wait for the next time to all get together and work on stuff."
THE 210 TAKE: Not only has Rockus Circus won a handful of local awards and received plenty of college radio play, but Howard bears a striking resemblance to images of Jesus Christ. Perhaps it's a sign of the band's imminent success.
>>> Clint Hale, 210-SA
- 210-SA
Paste this address in your browser to see their live television performance:
http://tinyurl.com/standoutsonfox7austin
Austin, TX - The StandOuts is an original Rock & Roll band that delivers a great mix of memorable, intelligent songs. These guys love to rock out and aren't afraid to get a little campy!
"Welcome to the Circus", the band's debut album, is now available in stores. It was released under their old moniker Rockus Circus. - KTBC - Fox 7
Discography
The StandOuts E.P.
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Bio
The StandOuts are a group where classic songwriting is the focus. Composition, melody, and accessibility are paramount. The StandOuts started almost 5 years ago with an aspiring singer-songwriter and an ambitious drummer. Now it is a band of four kindred and energetic performers
all of them writers and co-writers. All of them collaborators, and co-conspirators
in a quest to share with the world their obvious talent and exuberant joy of playing music! The real identity of this band began to take shape when co-founders Andrew Howard and Johnny Ballistic recruited Junior Scott to play bass in October of 2005. Still under the bands original name Rockus Circus, they added a guitarist and keyboardist for a year, and recorded a low budget album. Something was still missing even though they were writing great music, playing some awesome shows, and building a dedicated following.
Enter Philip Prasek
Guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Philip was an obvious fit from day one. Now a permanent quartet, Rockus Circus began demoing out material for a new album. They were noticed by
Hollywood producer David Eaton who was searching for talent for his Gimme-A-Break program. It was during recording for the bands new six song EP that they realized they had outgrown their original name: Rockus Circus became The StandOuts!
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