Air Traffic Controller, The Tragic Thrills
Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh
08/21/2014 08:00 PM EDT
$10.00 - $12.00
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Supporting Acts: Circles & Squares
Air Traffic Controller
Serving in the US Navy as a real-life air traffic controller, singer/songwriter Dave Munro sent home 4-track demos he had written and recorded during his deployment. With his enlistment up, Munro returned to hometown Boston and discovered an impressive number of fans, prompting the genesis of the aptly-named rock band Air Traffic Controller.
With a refreshing, modern day, indie rock sound resembling The Decemberists, ATC further infuses its compositions with unforgettable pop sensibilities in the vein of Petty, McCartney, and Springsteen. Munro keeps it honest, with autobiographical lyrics and well-crafted storytelling reminiscent of classic singer/songwriters such as Paul Simon and Cat Stevens.
One of Dave’s demos reached LA-based singer/songwriter and record producer Bleu. Munro states; “I was floored to find out one of my musical heroes wanted to produce us. With Bleu onboard, the production is much more epic” and in December of 2009 the band released its debut album, The One to a zealous audience. Accolades and award nominations soon followed, as did airplay on tastemaker radio stations such as 92.5 The River and WFNX, as well as positive coverage in publications such as Business Week, Performer Magazine, The Boston Globe, and The Boston Phoenix.
Nominated for an MTV “Best Break-Out Artist” Video Music Award in late 2009 and winner of "Best Indie Rock Act" of the 2010 Boston Music Conference, Air Traffic Controller soon found itself on many of the Northeast media outlet's Best-Of lists.
Fast forward to 2011, Air Traffic Controller were ready for round two with Bleu. Having a home-run success on Kickstarter and raising over $12k to support the production of “Nordo” – the team set out and made a brilliant All-American Indie Pop record that can call up musical references to Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons and Brendan Benson. Taking advantage of band member Steve Scott’s experience with composing, the band went the distance and recorded a forty piece orchestra on the song “Blame.” This new album also features band member Casey Sullivan singing on two duets “You Know Me” and “Any Way.”
This year, the band has debuted songs from “Nordo” around New England in venues like the Tupelo Music Hall in NH, Acoustic Long Island, and Boston’s legendary singer-songwriter venue Club Passim. Dave and members of Air Traffic Controller were hand-picked by WERS and Reykjavik Calling to play with Eli “Paperboy” Reed and Will Dailey at The Paradise Rock Club for an unforgettable evening of collaborations with Iceland’s top emerging artists. WXRV has also hand picked the band to perform at the historic 92.5 the River Music Hall for their series Live In The River Music Hall which will air on the station and on Comcast On Demand starting in May.
The band’s music has been used by Disney World Resorts, Ecko and Hollister stores worldwide, and licensed to Lincoln/Mercury, NBC Television, USA and CW Networks. The band will also have a featured musical intro in an upcoming episode of MTV’s scripted show Inbetweeners. WERS Radio calls Air Traffic Controller “One of Boston's finest independent bands” and during the height of The One’s radio campaign the band’s debut became one of the top three most-added albums on college radio stations nationwide.
The band features Dave Munro on lead vocals and guitar; multi-instrumentalist Steve Scott on lead guitar, keys, and more; big brother Richie Munro on drums; Casey Sullivan on bass, banjo, and backing vocals; with violinist Alison Shipton and Kiara Perico on viola. The band often performs live accompanied on stage by an entire string section to capture and recreate its brilliant, full sound... one that consistently identifies Air Traffic Controller as one of the fastest rising original acts in the country.
The Tragic Thrills
"My aim is to be earnest and have integrity," says Zach Porter, primary songwriter of the transcendent pop-rock quartet The Tragic Thrills. "When I write songs for this band, I question every word because I want to make sure everything is honest."
The quartet is comprised of seasoned musicians with national and international touring experience, and successful track records with both major and independent labels. In addition to Zach Porter, the band includes Michael Martinez, Brent Schneiders, and Cameron Quiseng. With The Tragic Thrills, the band members break away from their legacies to rally behind the poetic and irreverently romantic songs Porter has crafted. Emboldened by the fresh start, the guys have taken the reins to steer their destiny. They self-funded their self-titled debut, and, enamored with the subtle genius production on Mat Kearney's Young Love, handpicked producer Jason Lehning.
It's a bold way to launch a new band, but that move keeps within the vibrant emotionality packed in the group's moniker. "The name The Tragic Thrills embodies a sense of what I owe. Not what I owe to anyone, just what it'll take for me to find whatever the hell it is I'm looking for in life," Porter reveals.
For Porter, love pulled him off the music business treadmill and brought him back to soulful creative authenticity. "Meeting my girlfriend changed everything," he confides. "In the past, being in a successful band was the most important thing in the world to me—I was willing to do whatever it took to make it. But my heart moved on. Now I'm able to write in a way that my ambitions had stopped me from before. "
The Tragic Thrills debut is sublimely modern with skyward, atmospheric anthemics tastefully balanced by poignant and quaint touches likes stately cello, crystalline piano, and shimmering guitars. Against this expansive backdrop, Porter sings his powerfully confessional lyrics with rawness and urgency. On "Creeps And Strangers" Porter's voice has a winsome weariness as he sings/begs "please don't go" against the song's luminescent accompaniment.
Throughout the album Porter's lyric writing is a revelation; it's blunt and pent-up but bursting with emotion. On "Tears" he sings: I lost it all/I punched the wall again/But it was stronger than my hands/And they were swollen, they were red/And I'm a fool/I'm not a lion, I'm a man I can't outrun the hurt they said/But I can love and love again/And you too, you too. "I have days quite often where I find myself relating to 'Tears,' in many different ways," he says candidly. "I have something that means everything to me. And with that connection and devotion comes the greatest moments in my life but also some of the hardest."
The hauntingly beautiful "Fever" features some of his most imaginative and stinging lyrical ideas. "There are 3 different stories in 'Fever.' The first story I made up, although it's safe to say it happens all the time. The other 2 stories are personal stories from my life," he explains. "Getting these stories out in these songs is a huge release for me. When I sing that song I mean every word."
The Tragic Thrills sought out producer Jason Lehning for his fingerprint aesthetic of sleek poise and unvarnished expressiveness. "Jason was everything I needed. He was the perfect balance of challenging me and letting me do my thing to capture an emotion," explains Porter.
"The whole time I was making the record there was a sense of purpose," Porter says pensively, thinking back. "It felt like it was exactly what I should be doing. That sense of purpose gets me through everything," he says, pausing. "I can't wait to play this music live. The more we get out there and prove ourselves the more fulfilling this will be. "
Venue Information
Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh
230 W. Station Square Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
http://www.hardrock.com/pittsburgh