Atom Strange Interview – BandChi review
07 May 2010FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Atom Strange, a Brand All Its Own Tuesday 20 April, 2010 New York, New York, United States PAGE 1 of 2 BRIEF: Atom Strange is a Progressive Rock Band from NYC producing more than just great Rock Music. They have created a solid studio performance on ‘Cosmic Disturbance’ that could easily serve as a benchmark for Indie Artist Production. Their music is akin to a Hard Rock Pink Floyd stirred into a pot with some sci-fi graphic novels. Atom Strange is a great band working hard to turn their music into a unique brand of its own. ARTICLE: Atom Strange, a Brand All Its Own BandChi! interviews are always a good time and that has never been more true than sitting down with Atom Strange; this was a rowdy bunch of guys. That’s a positive note, because it was easy to see they have a chemistry and camaraderie that only punctuates their musical success. Ask most anyone who’s ever worked in a formidable band and they will tell you that one of the single most important elements is to have a solid foundation of friendship and mutual respect. Atom Strange is a Progressive Rock band that truly has a lot of great features in their corner. Founded in 2006 by guitarist Alex Rude, the band has gained solid ground in their four short years. On close inspection it’s easy to see they are tight, polished and proficient in their music and their marketing efforts. Alex is a sci-fi graphic novel freak who has done a fantastic job of weaving those elements into both the music and their presentation. We have to say they have some of the coolest damn posters and marketing pieces we’ve seen; all of which carry through with a bit of a ’strange’ appeal. While most artists are busy trying to figure out how to become the next ‘buried, death, morbid, blood, decapitation’ band, Atom Strange has been busy working towards a more graphical approach that seems to straddle the Hard Rock and Progressive Rock genres. Their cover version of the Beatles’ ‘Come Together’ proves they know the solid foundations of their trade while feeling strong enough to make the song their own. PAGE 2 of 2 Alex tells us he struggled, as most bands initially do, with the lineup to find the right set of guys. From what we can tell he’s done a fantastic job of it. Bassist John Reed and drummer Tony Baptist provide an impressively strong foundation for Alex’s one guitar format; something that seems to have all but faded into the past with bands like Van Halen, Pantera and ZZ Top. But don’t think for a second that these guys are a knock off of any of those acts. With the dynamic and powerful vocals of Rick Dunn, Atom Strange has forged a sound all their own. New York city is their romping ground, where Alex himself works for several high profile recording studios; Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis, Avatar Studios, The Magic Shop Studios, Threshold and Electric Lady to mention only a few. He often lends his expertise in recording other Indie artists as well as working closely with some big names; including credits on cool records like Norah Jones, The Gaslight Anthem and even Coldplay. Vocalist Rick Dunn has some vocal credits of his own doing studio tracks for other artists. Meanwhile bassist John Reed owns a small and growing custom electric guitar company that he hopes will benefit the band as well. Just another small part of building the Atom Strange empire. They have a fantastic fan base that extends well beyond the boundaries of NYC. With provocative tunes like ‘Breathe’, ‘Terminal’ and ‘Agenda 21′ they continue to express their talent and insightful song writing that is imposingly powerful from the front of the live stage. Their most recent release, title tracked ‘Cosmic Disturbance’ appears to be reminiscent of the glory days of album rock where it was more than just music but a whole package. This release includes eleven well produced, solidly performed and ass kicking tracks that define the mastery of their craft. But the CD itself could one day be coveted for it’s originality. Atom Strange is working on a summer tour schedule that extends across the Mid-Atlantic. Their music is worth more than just a listen, it’s worth every penny of the download price and no doubt they punctuate that with a solid live performance that may very well earn them opening slots for national acts. Give them a listen at www.myspace.com/atomstrangeband, or visit their web site at www.AtomStrange.com and decide for yourself. We have no doubt your next reaction will be to find a way to see them live. Atom Strange has created not only a great sound and solid performance but a brand all their own. <Photo 1>
