This is a band that makes you want to move like the thunderous drive of a Mack truck is bearing down on you. If you hear or see them - you will get hit!! (...but it's the GROOVE that'll keep you comin' back for more!)
Hailing from New York City, this Hard Rock trio has been pounding the metropolitan area scene since 1995. With a strong larger-than-life sound, solid melodic songwriting, rich 3-part vocal harmonies, and an uncompromising commitment to making you move, it is difficult to place THE LIVING into the scheme of today's rock or funk or r&b. They are attempting to carve their own "niche" on the shoulders of their diverse influences (from Prince, Hendrix, Sly & the Family Stone, Van Halen, and Stevie Wonder to modern artists - Lauren Hill, Fugees, Public Enemy), and by the looks of their ever-growing, cross-genre audience are succeding!
The three people responsible for all this noise are Mike Barnes - Guitars/Vocals, Brian Fich - Bass/Vocals, and hailing from Tel Aviv, Shir "Terror" - Drums/Vocals. THE LIVING have also recently added rapper/dj KOLANGI as a feature on a number of soon-to-be-released songs on their upcoming cd. This has helped broaden the scope of their music and truly reach all of "the living", and to positive response. Nearly 5 years after the band's conception, the group endures as a fully-collaborative unit in all aspects of their music career.
To THE LIVING, music is never just about "music" - it's about life; the happy, the sad, the entire experience. It is expression, it is therapy, it is a celebration, it is an escape - it is for All. It is * * 21st Century Rock 'N' Soul! * *
THE SHORT STORY...
THE LONG STORY...
THE LIVING originated in 1995 as a result of the then disbanded and re-incarnated "Vision Purple". An [unreleased] album was recorded in 1996 featuring Shir, Mike, and an alternate bassist, prior to original bassist Brian Fich rejoining the group after a stint in a "power pop" group. Many performances in the New York City metropolitan area yielded a slow, but steadily growing following for the band. The attraction was a no-holds-barred approach to performances, and showcasing songwriting with extremely catchy and memorable music, rich 3-part vocal harmonies, and all with an energy and groove that was infectious enough to have people at every venue they appeared dancing, singing along, and requesting favorite songs heard after one listen!
1998 marked THE LIVING's first commercial release, Moment In Time. The CD release party for this effort was featured on E! Entertainment Television, which generated a large amount of national exposure. Also generating exposure was the consideration of THE LIVING as an opening act for the VAN HALEN III tour, as well as being selected to perform at the Cleveland Undercurrents Festival '98. Late 1998 through 1999 showed further commercial growth and exposure for THE LIVING as Moment In Time was promoted heavily to radio and press. The reaction was astounding - over a straight 13-months, Moment In Time was in regular rotation on over 430 radio stations across the US and Canada, and charting regularly on the CMJ Top 20 charts, and typically being in the top 5 station Adds each week (frequently being the #1 add). The CMJ also chose a single "SufferMe" to be included on their Certain Damage (#106) CD. These are not small achievements, considering Moment In Time is a 6-song EP!!
Live performances also escallated in 1999 as THE LIVING expanded its territory of fans. Opening appearances with Texas natives King's X (Metalblade Records), Godsmack (Republic/Universal), performances in Cleveland, New York City and State, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and a headlining appearance at the Atlanta Idependent Music Festival were highlights of the year. The "home" fan base in New York City has yielded [repeat & headlining] appearances at many of NY's premier venues, including: Webster Hall, the Elbow Room, Nightingales, CBGB's, the Wetlands, and the Lion's Den.
In early 2000, THE LIVING began recording music for their next full-length CD. Many songs have long been requested favorites at shows over the last year, and many were recently written. The demos of these recordings can be found at mp3.com/theliving. This next release should help to further expose the band to new audiences and share what many other music lovers, press, and radio already know - *** THE LIVING ROCKS!!! ***
Just in case you want to know what we look like...
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| Shir Terror! | Fichin' & Moanin' | Clark Kent | band journal | R.E.S.P.E.C.T. |
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