This Powerhouse two piece is fronted by charismatic singer/guitarist/songwriter Damon Ranger and backed by the mighty Gregg Potter on drums. Hailing from Chicago, Blackbox intertwines enormous guitars, pummeling drums, catchy hooks, and big choruses into beautifully crafted rock/pop songs.
Blackbox has played with Social Distortion, Billy Corgan, Marty Casey and The Lovehammers, Chevelle, Taproot, Local H, Mest, Alkaline Trio, Jet, Theory Of A Deadman, Skid Row, Future Leaders of the World, Lit, The Parlor Mob, Egypt Central, The Riddlin Kids, Denver Harbor, Solace For Now, The Black Mariah, Exit The Kings, The Dreaming, The Last Vegas, The Frogs, Hot Action Cop, Monster Magnet, Bullets and Octaine, Neko Case, Huck Johns, Fig Dish, The Gigantour, The Virgins, Shat, John Ralston, and more. Blackbox was direct support at Summerfest's Rock Stage (Worlds largest music festival) for Saliva in 2007 and invited back in 2008. Blackbox is also packing fans in on hometown headliner shows at House of Blues, Double Door, Kinetic Playground, The Note, even getting a residency at The Lakeshore Theater in 2005 and 2006, plus touring the east and west coast. Blackbox has been invited to perform at Summerfest, MOBFest, International Pop Overthrow, Dewey Beach Music Festival, NAMM
Blackbox has gotten thier own TV/Internet segment with CBS 2 Chicago. Since July 2007 Blackbox has had Sonic Youth, Silverchair, Patti Smith, Rhymefest, Lupe Fiasco, GZA (Wu-Tang Clan), Perez Hilton, Juliette Lewis, Motion City Soundtrack, Peter Bjorn and John, Cold War Kids, Satallite Party, Snow Patrol, G Love, Electric Six, Sparklehorse, and more....on thier segment
A quick tongue and constant self-promotion scored Blackbox their own Internet radio/video show on www.fearlessradio.com “Blackbox Fever” which ran for 2 and a half years, helped develop Blackbox as a main staple in the Chicago music scene. Guests on the show included: Guns N’ Roses, Counting Crows, Blacktop Mourning, Local H, Ron Jeremy, Seka, Pat Travers, and Under The Influence of Giants, and many more.
From February 1-Feburary 13, 2007 Blackbox, as an unsigned band, was the Q101.1 “Cage Match” champions on Q101 Chicago radio with the song “Girls Like You”. Blackbox enjoyed constant radio airplay on a major market radio station and getting voted the top song for 13 days straight.
Q101.1 Radio Chicago named Blackbox thier "Band to Bust Out" in September 2007!!!
NBC News Channel 5 Chicago did a six minute feature piece on Blackbox and their radio show in March of 2006. ABC News Chicago the number 1 rated newscast in the country) has featured Blackbox three times!!! in October and November 2004 and November 11th 2007 which had Blackbox performing "Never Enough" on the Morning Show. CBS Chicago features Blackbox songs up to 10 times a month during segments on all their news shows. CBS Chicago had Blackbox perform "Sick" on the afternoon show in May 2007. CBS 2 Morning Show had Blackbox live performing 3 songs "Up All Night" Sick" and "Like This" on Oct 27th 2007. Blackbox returned to CBS on June 21st 2008 to perform "Bound to Change."
Modern Drummer Magazine featured Gregg in the January 2004 issue (pg.118) and in the Oct 2005 issue as well. In 2006 Modern Drummer gave Gregg his own blog on their website www.moderndrummer.com
Blackbox has achieved radio airplay in Chicago on Q101, 94.7, 88.9, and 95.1 Wiil Rock, plus many college markets, including Madison, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Dayton, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia.
Gregg Potter proudly uses (and endorses) Gibralter Hardware, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Aquarian Drumheads, Slug, and Trick Drums. Blackbox has two clothing endorsement deals with Cut-Throat Fightgear and Marty Flint accessories.
Hey! Hope you can come party with us, Tommy Lee and some of the other guys from the tour after the show at Midwest Bank Ampatheatre on 7/16! We have a bus going from the city if you don't feel like driving:
yo Damon was that ur first news segment becuase if it was u tottally owned it man hmmm i wished they showed footage of your band more but meh..gives me more hope now to do a fest like that :)
We've got a show coming up at "The Back Bar" in Janesville, WI (1901 Beloit Ave, Janesville, Wisconsin) on July, 25 2008 So if you'll be in the area we'd love to see you there...The cost is $5 and we're playing with Kicking K8! Its 21+ so bring your ID and be sure to have a beer with us!!
Hey Damon! Whats been up? We are playing at The Elbo Room Thursday (7/10) come by if you can...btw, if you use the secret password - Detroit Rock City - and tell the door guy your there to see us, he will give u $2 off...
yeah i would like a cd what do you need from me, Starting July 1st I'll throw down a gauntlet of voting the likes the world has never seen. Or just my one vote per day!!!
not much, thanx for the add i saw you on the lolapalooza voting and liked your music so I thought I would add. I've been working on some stuff myself, but I find it hard after only a year and a half playing guitar to sing and play at the same time lol