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, Eagles Of Death Metal, Marty Casey and The Lovehammers, Chevelle, Taproot, Bad Religion, NOFX, Local H, Mest, Alkaline Trio, Butthole Surfers, Jet, Theory Of A Deadman, Skid Row, Lupe Fiasco, Malik Yusef, Cheap Trick, Billy Squier, Future Leaders of the World, Lit, The Parlor Mob, White Tie Affair, Egypt Central, The Riddlin Kids, Denver Harbor, Bang Camero, The Bomb, 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 and 2009. 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. In 2008 Blackbox headlined Millenium Park and Six Flags Them Park to thousands. Blackbox has been invited to perform at Summerfest, MOBFest, International Pop Overthrow, Dewey Beach Music Festival, NAMM. Blackbox also toured on the 2009 Vans Warped Tour and was just handpicked for Riot Fest 2009.
Blackbox was just nominated for an EMMY for their performance of "Surrender" and "He's A Whore" with Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick. It aired on CBS Chicago March 27th, 2009. It was from the Grammy U event at Columbia College where Blackbox and Rick hosted a seminar together to help kids get a better understanding of the music business....and a jam session occurred.
Blackbox has thier own TV/Internet segment with CBS 2 Chicago. Which has won Damon Ranger 6 Emmys. Since July 2007 Blackbox has had Sonic Youth, Silverchair, Patti Smith, Rhymefest, Lupe Fiasco, GZA (Wu-Tang Clan), Perez Hilton, Butch Walker, Juliette Lewis, Motion City Soundtrack, Kate Voegele, 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!!!
Blackbox fought Former WWF Heavyweight Champion The Iron Sheik in a Rock and Wrestling event for Q101's "Band to Bust Out" campaign. The video on Youtube curently has 20,000+ views
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." March 27th 2009 Blackbox performed "Surrender", and "He's A Whore" with Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick on CBS. The performances are Emmy nominated.
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.
Congrats on the Emmy nomination. Your dedication has been recognized on large scale! I am very happy for you and hope for your continued success! Holla Holla!
For sure bro!!!!!! I know that sucks when you have to play early, but I told they guys about how sick the show was and Were going try to go to the Double Door. Oh dude I told them about your rig and that modified Explorer and they want hear it to believe it (bass pick up????wtf)
thanks=] I had it done a while back. It's started fasing because I'm naturally so blonde and have no pigment in my hair to hold the color in. The next time I re-dye it will be my third time. lol. It's so tough being blonde. hahaha.
If you guys were at the Kevin Says stage this year at Warped Tour, you might have also caught Inward Eye playing - they're currently back on tour in the US and Canada, and they are DEFINITELY a band you should check out: http://www.myspace.com/inwardeye
Come to our show tonight(the 15th) We're opening for Company of Thieves at The Rave... BE THERE or else *place imagination here* But ofcourse, we love you :)
aww, man! If only I knew a few day in advance. My weekend is completely packed. I had to meet my boyfriend's grandparents today, then Im going to this thing called the woodward dream cruise tomorrow, then sunday I have a wedding anniversary to go to=p it's enough to make my headspin! lol. probably not as crazy as the schedual you have though. lol
