Willem Hartong - Sweet Vocals, Guitar...
Rob Chojnacki - Bass, Backing Vocals (also sweet )...
Seth Masarsky - Drums, Live Electronics and Samples...
Harvey - the sampler (alive only in spirit & w/ electricity)...
Penelope - the keyboard
Influences
Soul Coughing, Built to Spill, Radiohead, Pinback, Sunny Day Real Estate.
Maybe we can influence you to sign our email list?
Breaking Laces is a three-piece alternative acoustic rock band from Brooklyn, NY, with the rare ability to sound completely original but at the same time recognizable, combining stellar songwriting and organic musicianship with electronics and a guitar sound that pushes the envelope of "acoustic" to create a sound that is fresh, accessible, and at times, mind-blowing.
With a description like that, it's no surprise that it's hard to place Breaking Laces' music within a certain category. Various comparisons they've received over the years: Death Cab for Cutie meets Martin Sexton, Weezer meets Cat Stevens, even Squeeze meets Radiohead.
"There are a lot of bands that we say we're like, and we're compared to a lot of bands," explains lead singer and guitarists Billy Hartong, "but the thing about our music is that it's as much about a feel as it is the actual sound. We go out and play music the way we would want to hear it; we are extremely serious about having a good time."
Breaking Laces began with a grassroots vision and big time goals, and after years of fever touring, they built a loyal following. They were declared the 2006 Best Band in NYC by Indie Sounds NY, scored the honor of being the XM Radio Artist in Residence for June 2007, and flat out won the 2007 National Starbuck's Music Makers Competition.
The band's studio performances on their albums Sohcahtoa (2003) and Lemonade (2005) and their 2006 EP, Astronomy Is My Life But I Love You, are only a small part of the Breaking Laces experience. In concert, they're a force to be reckoned with, with a dynamic mastery of sound which allows them to capture the attention of any crowd.
"When people come up and ask me what Breaking Laces are like," says Hartong, "I just say, 'Hey, we're good...but whether or not you're going to like us, that's up to you.' But I do think we're the kind of band where the more you get to know us, the more you're going to like us."
Festivals/Awards:
Full length album Undercover Cool due January 2009
Four song teaser/single released October 2008
Winner 2007 Starbucks MusicMaker's Competition
XMU Artist In Residence at XMU (XM43) for June 2007
Named Best Band in NYC 2006 (IndieSoundsNY)
Astronomy EP on many top ten lists for 2006
CMJ Radio National Top 200 for both Sohcahtoa and Lemonade LPs
CMJ 2008/2007/2006/2005/2003
UK Tour 2008/2005
South Park Music Festival 2008
SXSW Showcase 2008/2004
Milwaukee SummerFest 2007
MidPoint Music Festival 2007
NEMO 2007/2006
NXNE 2006/2004
Fleshpot Festival 2006/2005
Dewey Beach Festival 2006/2005
Camplified Tour 2008
Featured XM Live! concerts 2003, 2007...top 5 of all time, only repeat visitors
Stats:
Total CDs sold in excess of 27,000
Sold Digital Downloads in excess of 100,000
Email list over 20,000
500+ shows in 5 years
Over 57,000 plays and 3,100 friends on MySpace
3 very sexy guys
New Astronomy Ringtones here:
"Here To Stay" from our upcoming album Undercover Cool
Toad the Choad says: "When it comes to guitar, you can really get away with murder if you just use distortion to cover up all your fuck-ups. Marc Ribot does it all the time."
I have been busy on tour with Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band and haven't had a chance to tell you about my new record! It's called "Bad Little Kitty" and it came out back in July. There are a few tracks to sample on my MySpace but you can also check it out on iTunes or on my own website, www. TaylorHollingsworth. com. Thank you for continuing to be a friend and I hope you like the new collection of songs.
Hey guys... I spoke to u a while back... my mom had met u at hard rock in foxwoods. Just wanted u to know i been rockin your music at the bar. U have alot of great songs. Keep it up ;)
