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Roppongi’s Ace
Rock / Country / Soul

Into the Night" now on iTunes!



Tampa/Providence, Florida
United States

Profile Views:  52160




Last Login:  7/18/2009
View My: Pics | Videos | Playlists

   Contacting Roppongi’s Ace

 MySpace URL: 

   Roppongi’s Ace: General Info
Member Since10/22/2005
Band Websiteroppongisace.com
Band MembersAlex Spoto - Vocals, Guitar, Fiddle

Max Norton - Drums, Hootin'

Jesse Norton - Bass, Harmonica, Hollerin'

plus: Rob Pastore - Pedal Steel
Influences
Roppongi's Ace Newsletter!



















Sounds Like
Into the Night

Contact Info:

Press & Artwork:
Robot Man - iamarobotman@gmail.com

Booking:
Mr. Roppongi - roppongisace@gmail.com
Type of LabelUnsigned


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   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Jul 9 2009 9:30P
New World Brewery w/ Don Chambers Ybor City, Florida
Jul 11 2009 4:30P
Skipper’s Smokehouse - WMNF Americana Festival Tampa, Florida
Jul 12 2009 8:00P
Om Bar w/ Lauris Vidal New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Roppongi’s Ace's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

News! Spring! Special Tampa Show 3/26!  (view more)

"Into the Night" Press! Much Love!  (view more)

CD RELEASE SHOW!!!!!!!! 1/16/09 w/ the Diviners/HGWT/Rachel Goodrich  (view more)

A New Year... and a Record on the run.  (view more)

Debut Record in 1/09! New Tracks Now Up!  (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

   About Roppongi’s Ace


Order the debut album, "Into the Night", from Roppongi's Ace!

ROPPONGI'S ACE: Into the Night


An Exhaustive Narrative History of Roppongi’s Ace...

Roppongi’s Ace was born on the East banks of the Hillsborough River in the summer of 2005. Its parents are Alex Spoto and Max Norton of Tampa, FL, and the band’s history is a deep and invigorating one.

Beginnings:

That summer was a time of innocence, it was a time of growth, it was a time of self-discovery. Roppongi’s Ace wasn’t yet a band. In fact, it wasn’t even a thought in the boys’ heads. All they could think about were the inescapable pangs of youth: trampolines, driver’s licenses, 2-stroke boat motors, hi-fi stereos, mowing lawns, and cheap guitars. The boys had become friends at parochial school, sharing school-boys uniforms and a love for thicknasty rock n’ roll music. They’d get high by jumping on a trampoline in Max’s backyard and then listen to his dad’s Taj Mahal records. It wasn’t long before Alex and Max were itching to start a band…

So Max and Alex began their musical careers as a raunchy, vintage-inspired two-piece garage band, except instead of playing in a garage, they played on a back porch—thus their self-described brand: “porch rock”. Alex was outfitted with a sparkly-blue Danelectro guitar, leftover from Papa Angelo’s glam-rock days before he settled down into a career in psychotherapy. He sang through a massive, broke-down gold sparkle Kustom PA, and Max beat on a silver sparkle Gretsch drum set named “Ambassador Sparkles." The band was originally made its moniker after Max’s drum set. However, after a few gigs, the boys had to do some soul searching for a new name due to conflicting interests with a similarly titled U.K. based House/Electronica group. The boys were young, so the soul searching was unsuccessful, and as recourse, the boys turned to a suggestion by Max’s older brother Jesse (watch for him later). For a philosophical, ontological, grammatically-correct explanation of the band’s name, click here.

After a bay-area wide tour as Roppongi’s Ace, the boys decided that it would behoove them to have some proper recordings. At the time, Alex was an overnight DJ on WMNF 88.5FM, and became acquainted with fellow DJ and musician Stephen Hammill (from Life of Pi) who also happened to nighttime as a sound engineer. Since the two were both night owls, they inevitably ran into each other on the job doing night owl sorts of things. The two struck up a friendship, and Stephen was nice enough to record Roppongi’s Ace. The recording session took place after hours in a small, independent South Tampa bookstore, where after 3 long days and 3 longer nights, a musical child was born: a 6-song EP. The EP was released on cassette tape only and was individually labeled in crayon by one of the band member’s grandmothers. Unfortunately, they sold out within a week, and have been unavailable ever since.

The Tampa Years:

Soon after their initial recordings, whilst jumping on the trampoline, Roppongi’s Ace had a metanoia. It was time for the Ace to grow from being a boy band to a man band. The simplicity of two was to become the wisdom, strength and complexity of three. It was over the summer of 2006 that the band went through several different line-ups, existing for the most part as a 3-piece with their good friend Nathan Cress on bass. In this incarnation, Roppongi’s Ace ripped through every parking lot, storefront, record store, and cheap bar in the entire city of Tampa. Soon thereafter, the band was ready to attempt recording once again...

As men have want to do, the band had to do this one themselves. Using borrowed computers, mics, and stolen software, the band tried to update their sound with a fresh wave of tighter, louder, more talented recordings. After nearly a month holed up in the back porch turned recording studio, the band ran out of money, patience, and hope. They did not know how to use ProTools. They did not have soundproofing.Then, a fierce summer lightning storm pierced the band’s dreams of a new record before the vocals ever got recorded, frying the band’s computer like an egg.

Brokenhearted, it took Roppongi’s Ace a couple months to rediscover their vigor for rock 'n roll. Max began a solo project where he sang and played banjo, covering only “Luke the Drifter” songs, and Alex turned to Tai-Chi and abstract finger painting. It wasn’t until one Norton family Christmas that a jam with Max’s older brother Jesse rekindled the flame of rock. Jesse Norton joined Roppongi’s Ace for its most thrilling incarnation, adding shirtless bass and harmonica stunts and a mean goatee to the band’s already hairy sound.

Roppongi’s Ace grew their sound out of the cooped-up, slow-burning Tampa Bay music scene. They cut their teeth on the Ybor City bar circuit, opening for Dr. Dog, Voxtrot, the Black Diamond Heavies, Earl Greyhound, the Six Parts Seven, Will Quinlan, and Have Gun, Will Travel. Their many twang-heavy contemporaries in the scene weighed upon the Ace’s fuzzed out garage sound, and Alex’s stints playing fiddle and mandolin with the likes of Wil Quinlan, Ronny Elliot, and Toby Bonar brought Roppongi’s Ace into the fold of Tampa’s burgeoning Americana scene. The band developed its heavy, fuzzy, loud-as-all-hell garage sound through the lens of the Tampa twang, and this growth process is what originally led Into the Night.

Today Is the Day:

The band returned to the scene with a vengeance; however, at the height of their popularity, a break was once again in order. Alex and Max took off to finish woodworking apprenticeships. Jesse moved his animation business to New York. While spending time apart, Jesse became a cigar aficionado, Max took up organic farming, and Alex grew a mustache.

After a year, the band came back together for a scorchingly hot summer in Tampa as older, wiser, more physically fit men. Having meditated on their work, it was time to make the definitive debut record. Roppongi’s Ace collaborated with local Americana wizard Steve Connelly at Zen Recording Studios in St. Petersburg to create Into the Night. The record was made in a week, tracked mostly live with pedal steel player Tommy Cooper sitting in to bring out the twang in the fuzzy mélange that is Roppongi’s Ace. Connelly’s production gives the Ace the “Tampa sound," marrying grit, soul, and twang with the band’s raw and stripped down rock and roll antics. In many ways, the record serves as a retrospective of a rock and roll band incubating for several years in the sleepy Florida music scene.

Roppongi’s Ace still calls Tampa home, but with members spread out all across the Eastern seaboard, the band plays to whomever will listen, wherever they will listen. They are no longer just a "Tampanian" band, they're an American band. On the road, Rockin’ Rob Pastore joined ranks with RA as resident steel player and serial soda sipper. Into the Night is out and available for purchase here on our website, on CD Baby, and as a digital download on iTunes. If you would like Roppongi’s Ace to play your wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, fraternity/sorority house, high school reunion, hangover, etc. pick up a tin can and give us a holler.


Roppongi’s Ace is: Alex Spoto, Max Norton, & Jesse Norton
They are based out of their hometown in Tampa, FL.







   Roppongi’s Ace's Friend Space (Top 28)
Roppongi’s Ace has 4135 friends.
 Ronny Elliott 


 Matt Butcher 


 Toby Bonar 


 Will Quinlan and The Diviners 


 Nervous Turkey 


 Maxim Ludwig & The Santa Fe Seven 


 Tallahassee 


 Rebekah Pulley 


 WMNF 88.5 FM 


 Have Gun, Will Travel 


 IslandMasta 


 Deer Tick 


 Tommy 


 Zen Recording 


 One Time String Band 


 Left Lane Cruiser 


 Vinyl Fever Tampa 


 Creative Loafing 


 Inertia! 


 BAAMO 


 New World Brewery 


 The Monomes - NUEVO VIDEOCLIP 


 Nicko's 


 REAX 


 aestheticized presents 


 Black Diamond Heavies 


 Dr. Dog 


 Drug Rug 





Roppongi’s Ace's Friends Comments
Displaying 25 of 1393 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
SELBY





Jul 18 2009 5:08 PM

It's great to meet you! Please drop by and let us know what you think about our new tunes! Here's where we'll be tonight:
River Jones Music Label





Jul 16 2009 7:52 AM

Hey! Here’s a free album download :)
Courtney Marie Andrews
"Painters Hands and a Seventh Son"
http://www.last.fm/music/Courtney+Marie+Andrews/Painters+Hands+and+a+Seventh+Son
elawgrrl





Jul 14 2009 1:12 AM

Hi. You guys win the prize for inspiring breakdancing during your set at WMNF's Americana Fest - impressive feat - not to mention a smokin' hot set... Please check out my photo show review on Creative Loafing's Tampa Calling Blog: http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/tampacalling/2009/07/13/americana-fest-2009/ :)
Radio-Free Carmela & The TRANSMITTERS





Jul 13 2009 9:16 PM

thank you for adding us...
Alien Rhythm





Jul 13 2009 3:23 PM

great job saturday @ Skippers for the WMNF Americana Fest... you made some new fans... here is a shot of Alex from the show. http://www.flickr.com/photos/al-ien/3715997453/
NASSER





Jul 13 2009 12:20 AM

THINK TWICE REMIX ON OUR PAGE
NASSER





Jul 11 2009 1:52 PM

THINK TWICE REMIX ON OUR PAGE
ENJOY !!!
Promethean Horde





Jul 6 2009 9:08 PM

July 24th 2009
Brass Mug 7$
1441 E Fletcher Ave
Tampa FL 33612

Promethean Horde
Legions
Promise me Hell
Arbalest
Abdomen Canvas
Horde of Moloch
Chilled Monkey Brains (Free MP3’s)





Jul 6 2009 7:55 PM

CHECK OUT OUR SUMMER TOUR DATES!!

7/9 - Tallahassee, FL
7/10 - Pensacola, FL
7/11 - Metairie, LA
7/12 - Gulfport, MS
7/13 - Jackson, MS
7/14 - Birmingham, AL
7/15 - Memphis, TN
7/16 - Knoxville, TN
7/17 - Peachtree City, GA
7/18 - Lawrenceville, GA
7/19 - Atlanta, GA
7/20 - Dalton, GA
7/21 - Gainesville, FL
7/22 - Sanford, FL
7/23 - Tampa, FL
7/24 - Orlando, FL
7/25 - Jacksonville, FL

CHECK OUR MYSPACE FOR DETAILS!!!

XOXO - CMB
Will Scott





Jul 5 2009 7:47 PM

Will Scott's new album, GNAWBONE, is here!! The CD is available at CDBaby (www.cdbaby.com/all/willscottmusic) and other online retailers.

Over three years in the making, GNAWBONE is Scott's fully-produced studio debut and features a crack team of hand-picked musicians as well as guest performances by Jan Bell, Jolie Holland, Samantha Parton, and Preacher Boy (the album's producer).

Visit Will Scott's myspace profile for details.
Don Diego


Online Now!


Jul 1 2009 5:37 AM

Oh hell yes, I am so going to that Ybor show. Can't wait to see you guys again ^^
Jonny Bedlam





Jun 29 2009 1:24 AM

Hey friend, I hope this comment finds you well.
Pousse Elvis





Jun 25 2009 10:26 AM

POUSSE ELVIS ::

26/06 :THE FLESHTONES
09/07 :NEW BOMB TURKS
22/07 :THE BELLRAYS
24/08:WINDSOR FOR THE DERBY
22/09:CELAN

@NOUVEAU CASINO (PARIS)
Trish





Jun 24 2009 3:33 AM

thanks for the friend request/add!
Anno Zero live





Jun 20 2009 11:35 AM



Luminal first video, what do you think about it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsm4qNX1ia4

Luminal myspace: www.myspace.com/quellocheresta










NASSER





Jun 15 2009 7:32 PM

NEW MIX ON OUR PAGE
ENJOY!!!
RYE ROAD





Jun 15 2009 3:27 PM

THANKS FOR THE ADD!!! CHECK OUT OUR MUSIC ON ITUNES
Jonny Bedlam





Jun 14 2009 5:45 AM

hey how are ya?
Borna





Jun 10 2009 5:26 PM

Hi,

check out my new song "onotot", please!

Greets!
Morney





Jun 8 2009 12:01 PM

Hi!

Thank you for the add :)

Morney
Scott





Jun 7 2009 2:40 PM

Thx for the add ! I love the profile and you Rock!
wretched





May 31 2009 3:09 PM

Hello my friend. I would like to invite you to check out my new poem called "I Am a Storm".
Thank you,
-byron
Zan and Jayna





May 25 2009 12:08 PM

OK you'll like this but you'll need to follow these directions EXACTLY to get perfect results. Put the following into the address area of your web-browser. Type a random number between 1 and 100 then a dot and then type your favorite food and then a dot and then type your current mood and then a dot and then type "retwistic" (without the quotes) and then a dot and then type com and then hit enter. Let me know how it works out!
Human Voice Studio





May 25 2009 4:13 AM

So I was just looking at your page and I think you music sounds pretty awesome and original. Are you guys looking to record any time soon? If you want to save some money by avoiding the expensive studios and still get a great quality sound, come check out my page. I'd love to record you, and I would only charge you 15 bucks an hour! Compared to the 50 bucks an hour studios charge, that's a ridiculously good deal!

-Human Voice Studio
NASSER





May 24 2009 4:15 PM

WE ARE NASSER
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