Mark Ostrander, singer/songwriter, has been penning, recording and performing original compositions since 1980.Lead and rhythm guitars as well as harmonica, are his forte.
Scott Banham, Lead and rhythm guitars and singer/songwriter is an apt foil to Ostrander. Their intricate harmonies and guitar work play off each other very effectively. From the mid 1980s until the formation of Unknown Reason, Banham and Ostrander performed as an acoustic guitar duo in area establishments.
Drummer/percussionist,Tom Eddy, along with bassist, Jeff Thompson, provide fine harmonies and a tight foundation. Both individuals are music veterans having performed in blues, country, folk, rock and alternative bands since the 1970s.
Influences
Beatles (of course),
Byrds, Neil Young, Tom Petty,
Buffalo Springfield, Stones, Zeppelin, Who,
Yardbirds, British Invasion, 70's power-pop.......
You can purchase our first CD "Reality Won't Do" below:
Breaking a few rules along the way, Unknown Reason is proving that talent and dedication will persevere. Formed in 1999, the band immediately set off to write, record, and produce the critically acclaimed CD, "Reality Won't Do".
An ecclectic mix, "Reality Won't Do", blends acoustic and electric styles. The all out classic rock of "Taking Sides", "Bittersweet" and "Prince of Apathy", the power-pop of "Remote Control" and "Down to You", the acoustic driven "Centered" and "100 Miles', the pure pop of "For Better or Worse" give amazing breadth to this release. Their live shows dig deep for great material. Tom Petty, Neil Young, and The Who, all party with the likes of Marcy Playground, Three Doors Down, and The Lemonheads. Kicking off with some acoustic numbers, the mood generally gives way to some high energy, all out rock and roll. A set that may contain Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Green Day, The Beatles and Marshall Crenshaw rounds things out. With plenty of their own originals thrown in for good measure, this is a band you need to see live. Already well respected on the Cleveland music scene, the band has started to garner national and international attention with the release of their first single - 'Remote Control". The band also performs all-original shows and "music series" programs. Their style ranges from 60's 70's acoustic rock to power-pop to modern alternative.
Review of Unknown Reason by Admiral Bob for Mp3 Australia.
I have been a huge fan of the power-pop of the 70s,
the Rasberrries, the Hollies, and especially Badfinger.
I melt for any band that captures that era. Unknown Reason do.
Like the signature seventies power pop bands before them,
they meld distinctive guitar parts into a melodic, catchy whole.
Their listed influences show as well - you hear more than a little
Tom Petty and Neil Young when the guitar solo breaks out on
Down to You. And yet the same song's chorus-y guitar chugging
along does evoke Badfinger's "Baby Blue" in a major way.
And it is because you can't put your finger on the specific seventies
sound they are invoking, which veers between hints of the period's
folk rock to the Apple-records sounds of Brit-rock, that their music
is as intriguing as it is.
The show was awesome!! And Artful dodger was great too!!! Gotta Love Cleveland!!!!!Thats why im still here!Youre From Cleveland????Im a lifelong resident.
Glad we got to meet up too man and no prob on hooking you up you're gonna LOVE the Blue Ash album I'm working on trying to get this reissued it's literally the best album that has never made it onto CD and that really bothers me. After ya hear it you'll agree too. There's another album on the disc by a guy named David Werner who did some producing / engineering on some Isle recordings that's just as good and if you love Bowie, Mott, and Cockney Rebel this'll be another treat.
BTW, I didn't get the chance to tell you at the show but Record Revolution is selling all 4 of Dodger's albums including Honor on blank cd's for 15 bucks a piece?!!! Glinka and me were going to steal them since we couldn't get arrested for the store selling illegal products but didn't want to sit at a Cleveland Hts police station and be questioned and take a chance on missing out of the show. If you or anyone on the forum live near there or pass through that way you might want to check it out it's a little disturbing considering nearly everything in the store is bootleg from cd/dvd to posters. Mark left a message on Gary's phone before the show and I'm not sure if he got it but I had to say something because this is not right to have their albums sold this ESPECIALLY since Honor's been reissued and is cheaper priced than the bootleg they are selling!
You guys were really great on Saturday and it was great talking to ya Scott!! Hope you like the cd and the art brother and I look forward to another unknown reason show!
thanks man I've been busting out the art just to take care of some bills and also to get more music equipment. The Dolls and Tubes got the prints of what I did and the Dodger I felt were necessary to do just to send over to the forum : )
Hey man I put up the suprise in a pic album on my page you can get the "exclusive" look to them before I post them on the forum. I spent the last week or so doing these as well as two other bands. I figured it was about time to dust off the artist bin.lol.
Man I hope sometime soon it's been a pain in the ass with the therapy sessions for my back and I'm itching to plug in. Best bets probably late March bro at least I got to hand over a disc of demos to a "Wizard " producer through the help of one of his bandmates. You playing out anytime soon man I'm bored as fuck laying on my back for half the day.lol.
Hey I dig the tunes man and the videos AJ did a great job with!
I like the Buffalo Springfield cover a lot. I'm traveling out to the sunshine state for a taping and recording but let me know if you got any shows in store next month and I'll try my best to head out to one. of course the tubes are playing shows in akron next month so I'll def be here for those :) later champ, Ryan
