Foxy Shazam
Encyclopedia
Foxy Shazam is an American rock
band from Cincinnati, Ohio
, formed in 2004. The band is composed of lead vocalist Eric Sean Nally, guitarist Loren Turner, pianist Sky White, and bass player Daisy. Later, trumpeter and back-up vocalist Alex Nauth joined, and Aaron McVeigh became the band's permanent drummer. After forming, the band immediately recorded The Flamingo Trigger
independently, then committed to an extensive national touring regimen. Shortly thereafter, Foxy signed with Ferret Records and recorded its second album, Introducing
, which was produced by Casey Bates
(Chiodos
, Portugal. The Man
). and released on January 22, 2008. The following year, the band recorded its first major label record with multi-platinum record producer John Feldmann
. Foxy Shazam signed with Sire Records
(a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records) and released its self-titled
major label debut in 2010. The band's fourth studio album, The Church of Rock and Roll, is slated for release in January 2012.
The band name originated from a slang phrase used by students at vocalist Eric Sean Nally's high school, where "foxy shazam" meant 'cool' (e.g. "Those shoes are the foxy shazam!").
, the Fall of Troy
, Hole
, Portugal. The Man
, the Dear Hunter
, Tera Melos
, Free Energy
, Bad Rabbits, and the Young Veins
. In 2010, the band was named on the Spin (magazine)
list of "Ten bands you need to know". Also in 2010, vocalist Eric Sean Nally helped write songs for Meat Loaf
's album Hang Cool, Teddy Bear.
Foxy Shazam previously toured with Hole
and played the Lollapalooza
festival. It been appeared in more magazines supporting its latest release, such as lternative Press] and Spin. The band played a 3-song set on Fuel.tv's The Daily Habit Show. The band recently performed a 5-song set on shockhound.com It also recently performed an acoustic three-song set for Spin magazine, one of which was a brand-new song titled "I'm in Love with a Boy." The band performed a full set, with interview. on Chicago's JBTV
in July 2010.
The band also performed a live and exclusive version of "Oh, Lord" for music discovery app Shazam.
In 2010, Foxy Shazam was a spotlight band on the 2011 Vans Warped Tour.
On February 7, 2010, the band's single "Unstoppable" was featured in Super Bowl XLIV
. It was featured in the video game NHL 11
and also on the Cartoon Network's second live-action show Tower Prep
, as a theme song. It was also in a trailer of the movie Your Highness
.
On October 6, 2011, "I Like It" was released for free on their Facebook page. Their new album, The Church of Rock and Roll, is due to be released on January 24, 2012. The album will have a darker sound than previous records and will contain 11 songs. The band plan to tour with The Darkness, before embarking on their own headlining tour to support the album.
; Bruce Springsteen
; my childhood; Van Morrison
; my old friends from high school I don't talk to anymore; Elton John
; the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, and beyond; Iggy Pop
; and my first kiss."
Eric Sean Nally said that an album that influenced him was Alanis Morissette
's Jagged Little Pill
. Many media outlets compare the band to Queen
and Meat Loaf
because of its use of theatrics and over-the-top lyrics. One live review stated, " If Noel Fielding
and Freddie Mercury
had a love child it would be Foxy Shazam vocalist Eric Sean Nally." The magazine Alternative Press compared the band to bands like Queen
, My Chemical Romance
, and The Darkness, while also believing that the band has a very unique sound that should best be seen live.
Former Members
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, formed in 2004. The band is composed of lead vocalist Eric Sean Nally, guitarist Loren Turner, pianist Sky White, and bass player Daisy. Later, trumpeter and back-up vocalist Alex Nauth joined, and Aaron McVeigh became the band's permanent drummer. After forming, the band immediately recorded The Flamingo Trigger
The Flamingo Trigger
The Flamingo Trigger is Foxy Shazam's debut album released on June 15, 2005. The release was independent and brought them into a tour across North America. Fan favorites include songs like No Don't Shoot, The French Passion of Animality Opera, Across the Golden Field and October Surf Suitcase Fish...
independently, then committed to an extensive national touring regimen. Shortly thereafter, Foxy signed with Ferret Records and recorded its second album, Introducing
Introducing (Foxy Shazam)
Introducing, the second album by the band Foxy Shazam, was released on January 22, 2008. Recording for the album began shortly after touring ended in August 2007. They traveled to a studio in Seattle to record. They joined Piermont Management, which is partially owned by The Number Twelve Looks...
, which was produced by Casey Bates
Casey Bates
Casey Bates is a Seattle based music producer, mixer, and musician. He has recorded his own music and worked with several artists on record labels such as Fearless, Fueled by Ramen, Equal Vision Records, and Eyeball Records...
(Chiodos
Chiodos
Chiodos is an American post hardcore band from Davison, Michigan. Formed in 2001, the group was originally known as "The Chiodos Bros," the band's name was a tribute to filmmakers Stephen, Charles, and Edward Chiodo, responsible for the film Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Chiodos released their...
, Portugal. The Man
Portugal. The Man
Portugal. The Man is an American psychedelic rock band based in Portland, Oregon, but originally from Wasilla, Alaska. The group released their first two albums with Fearless Records. They also released material on their own imprint Approaching AIRballoons through indie label Equal Vision Records...
). and released on January 22, 2008. The following year, the band recorded its first major label record with multi-platinum record producer John Feldmann
John Feldmann
John William Feldmann is an American musician and producer who is the lead singer/guitarist of the band Goldfinger. He is known as an animal rights advocate.- Music :...
. Foxy Shazam signed with Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
(a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records) and released its self-titled
Foxy Shazam (album)
Foxy Shazam is the third studio album by Foxy Shazam released through Sire Records. The album was originally titled Au Contraire and is their debut major label release. The single "Wanna Be Angel" was released in 2009 on 7" vinyl...
major label debut in 2010. The band's fourth studio album, The Church of Rock and Roll, is slated for release in January 2012.
The band name originated from a slang phrase used by students at vocalist Eric Sean Nally's high school, where "foxy shazam" meant 'cool' (e.g. "Those shoes are the foxy shazam!").
Biography
In 2008, the band was named one of the "100 Bands You Need to Know" by J. Stalin, writing for Alternative Press. It toured with bands such as the StrokesThe Strokes
The Strokes are an American indie rock band formed in 1999 in New York City. Consisting of Julian Casablancas , Nick Valensi , Albert Hammond, Jr. , Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti ....
, the Fall of Troy
The Fall of Troy
The Fall of Troy was an American progressive math rock trio from Mukilteo, Washington. The trio consisted of Thomas Erak , Andrew Forsman and Frank Ene...
, Hole
Hole (band)
Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
, Portugal. The Man
Portugal. The Man
Portugal. The Man is an American psychedelic rock band based in Portland, Oregon, but originally from Wasilla, Alaska. The group released their first two albums with Fearless Records. They also released material on their own imprint Approaching AIRballoons through indie label Equal Vision Records...
, the Dear Hunter
The Dear Hunter
The Dear Hunter is an indie rock band originating in Providence, Rhode Island. It began as a side project of Casey Crescenzo, formerly of post-hardcore band The Receiving End of Sirens...
, Tera Melos
Tera Melos
Tera Melos is a band from Sacramento, California, that incorporates many styles of rock, jazz, ambient electronics and unconventional song structure. They are currently a three-piece , consisting of a guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist, bassist, and a drummer...
, Free Energy
Free Energy (band)
Free Energy is an American rock band based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The members include Scott Wells, Paul Sprangers, Evan Wells, and Nicholas Shuminsky.-History:...
, Bad Rabbits, and the Young Veins
The Young Veins
The Young Veins is a rock band from Echo Park, California. The band is composed of Ryan Ross and Jon Walker, two former members of the Las Vegas band Panic! at the Disco, along with bassist Andy Soukal, drummer Nick Murray and keyboardist Nick White.-History:...
. In 2010, the band was named on the Spin (magazine)
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
list of "Ten bands you need to know". Also in 2010, vocalist Eric Sean Nally helped write songs for Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
's album Hang Cool, Teddy Bear.
Foxy Shazam previously toured with Hole
Hole (band)
Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
and played the Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
festival. It been appeared in more magazines supporting its latest release, such as lternative Press] and Spin. The band played a 3-song set on Fuel.tv's The Daily Habit Show. The band recently performed a 5-song set on shockhound.com It also recently performed an acoustic three-song set for Spin magazine, one of which was a brand-new song titled "I'm in Love with a Boy." The band performed a full set, with interview. on Chicago's JBTV
JBTV
JBTV is a music television show featuring interviews, music videos, and live in-studio performances from up-and-coming musicians. Based in Chicago, Illinois, JBTV has over its 26 year history helped several Chicago area bands reach a wider audience, as well as giving exposure to more alternative...
in July 2010.
The band also performed a live and exclusive version of "Oh, Lord" for music discovery app Shazam.
In 2010, Foxy Shazam was a spotlight band on the 2011 Vans Warped Tour.
On February 7, 2010, the band's single "Unstoppable" was featured in Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints to decide the National Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Colts by a score of...
. It was featured in the video game NHL 11
NHL 11
NHL 11 is an ice hockey video game celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the NHL series. The game was developed by EA Canada, published by EA Sports, and released in North America on September 7, 2010, with all other regions receiving the game within two weeks...
and also on the Cartoon Network's second live-action show Tower Prep
Tower Prep
Tower Prep is an American-Canadian television series that aired on Cartoon Network. It debuted on October 16, 2010, after the world premiere of Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster. The series is created by Paul Dini, a former producer and writer of Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The...
, as a theme song. It was also in a trailer of the movie Your Highness
Your Highness
Your Highness is a 2011 fantasy comedy film directed by David Gordon Green, written by Danny McBride and Ben Best, and starring McBride, James Franco, Natalie Portman, and Zooey Deschanel. Filming began in the summer of 2009 in Northern Ireland and concluded in October 2009...
.
On October 6, 2011, "I Like It" was released for free on their Facebook page. Their new album, The Church of Rock and Roll, is due to be released on January 24, 2012. The album will have a darker sound than previous records and will contain 11 songs. The band plan to tour with The Darkness, before embarking on their own headlining tour to support the album.
Music style and influences
A quotation from lead singer Eric Sean Nally about the band's influence: "When I listen to a Foxy Shazam record I think of Evel KnievelEvel Knievel
Evel Knievel , born Robert Craig Knievel, was an American daredevil and entertainer. In his career he attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps between 1965 and 1980, and in 1974, a failed jump across Snake River Canyon in the Skycycle X-2, a steam-powered rocket...
; Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
; my childhood; Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
; my old friends from high school I don't talk to anymore; Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
; the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, and beyond; Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
; and my first kiss."
Eric Sean Nally said that an album that influenced him was Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
's Jagged Little Pill
Jagged Little Pill
Jagged Little Pill is the third studio album by Canadian recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette. It was Morissette's first internationally released album, and her first studio album after the three year hiatus following her break with MCA Records. The album marked a shift from her style...
. Many media outlets compare the band to Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
and Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
because of its use of theatrics and over-the-top lyrics. One live review stated, " If Noel Fielding
Noel Fielding
Noel Fielding is a British artist, comedian and actor. He is known for his roles as Vince Noir in The Mighty Boosh, which he co-writes with comedy partner Julian Barratt, and as team captain on the music panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks.-Stand-up comedy:Noel Fielding performed regularly as a...
and Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
had a love child it would be Foxy Shazam vocalist Eric Sean Nally." The magazine Alternative Press compared the band to bands like Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
, and The Darkness, while also believing that the band has a very unique sound that should best be seen live.
Members
Current members- Eric Sean Nally - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Loren Daniel Turner - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s - Daisy Caplan - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Schuyler Vaughn White - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Alex Nauth- horns/backing vocals
- Aaron McVeigh - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Former Members
- Joseph Allen HalberstadtJoseph Allen HalberstadtJoseph Allen Halberstadt was the drummer for Foxy Shazam, a rock band based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Halberstadt was raised in Richmond, Indiana Halberstadt attended a Foxy Shazam show in his home town late in 2006 and decided that he needed to be a part of their band. After an audition, he began...
- drums - Elijah Rust - drums
- Jamison Pack - drums
- Teddy Aitkins - drums
- John Sims - drums
- Skylyn Ohlenkamp - bass
- Trevor Erb - bass (tour fill-in)
- Ryan Hogle - guitar (tour fill-in)
- Baron Walker - bass, keyboards (tour fill-in)
Discography
Albums- The Flamingo TriggerThe Flamingo TriggerThe Flamingo Trigger is Foxy Shazam's debut album released on June 15, 2005. The release was independent and brought them into a tour across North America. Fan favorites include songs like No Don't Shoot, The French Passion of Animality Opera, Across the Golden Field and October Surf Suitcase Fish...
(2005) - IntroducingIntroducing (Foxy Shazam)Introducing, the second album by the band Foxy Shazam, was released on January 22, 2008. Recording for the album began shortly after touring ended in August 2007. They traveled to a studio in Seattle to record. They joined Piermont Management, which is partially owned by The Number Twelve Looks...
(2008) - Foxy ShazamFoxy Shazam (album)Foxy Shazam is the third studio album by Foxy Shazam released through Sire Records. The album was originally titled Au Contraire and is their debut major label release. The single "Wanna Be Angel" was released in 2009 on 7" vinyl...
(2010) U.S. #151 - The Church of Rock and Roll (2012)