Recycled Percussion
Encyclopedia
Recycled Percussion is a Manchester, New Hampshire
-based band. The group was originally formed in Goffstown, New Hampshire
. Formed in 1994 in New Hampshire at their High School talent show, Recycled Percussion’s first performance gave birth to the style of music now known as JUNK ROCK. This small-town band has built their show into one of the more powerful live performances in entertainment. During every show, the band mixes their gritty assault on buckets, power tools or anything else they can get their sticks on. They do it with a sense of humor and gravity defying athleticism.
The band really started to take off in 1999 when they were featured on the cover of the USA TODAY. Recycled Percussion began touring the country performing over 250 shows a year starting in 2001 and began breaking records in the college market, having received awards yearly (6 time national act of the year, 3 time best major performer of the year, 4 time best live act). Performing at colleges, NBA halftimes, NFL halftimes, and at corporate events for major companies all over the world, it seemed that Recycled Percussion was going to be around for a long time. The group continued to tour for 10 years until they made their debut on the smash hit television show America's Got Talent
. The group auditioned with over 100,000 acts and became the highest placed non-singing act to ever compete in show history, finishing third.
After their AGT success, they joined a LIVE version of the America’s Got Talent show. The group spent 3 months performing at Planet Hollywood
in Las Vegas and then 1 month performing the live show at MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Connecticut
. In 2010, the band signed a deal with the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to have their own show nightly at the casino. This has made Recycled Percussion the only true band with their own show on the Las Vegas strip nightly. When audience members attend a Recycled Percussion, show they are given a drumstick and a unique instrument on the way in. The audience members use this throughout the show to play along with the band. This concept has received high acclaim from producers and media throughout Las Vegas. The new show in Las Vegas is the most intense show that Recycled Percussion has ever created and they continued to push the envelope of creativity that they have become known for. Recycled Percussion expanded their show by moving to the Tropicana Theater inside the Tropicana Hotel. With a larger stage and theater, they have been able to add additional elements and interaction, turning the energy level up a notch higher. The theater can accommodate over 700 guests and the enhanced show is designed for all ages. Recycled Percussion now performs at the Tropicana Las Vegas 6 nights a week, Thurdsay through Tuesday. Tickets can be found at http://www.troplv.com/entertainment/recycled-percussion
Ryan Vezina - Percussion Specialist, Body Percussion Talent.
Matt Bowman - Percussionist, Guitar player.
Todd Griffin (DJ Pharaoh) - Percussionist, DJ and Media Director.
. On August 25, 2010, they performed during the semifinals results show for the fifth season
of Talent.
The group now has their own show at the Tropicana in the Gladys Knight Theater, on the Las Vegas Strip, where they perform Thursday- Monday nights.
The group performed on the "China's Got Talent" season finale in Fall of 2010
The group appeared in the 2010 Latin Grammies.
Ryan, Justin, Matt and Todd have gone to elementary schools throughout the Las Vegas valley, where they have read to young children.
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
-based band. The group was originally formed in Goffstown, New Hampshire
Goffstown, New Hampshire
Goffstown is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 17,651 at the 2010 census. The compact center of town, where 3,196 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Goffstown census-designated place and is located at the...
. Formed in 1994 in New Hampshire at their High School talent show, Recycled Percussion’s first performance gave birth to the style of music now known as JUNK ROCK. This small-town band has built their show into one of the more powerful live performances in entertainment. During every show, the band mixes their gritty assault on buckets, power tools or anything else they can get their sticks on. They do it with a sense of humor and gravity defying athleticism.
History
Justin Spencer formed Recycled Percussion in 1995 for a high school talent show. Justin was looking for a way to be as creative as possible and took the idea of playing buckets, which was introduced to him in the subways of New York City. Deciding to take the next step was Justin adding more and more instruments to the show and expanding on the New York style of street percussion.The band really started to take off in 1999 when they were featured on the cover of the USA TODAY. Recycled Percussion began touring the country performing over 250 shows a year starting in 2001 and began breaking records in the college market, having received awards yearly (6 time national act of the year, 3 time best major performer of the year, 4 time best live act). Performing at colleges, NBA halftimes, NFL halftimes, and at corporate events for major companies all over the world, it seemed that Recycled Percussion was going to be around for a long time. The group continued to tour for 10 years until they made their debut on the smash hit television show America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
. The group auditioned with over 100,000 acts and became the highest placed non-singing act to ever compete in show history, finishing third.
After their AGT success, they joined a LIVE version of the America’s Got Talent show. The group spent 3 months performing at Planet Hollywood
Planet Hollywood
Planet Hollywood, a restaurant inspired by the popular portrayal of Hollywood, was launched in New York on October 22, 1991, with the backing of Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.-History:...
in Las Vegas and then 1 month performing the live show at MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. In 2010, the band signed a deal with the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to have their own show nightly at the casino. This has made Recycled Percussion the only true band with their own show on the Las Vegas strip nightly. When audience members attend a Recycled Percussion, show they are given a drumstick and a unique instrument on the way in. The audience members use this throughout the show to play along with the band. This concept has received high acclaim from producers and media throughout Las Vegas. The new show in Las Vegas is the most intense show that Recycled Percussion has ever created and they continued to push the envelope of creativity that they have become known for. Recycled Percussion expanded their show by moving to the Tropicana Theater inside the Tropicana Hotel. With a larger stage and theater, they have been able to add additional elements and interaction, turning the energy level up a notch higher. The theater can accommodate over 700 guests and the enhanced show is designed for all ages. Recycled Percussion now performs at the Tropicana Las Vegas 6 nights a week, Thurdsay through Tuesday. Tickets can be found at http://www.troplv.com/entertainment/recycled-percussion
Instruments
Recycled Percussion uses trashcans, buckets, washing machines, various car parts, sinks, chainsaws, fans, vacuums, ladders, 50 gallon plastic barrels, rusty metal barrels, metal grinders, and anything else they can get their hands on instead of standard drums. The only "normal" things that they use are drumsticks and few standard gold cymbals. One of the percussionist, Ryan Vezina, does a "body percussion" act. In this he uses himself as the instrument. Other instruments used in their Tropicana show include Matt Bowman on the Electric Guitar, and Todd Griffin's use of DJ equipment for sound effects.Genre
Recycled Percussion plays all kinds of different genres of music: from metallic, reggae, techno, blues, ska, jazz, classic rock, hip hop, punk, boy band, and “junk rock”. Most of these genres of music are covered in their medley of songs at the end of their Tropicana show.Members
Justin Spencer - Lead Percussionist,Groups Founder and Creative Force; World’s Fastest Drummer.Ryan Vezina - Percussion Specialist, Body Percussion Talent.
Matt Bowman - Percussionist, Guitar player.
Todd Griffin (DJ Pharaoh) - Percussionist, DJ and Media Director.
Performances/Results
| Week | Theme | Song choice | Original artist | Performance order | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Safe |
| Vegas Verdicts | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Safe |
| Top 48 | Group 4 | "Ballroom Blitz Ballroom Blitz "The Ballroom Blitz" is a song written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman and originally recorded by the English rock band Sweet .... " |
Sweet Sweet (band) Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first... |
11 | Safe |
| Top 20 | Group 2 | "Highway Star" | Deep Purple | 1 | Safe |
| Top 10 | N/A | "Wipeout" | The Surfaris The Surfaris The Surfaris were an American surf rock band formed in Glendora, California in 1962. They are best known for two songs that hit the charts in the Los Angeles, California area, and nationally by May 1963: "Surfer Joe" on the A-side and "Wipe Out" on the B-side of a 45 RPM single.-Career:The original... |
10 | 3rd Place |
Post Talent
The group performed on tour with season 4 winner Kevin SkinnerKevin Skinner
Patrick Kevin Skinner , better known as Kevin Skinner, is an American country music singer from the Jackson Purchase region of Kentucky. He was the winner of the fourth season of America's Got Talent.- Early life :...
. On August 25, 2010, they performed during the semifinals results show for the fifth season
America's Got Talent (season 5)
The fifth season of America's Got Talent, an American television reality show talent competition, premiered in the United States on the NBC network and on Canada's Global on June 1, 2010...
of Talent.
The group now has their own show at the Tropicana in the Gladys Knight Theater, on the Las Vegas Strip, where they perform Thursday- Monday nights.
The group performed on the "China's Got Talent" season finale in Fall of 2010
The group appeared in the 2010 Latin Grammies.
Ryan, Justin, Matt and Todd have gone to elementary schools throughout the Las Vegas valley, where they have read to young children.