BULLY
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Rock
* DAN: lead vocals/guitars
* MATT: drums/vocals
* JOHN: bass/vocals
* BSTONE: lead guitars/vocals
BULLY convened in 2001 when Dan Karkos and brothers Matt and John
Farley teamed up with guitarist Scott Fletcher. Plugging in their
crusty Gibson and Fender guitars, the quartet immediately bonded over a
shared affection for high-decibel riffage. But their sound didn't fully
come to life until they tapped their own tremendous vocal capacity,
adding stellar four-part harmonies to the mix. After writing just a few
songs, the group's mighty aural stamp was forged -- and the name BULLY
couldn't have been more apt.
In 2003, the group released their first full-length album "Songs That
Make You Cry" on Underdog Records. Produced by Brad Morrison (The
Figgs, Phish) and recorded almost entirely "live" in the studio, the
record loudly captures the raw edges of BULLY's formidable concert
presence, while highlighting the group's undeniably powerful
songwriting and tight musicianship.
After a string of pummeling and well-received gigs in New York City
(Don Hill's, Arlene's Grocery, Continental, Sin'e) and upstate New York
(Planet 505, Steel Music Hall) over the next year, Scott Fletcher
amicably left the band. While Bully sought his permanent replacement,
they continued to write even more sharp-edged new material and managed
to squeeze in a few side projects: Dan teamed up with his brother
Virus, guitarist for Chicago nu-metallers Dope, for the dark, downtempo
Black and Blues project (which produced an excellent, eponymous EP);
the band also began an ongoing stint in 2005 with Jerry Gaskill,
drummer of legendary Texas hard rock trio (and major Bully influence)
King's X. In the first half of 2006, Bully kept up their profile in the
NYC club scene by playing a series of gigs with their good friend Andee
(of NYC band P*S*K -- and also of the Jerry Gaskill band) happily
sitting in on lead guitar.
By summer's end, Bully finally found a permanent resident for their
lead guitar slot in BSTONE, a local musician who'd served time with
veteran New York rockers Joker Five Speed (who had just split up). They
couldn't have picked a better candidate for the job; BSTONE's penchant
for high-volume rock (infused with a bluesy tastefulness) fit Bully's
music like a well-worn leather glove, while his experience in the New
York rock scene and workmanlike attitude made him perfect for Bully on
a personal and professional level.
Since the successful live debut of the new-look Bully on August 5th,
2006, the band have been busy woodshedding a slew of devastating new
songs for a planned recording in the fall. Get ready to be knocked on
your ass.
One of the most distinctive bands of the new generation of hard
rockers, BULLY are the self-proclaimed "purveyors of pushy rock." A
thousand times more potent than the chest-beating emo-metallers that
clog up the modern rock airwaves, Bully are more than simply loud and
aggressive -- they are also skilled, soulful and, most importantly,
real. And they're here to teach you a lesson.
