Reminiscence



Don’t tell the Brooklyn, NY rock band UNDERWHELMED that writing about self-revelation and deep-rooted inner struggle will make you soft. You won’t appreciate their response. In fact, the quintet has staked its career on writing songs that are conceived in the heart and come alive at the ears. Maybe that explains why UNDERWHELMED can headline and sell out some of New York’s premier clubs, plus average more than 10,000 hits a month on the Band’s MySpace page. It’s not by accident. If there’s a secret musical vault, UNDERWHELMED has cracked the code. Put them on the road in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, the Mid-West, down South – the results are the same – huge crowds, great shows, rave reviews. Boasting a live show reminiscent of The Doors meets early Pearl Jam, UNDERWHELMED has re-established the essence of the true rock show. Visually exciting, musically aggressive and vocally charismatic - UNDERWHELMED delivers a relentless and passionate performance that grips audiences and leaves them wanting more. But make no mistake - this success didn’t come easy. UNDERWHELMED paid its dues moving up the ranks of the tough New York music scene. “Our belief is that whether there’s 4 or 4000 people in the audience, we rock,” comments lead singer Chris Amplo. “Audiences expect to be entertained and they deserve to get their money’s worth – we strive to give them even more.” Amplo continues, “I think our belief in the importance of the live show and the fact that we love meeting and talking to people has been a key to our success.” Of course, fans won’t come out to experience a band’s live show without first having the musical “goods”. It’s obvious by their expanding fan base, UNDERWHELMED has that covered. “Pure, unadulterated emotion has always been an important aspect to me in a song,” front man Amplo says. The Band is currently on tour supporting its EP, the aptly titled The War Between Myself and Me. “It’s not unusual for people to come up to us after a show and tell us that they love our CD, but that we’re much better live. That really blows us away,” Chris adds. That would probably be impossible without the right players. UNDERWHELMED began in 1998, when singer Chris Amplo auditioned for twin brothers Mike Russo (bass) and Chris Russo (drums). Instantly, the UNDERWHELMED sound was born. After a chance meeting at the legendary CBGB, longtime friend of Amplo, guitarist Paul Boyle joined the trio and completed the song writing line-up. The final piece of the puzzle was placed in September 2003, with the addition of lead guitarist Mike Armstrong. The relationships among the Band members are as solid as the music. “We’re all best friends who share the same passion and vision,” Amplo adds. Spending years on the music scene can take its toll on most bands. How has UNDERWHELMED persevered? They push on by steering clear of trends and musical mediocrity. UNDERWHELMED continues to stay true to their music and paint a story of pain and aggression in the face of personal triumph and persistence. UNDERWHELMED puts out an extraordinary set of music fueled by the Band’s raw energy, then is turbocharged by the emotional exchange between the Group and its audience. Make it a point to grab the CD and catch them on tour. Experience their musical self-revelations and audible inner struggles, then judge for yourself. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.