Foxy Shazam

Foxy Shazam
Origin Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Genres Experimental rock, glam rock, alternative rock, hard rock, post-hardcore, pop rock, soul
Years active 2004–2014 (hiatus)
Labels Ferret Music, Sire/Warner Bros. Records, I.R.S. Records/EMI
Associated acts Look Afraid, V-MOB, Train of Thought, Tub Ring
Website www.foxyshazam.com
Members Eric Sean Nally
Loren Daniel Turner
Daisy Caplan
Schuyler Vaughn White
Aaron McVeigh
Alex Nauth
Past members Joseph Allen Halberstadt
Elijah Rust
Jamison Pack
Teddy Aitkins
John Sims
Skylyn Ohlenkamp

Foxy Shazam is an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 2004. The band is composed of lead vocalist Eric Nally, guitarist Loren Turner, pianist Sky White, bass player Daisy Caplan, trumpeter and back-up vocalist Alex Nauth, and drummer Aaron McVeigh. The band released their debut album The Flamingo Trigger independently before signing with Ferret Music, under which they recorded their second album, Introducing.[1][2] The following year, the band recorded its first major label record with producer John Feldmann. Foxy Shazam signed with Sire Records and released its self-titled major label debut in 2010. The band's fourth studio album, The Church of Rock and Roll, was released in January 2012. Gonzo, the band's fifth album, was released April 2, 2014.[3] They announced in October 2014 they were disbanding for an unknown length of time.

Biography

2004–07: Career beginnings and the formation of the Foxy Shazam!

The band formed in 2004 and released their debut record, The Flamingo Trigger, on June 15, 2005. The band would begin touring throughout across the countries from 2006 to 2007, in support of the record, which presented a more aggressive post-hardcore sound than their later material. At the time of this release the band would officially change the name of this band, and later call themselves as "Foxy Shazam!", where they dropped the exclamation mark, before they released their second album.

2008–09: Signing to Ferret Music and Introducing

After the conclusion of the band's debut tour, the group began to record with a new record label, under Ferret Music. On January 22, the new record was released under the title Introducing, and produced one single, "A Dangerous Man". In 2008, they were named as one of the "100 Bands You Need to Know" by Alternative Press. The band got spots on tour with bands, such as The Darkness, The Strokes, The Sounds, The Fall of Troy, Hole, Portugal. The Man, Tub Ring, The Dear Hunter, Tera Melos, Free Energy, Bad Rabbits, Panic! at the Disco and The Young Veins, in support of their new release.

2010: Signing to Sire Records and self-titled album

Lead vocalist Eric Nally in 2010

In 2010, Foxy Shazam was included on the Spin list of "Ten Bands You Need To Know", also their vocalist Eric Sean Nally helped write songs for Meat Loaf's album Hang Cool, Teddy Bear. The band signed a deal with Sire Records, to release their third studio album, titled Foxy Shazam on April 13, 2010. The band played the Lollapalooza festival, and also appeared in various magazines to help support the release, such as Alternative Press and Spin. The band played a 3-song set on Fuel.tv's The Daily Habit, performed a 5-song set on shockhound.com, as well as performing an acoustic three-song set for Spin magazine.[4]

In July 2010, the band visited the Chicago's JBTV,[5] where they were being interviewed and then they performed a live and premiered their exclusive version of "Oh, Lord" to the music discovery app, titled Shazam. The band Foxy Shazam was later named as the spotlight band for the 2011's Warped Tour. On February 7, 2010, the band's single "Unstoppable" was featured in Super Bowl XLIV.[6] 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, and has been featured in a series of commercials for MLB Network.

2011–13: Signing to IRS Records and The Church of Rock and Roll

On December 5, 2011, Foxy Shazam announced the title to the fourth album, along with a track listing, cover art, and the release date. On January 24, 2012, their fourth album The Church of Rock and Roll was released,[7] preceded by the release of three singles, including "I Like It", "Holy Touch", and "Welcome to the Church of Rock and Roll". After touring as an opener for the band The Darkness, Foxy Shazam embarked on their own headlining tour in April 2012.[8] In 2012, they were played as an opener for Slash on his North American tour dates from September 4 to October 4.[9]

2014: Gonzo

On March 12, 2014, it was announced via 96ROCK that the band had completed work on their latest LP and that it would be released on the same month. The album's title was announced and it was indicated to be a concept album. On April 2, 2014, the band released Gonzo online for free through Bandcamp. Gonzo is the band's first self-released album since 2005's The Flamingo Trigger. The band recorded the album together live in one room with producer Steve Albini. The band has released a music video for the single "Tragic Thrill" and are working on releasing more music videos from Gonzo.[10] On October 27, 2014, Foxy Shazam announced on their Facebook page[11] that they were temporarily disbanding, 4 days before embarking on the current US leg of their Gonzo tour. The band stated that they intend to get back together at an unknown future date.

In 2015, vocalist Eric Nally was featured on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' song "Downtown", the first single from their upcoming second album.

Music style and influences

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."[12] 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 unique sound that should best be seen live.[13] Lead singer of punk rock band The Squids Joey Spatafora has declared Foxy Shazam "The 2nd greatest rock and roll band of all time behind only The Beatles", and predicted Foxy Shazam would be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame the very second that they are eligible in 2029.

Origin of their name

The band name was claimed to have originated from a slang phrase used by students at vocalist Eric Sean Nally's high school. "Foxy shazams" meant 'cool shoes'. (e.g. "Damn, those are some foxy shazams!").[6] In a Rockline radio interview in March 2012, Nally stated that this was not the case by saying that the truth is not as interesting as real life. He had been lying about it for 5 years and it just stuck. This was later confirmed by Alex Nauth and Aaron McVeigh in an interview with Norse Media in July 2012.[14]

Members

Current members
Former Members

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[15]		 US
Alt.
[16]		 US
Rock
[17]
The Flamingo Trigger[18] — — —
Introducing Foxy Shazam[19]
  • Released: January 22, 2008
  • Label: Ferret
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
 — — —
Foxy Shazam
  • Released: April 13, 2010
  • Label: Sire
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 151 — 50
The Church of Rock and Roll
  • Released: January 24, 2012
  • Label: I.R.S.
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
 115 24 35
Gonzo
  • Released: April 2, 2014
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: LP, digital download
 — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Sales
[20]		 US
Act. Rock
[21]		 US
Alt.
[22]		 US
Main. Rock
[23]		 US
Rock
[24]
"The French Passion of Animality Opera" 2005 — — — — — The Flamingo Trigger
"A Dangerous Man" 2008 — — — — — Introducing Foxy Shazam
"Wanna-Be Angel" 2009 6 — — — — Foxy Shazam
"Unstoppable"[25] 2010 — — — — —
"Oh Lord"[26] — — — — —
"I Like It" 2011 — 5 20 5 8 The Church of Rock and Roll
"Holy Touch" 2012 — 34 — 39 —
"Welcome to the Church of Rock and Roll" — 40 — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title Year Director(s)
"The French Passion of Animality Opera" 2005 Donnie Moore
"A Dangerous Man" 2008 Jeremy E. Jackson
"Unstoppable" 2010
"Oh Lord"
"I Like It" 2012 Bill Fishman
"Holy Touch" Shane Valdes
"Welcome to the Church of Rock and Roll" Eric Nally
"Tragic Thrill" 2014 Ryan Mackfall

Other appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Walking in the Air" 2009 Gift Wrapped
"Heaven on Their Minds"[27] 2010 Gift Wrapped, Vol. 2: Snowed In
"Drain You"[28] 2011 Newermind: A Tribute to Nirvana
"Downtown"[29] 2015 This Unruly Mess I've Made

References

  1. ↑ "Album Review". Drowned in Sound.
  2. ↑ "Album Review". Paper Thin Walls.
  3. ↑ James Shotwell (April 2, 2014). "Foxy Shazam Release New Album, ‘Gonzo’, For Free". Under the Gun Review.
  4. ↑ "Spin Session". spin.com.
  5. ↑ "JBTV Session".
  6. 1 2 "Interview on November 27, 2007". Absolute Punk.
  7. ↑ "Under The Gun Review".
  8. ↑ "ABQJournal Online".
  9. ↑ "Slash & Foxy Shazam 09/18/12 Hammerstein Ballroom NYC". Concert Confessions.
  10. ↑ Alice Carson. "INTERVIEW: Foxy Shazam Talks Colors and Butt Clouds". Substream Magazine.
  11. ↑ "Foxy Shazam - Mobile Uploads - Facebook". facebook.com.
  12. ↑ "Purple Revolver".
  13. ↑ Alternative Press, issue #264, pp. 58–59.
  14. ↑ Foxy Shazam (Bunbury Music Festival). YouTube. 22 July 2012.
  15. ↑ Peak chart positions for albums in the United States:
  16. ↑ "Foxy Shazam – Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  17. ↑ Peak chart positions for albums on the Rock Albums chart in the United States:
  18. ↑ "The Flamingo Trigger – Foxy Shazam". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  19. ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Introducing Foxy Shazam – Foxy Shazam". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Foxy Shazam – Chart History: Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Foxy Shazam – Chart History: Active Rock". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Foxy Shazam – Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Foxy Shazam – Chart History: Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Foxy Shazam – Chart History: Rock Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Unstoppable – Foxy Shazam". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Oh Lord – Foxy Shazam". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Gift Wrapped, Vol. 2: Snowed In – Various Artists". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Newermind: A Tribute to Nirvana". Spin. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – Single". Retrieved September 16, 2015.

External links

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