Post by lesley on Feb 3, 2006 12:42:08 GMT -5
This article was published the day the album was released. Cindy linked it on the front page, but I just thought I'd put it in here too since this is where we've been putting other articles as well.
Daily Southtown
January 24, 2006
No second thoughts
Marty Casey, runner-up on 'Rock Star: INXS,' has his South Side band, Marty Casey & the Lovehammers, poised to 'take over the world'
By Vickie Snow
Staff writer
________________________________________
Marty Casey & the Lovehammers are the epitome of a South Side band.
Now they're showing the world what that means.
Casey, a graduate of Stagg High School in Palos Hills, had a three-month run on CBS' "Rock Star: INXS" that has parlayed into the Lovehammer's first deal with a major record label, a world tour and a big-time manager.
But long before "Rock Star," Casey and the Lovehammers battled North Siders to book shows, worked day jobs and put nearly every cent they had into the band for some 15 years.
The Lovehammers, childhood friends from Hickory Hills, also independently sold 25,000 album copies, had a live DVD debut at No. 1 on Billboard, and shared stages with Nickelback and Cake.
"We're South Side, from a simple, hardworking environment," Casey, 32, said during a recent interview at Rockit Bar & Grill on Hubbard Street in Chicago. "We played every gig ever offered to us and went down every street until it turned into a dead end."
Pounding the pavement was the Lovehammers' passion, stardom their goal.
"We wanted to take over the world," Casey said, "and now that's the plan."
The band's eponymous album of new and remixed older material hits stores today.
On Jan. 18, the Lovehammers played their first opening slot on INXS' world tour, which brings them to the Chicago Theatre on Feb. 4. The concert is sold out. While on tour, the Lovehammers will do midnight shows on select dates to boost their fan base. Come March or April, they'll play a few Chicago concerts, with details to be announced shortly.
"There's a tidal wave of momentum behind the band," Casey said. "We're really excited that people are digging it."
On "Rock Star," Casey beat out 13 other performers to be one of two finalists. He lost to Canadian J.D. Fortune, who became the new singer of INXS in September.
Between the whirlwind of activity that followed his "Rock Star" appearance and the launch of the world tour, Casey finally had some free time to sit back and soak it all in.
"The only time I had to rest was maybe when I was standing in an elevator," Casey said, adding he has yet to see any of the "Rock Star" episodes. "There's no time to look back and so much to look forward to."
In his trademark black-and-white Chuck Taylors, pinstripe jeans and a khaki jacket over a red T-shirt, Casey was joined in his favorite Rockit booth by bass guitarist Dino Kourelis, who wears eyeliner as black as his scruffy hair. The Lovehammers also include Dino's brother Bob Kourelis on drums and Jimmy [sic] Sawilchik on guitar.
Although the band has been around quite a while, they don't mind when people call them an overnight success.
"It paints a prettier picture than the gutters we crawled from," Casey said. "Where we were before the show to where we are now, it's overnight. All the things we've been working for, to get a shot and turn people on, it happened in 15 minutes."
"Rock Star" resulted in immediate offers from agents, managers and record labels. Casey had one week to choose a manager, and most wanted him as a solo act.
"The show was a success, and I was seen as the No. 1 free agent," he said. "I had no second guessing, and that was really an asset for us. There was no time to overthink it."
Casey and the Lovehammers signed with renowned manager Doc McGhee, who has worked with Kiss, Ted Nugent, Hootie & the Blowfish, Slipknot and Motley Crue.
McGhee represented the Lovehammers free of charge when they opened for Jessica Simpson in September at the Tweeter Center in Tinley Park. He also has ties to the Southland.
"His mom was a dean of students at our high school," Casey, a former wrestler, said of McGhee. "He grew up two miles from where the band grew up. His brother Scott was a state champion wrestler and a Chicago Bear.
"If there's anybody who can handle us four knuckleheads, Doc can handle us," Casey said.
"He has that Midwestern, hardworking, honest mentality."
The Lovehammers said they're equally happy about signing with Epic Records/Sony and being able to maintain control over their new release, which was recorded in only six weeks, in Chicago and Los Angeles.
"Sony wanted it to be a little more pop, and we wanted it to be rock," Kourelis said.
But in the end, the band had its say.
"Sony kept it raw and kept that energy pure," Casey said.
The first single, "Trees," already was decided upon based on its popularity on "Rock Star."
The band's extensive catalog also was a plus.
The Lovehammers' life has never been so easy.
"Two years ago, I was like, what are we doing?" Casey said. "It was us and our fans, and that was it."
Casey saw an opportunity with "Rock Star," but his band mates initially didn't agree.
"I didn't like reality shows," Kourelis said. "But once 'Rock Star' first aired, I was relieved. It was a really classy show with good talent."
Week after week on "Rock Star," Casey earned viewers' votes thanks to his renditions of songs by the Killers, Nirvana, Radiohead, Pink Floyd and even Britney Spears.
The TV show had a down side though.
"Doing a reality show isn't about garnering credibility in rock 'n' roll, I'll tell you that," Casey said. "But for us, the proof is in the pudding. Come to our show, and you'll know it's the real deal."
On stage, Casey is known to go a bit wild. At Chicago's Aragon Ballroom in December, he climbed his way out into the full house a few times while security guards fended off the ladies.
Although the Lovehammers are on a world tour, the guys said they won't forget their roots or let success tear them apart.
"We're four close friends, first and foremost," Casey said. "You can't get out of this band. Ever. It's a family."
Besides, they said they still feel like the "underdogs."
"We're still struggling," Kourelis said. "You always need to get better, because there's always somebody better than you. And if you don't want it, there's a million bands waiting to take your spot."
There's no question as to whether the Lovehammers really, really want it.
"We're professional musicians now, not professional musicians and real estate appraisers and meter readers and wine salesmen," Casey said. "We are the luckiest people on earth."
Vickie Snow may be reached at vsnow@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-5981.
Daily Southtown
January 24, 2006
No second thoughts
Marty Casey, runner-up on 'Rock Star: INXS,' has his South Side band, Marty Casey & the Lovehammers, poised to 'take over the world'
By Vickie Snow
Staff writer
________________________________________
Marty Casey & the Lovehammers are the epitome of a South Side band.
Now they're showing the world what that means.
Casey, a graduate of Stagg High School in Palos Hills, had a three-month run on CBS' "Rock Star: INXS" that has parlayed into the Lovehammer's first deal with a major record label, a world tour and a big-time manager.
But long before "Rock Star," Casey and the Lovehammers battled North Siders to book shows, worked day jobs and put nearly every cent they had into the band for some 15 years.
The Lovehammers, childhood friends from Hickory Hills, also independently sold 25,000 album copies, had a live DVD debut at No. 1 on Billboard, and shared stages with Nickelback and Cake.
"We're South Side, from a simple, hardworking environment," Casey, 32, said during a recent interview at Rockit Bar & Grill on Hubbard Street in Chicago. "We played every gig ever offered to us and went down every street until it turned into a dead end."
Pounding the pavement was the Lovehammers' passion, stardom their goal.
"We wanted to take over the world," Casey said, "and now that's the plan."
The band's eponymous album of new and remixed older material hits stores today.
On Jan. 18, the Lovehammers played their first opening slot on INXS' world tour, which brings them to the Chicago Theatre on Feb. 4. The concert is sold out. While on tour, the Lovehammers will do midnight shows on select dates to boost their fan base. Come March or April, they'll play a few Chicago concerts, with details to be announced shortly.
"There's a tidal wave of momentum behind the band," Casey said. "We're really excited that people are digging it."
On "Rock Star," Casey beat out 13 other performers to be one of two finalists. He lost to Canadian J.D. Fortune, who became the new singer of INXS in September.
Between the whirlwind of activity that followed his "Rock Star" appearance and the launch of the world tour, Casey finally had some free time to sit back and soak it all in.
"The only time I had to rest was maybe when I was standing in an elevator," Casey said, adding he has yet to see any of the "Rock Star" episodes. "There's no time to look back and so much to look forward to."
In his trademark black-and-white Chuck Taylors, pinstripe jeans and a khaki jacket over a red T-shirt, Casey was joined in his favorite Rockit booth by bass guitarist Dino Kourelis, who wears eyeliner as black as his scruffy hair. The Lovehammers also include Dino's brother Bob Kourelis on drums and Jimmy [sic] Sawilchik on guitar.
Although the band has been around quite a while, they don't mind when people call them an overnight success.
"It paints a prettier picture than the gutters we crawled from," Casey said. "Where we were before the show to where we are now, it's overnight. All the things we've been working for, to get a shot and turn people on, it happened in 15 minutes."
"Rock Star" resulted in immediate offers from agents, managers and record labels. Casey had one week to choose a manager, and most wanted him as a solo act.
"The show was a success, and I was seen as the No. 1 free agent," he said. "I had no second guessing, and that was really an asset for us. There was no time to overthink it."
Casey and the Lovehammers signed with renowned manager Doc McGhee, who has worked with Kiss, Ted Nugent, Hootie & the Blowfish, Slipknot and Motley Crue.
McGhee represented the Lovehammers free of charge when they opened for Jessica Simpson in September at the Tweeter Center in Tinley Park. He also has ties to the Southland.
"His mom was a dean of students at our high school," Casey, a former wrestler, said of McGhee. "He grew up two miles from where the band grew up. His brother Scott was a state champion wrestler and a Chicago Bear.
"If there's anybody who can handle us four knuckleheads, Doc can handle us," Casey said.
"He has that Midwestern, hardworking, honest mentality."
The Lovehammers said they're equally happy about signing with Epic Records/Sony and being able to maintain control over their new release, which was recorded in only six weeks, in Chicago and Los Angeles.
"Sony wanted it to be a little more pop, and we wanted it to be rock," Kourelis said.
But in the end, the band had its say.
"Sony kept it raw and kept that energy pure," Casey said.
The first single, "Trees," already was decided upon based on its popularity on "Rock Star."
The band's extensive catalog also was a plus.
The Lovehammers' life has never been so easy.
"Two years ago, I was like, what are we doing?" Casey said. "It was us and our fans, and that was it."
Casey saw an opportunity with "Rock Star," but his band mates initially didn't agree.
"I didn't like reality shows," Kourelis said. "But once 'Rock Star' first aired, I was relieved. It was a really classy show with good talent."
Week after week on "Rock Star," Casey earned viewers' votes thanks to his renditions of songs by the Killers, Nirvana, Radiohead, Pink Floyd and even Britney Spears.
The TV show had a down side though.
"Doing a reality show isn't about garnering credibility in rock 'n' roll, I'll tell you that," Casey said. "But for us, the proof is in the pudding. Come to our show, and you'll know it's the real deal."
On stage, Casey is known to go a bit wild. At Chicago's Aragon Ballroom in December, he climbed his way out into the full house a few times while security guards fended off the ladies.
Although the Lovehammers are on a world tour, the guys said they won't forget their roots or let success tear them apart.
"We're four close friends, first and foremost," Casey said. "You can't get out of this band. Ever. It's a family."
Besides, they said they still feel like the "underdogs."
"We're still struggling," Kourelis said. "You always need to get better, because there's always somebody better than you. And if you don't want it, there's a million bands waiting to take your spot."
There's no question as to whether the Lovehammers really, really want it.
"We're professional musicians now, not professional musicians and real estate appraisers and meter readers and wine salesmen," Casey said. "We are the luckiest people on earth."
Vickie Snow may be reached at vsnow@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-5981.
