I caught the self-described "original pop-indie style" 4-piece alternative-rock band Facing Forward at the intimate-sized stage that resides in the very back barroom area of the North Beach live music venue located in Downers Grove, Illinois last month (May 8th, 2010)...they performed to an audience of enthustiastic beer-soaked patrons that were ready to be rocked. And rocked they were! (image above: Ryan on the lead vocals and Nicola wailing on the skins)Facing Forward took control of the scene the moment they walked onstage with an immediate no-nonsense jump into the first tune. As their website relays: "Facing Forward has enjoyed plenty of regional and national exposure over the past couple of years, and has shared the stage with some of the industry's hottest acts, such as; Fallout Boy, Plain White T’s, The Violent Femmes, Lady Gaga, Boston, Chicago, Tesla, Twisted Sister, Aaron Lewis of Staind, Papa Roach, Collective Soul, Dierks Bently, Gretchen Wilson, Sum 41, and dozens more. They were a part of VH1's Aftermath: The Station Five Years Later, which was broadcast on Easter of 2008 on VH1 & hosted by Bret Michaels. Part of the band's performance was broadcast on the Boston News. Facing Forward's music has been heard on Chicago's Q101 (101.1 FM) and many of MTV's most popular reality shows including: A Shot At Love 2: with Tila Tequila, NEXT, Parental Control, Juvies, True Life, and Pimp My Ride. They were named best emerging artist at Milwaukee Summerfest in 2007.
“Bent and Broken” may be a dynamic depiction of Facing Forward’s original pop-indie style, but also describes exactly where the band has come from in the past year-and-a-half. Beaten and battered by a long rocky road full of corruption, broken trust, and false promises, they have salvaged pieces of the past and used them to define a new sound and attitude that they now hold close.(image above: Kieran vocalizes) Back on their feet, the band continues the quest to find what they have been looking for all along. With songs that send messages of hope, strength, overcoming, and empowerment, Facing Forward presses on stronger than ever, and is taking everyone who believes to the top with them. "To everyone who has ever helped us, taught us, or inspired us in any way, we owe you!"~Facing Forward".'Nuff Sed.
(image below: Colin tears into the strings)
NEXT SHOW:
When: Friday, July 31, 2010 9:00 PM CDT
Where: Ballydoyle Pub
Bloomingdale IL
BAND MEMBERS:
Ryan Greshock: Lead Vocals
Colin Greshock: Vocals/Guitar
Nicola Palazzo: Drums
Bryan Kieran Walker: Vocals/Bass
MANAGEMENT:
unsigned
WEBSITES:
http://www.facebook.com/facingforward
http://www.myspace.com/facingforward
http://www.facingforwardmusic.com
Here is a video of Facing Forward from a concert in Providence, Rhode Island burning through the tune "Just Say Goodbye":
(source: youtube.com, facingforward.com photos by: Jordan Schmalz of JORI PHOTOGRAPHY)
