Black Taxi is an Indie Rock band from Brooklyn, New York. They draw influence from musicians ranging from The Doors to TV on the Radio. In October 2008, they were one of over 100 bands to participate in the College Music Journal Music Marathon in New York City. Additionally, they were winners of 2008’s M.E.A.N.Y. Fest competition, also held in New York.

"Brooklyn’s Black Taxi plays neat little pop sounds in stripped-down rockabilly arrangements with surprising trumpet solos." - timeoutny

"a favorite new band... one of the most entertaining i've ever seen. they remind me of a smaller gogol bordello. and for those that know, that is saying something" - meetnowlive.com

"Pretty Mama is a track that's gotten into my brain and drives me mad eventually, because it's so hooky, and this looks like the kind of hit that could start on the 'cool' side of the fence before swinging over to KROQ... because it can appeal to so many different music heads" - futuresounds.blogspot.com

"Black Taxi’s immediately appealing swagger and biting bravado put them at the top of the CMJ music chain" - foundtrack.blogspot.com, allaccessmagazine.com

A New York City based indie rock outfit that blended high octane punk rock with a swagger found in such visual treats as a Tarantino film or Straight to Hell. -Chris True, Allmusic.com

"Rock springled with electronic, braised with punk, and comes with a side of don't you dare label me with one genre!"

- Nathan Frye - The Delicious Punk Wall Stomper Vocalist

- Daniel Monico - Mastermind Overlord & Guitars

- Jonathan Crowley - Chain Puller & Drums

- Jay Ambrose - Gap Filler & Bass

- Myles de Bastion - Always Last To Know & Guitars, Synths & the rest of it

SAMVARA is a four piece progressive rock/grunge band based in Brooklyn, NY. Samvara began in the summer of 2007 with members: Ben Curtis (lead vocals/rhythm guitar/harmonica/unstoppable energy), John Reed (bassist extraordinaire), Jay Gillespie (guitar master/sex machine), and Jonathan Crowley (percussive stud).

Sounds Like: A Ferrari on Steroids with a side of Butter and Sex

BIO

In 1999, Lead Singer/Founding Member, Ben Curtis moved from his homeland in Tennessee, to New York City where he attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and played in numerous bands in NYC (including The Condition and Bankrupt & The Borrowers). Writing poetry and music since the age of 6, Ben finally got the itch to start and front his own band. However, it wasn't until the summer of 2007, when he meet bassist John Reed, that the project became a reality. John moved to NYC from Northern California to study music. Both looking for a band with integrity, talent, and a penchant for all things creative, they began forming the first sounds of Whale (now SAMVARA). Meanwhile, Ben was on the lookout for a drummer and found him in Jonathan Crowley. With his range of talent, bizarre resemblance to Anthony Kiedis, and love for beating the drums, Whale became a three piece.

Ben Curtis and Jay Gillespie(lead guitarist) first met in 2001 at NYU's prestigious Experimental Theater Program in Amsterdam. While Ben was on his way up after landing the infamous "Dude, You're Getting a Dell" ad campaign, Jay moved to L.A. to pursue acting. After his 3 year stint in Hollywood, Jay returned to New York and reunited with Ben, when the they randomly ran into each other at a bowling alley. It was there that they discovered that they had both decided to dedicate their lives to music. "I needed a sick lead guitarist with a beautiful voice, and Jay was the man". Whale was already taken when the ultimate name, SAMVARA (sanskrit for "union" and a protective deity of the human race and in this case, Rock n' Roll).

SAMVARA has gone on to be played on Rock Stations across America, including some of the greats in Seattle and NYC. Not only that, they have been on Fox News and AOL's Mainpage, beside George W. Bush! Heh. Heh. Heh.

Here's to keeping Rock alive!

The birth of Atom Strange began in the winter of 2006 when guitarist Alex Rude was working part time for a friend at a high end comic book shop in Manhattan. Guitarist Alex Rude came across a copy of DC Comics Showcase #117. It was the debut of the title character of Adam Strange. With a tattoo of an atom on his arm and his life long fascination with the world of Scifi and outer space, Atom Strange was born. After two years of song writing and recording and a few line up changes, the first cohesive line up took shape with: Alex Rude (Guitars), Rick Dunn (Vocals) John Reed (Bass), Tom Denman (Guitar) and Tony Baptist (Drums).

ATOM STRANGE released their first cd in June of 2007. The self titled record contains 6 songs including the heavy ballad “More Or Less” and the progressive epic "Burn /Space Walk/ Re-Entry". The band is currently at work on their second cd to be released in the summer of 2009.

ATOM STRANGE's sound is the direct result of the effects of cosmic radiation, dark matter and energy and the bending of space and time. There have been comparisons to such notable musicians as Led Zeppelin, TOOL, Alice In Chains, A Perfect Circle, Pinback, Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Soundgarden, Iron Maiden and other hard rock/progressive bands. ATOM STRANGE tends to stay away from the predictable and always come up with surprises in their music. Lots of dynamics and interesting changes. That and a healthy dose of science fiction mixed with everyday life and great hooks are the main ingredients to ATOM STRANGE music.

Instrumentation Rick Dunn (vocals), Alex Rude (guitars), John Reed (bass), Tony Baptist (drums and percussion), Tom Denman (guitars)

Discography ATOM STRANGE-2007 6 song cd More or Less- 2007 single She Said- 2007 single Un-Apologetic-2008 single COSMIC DISTURBANCE-2009 full length 11 song cd (scheduled for summer release)