wit1 n: The natural ability to perceive and understand intelligence.
roy n: Derived from Gaelic ruadh meaning red, or bittersweet.
Its quite fitting that the bands name (which came from a Goldfinger record) should have this definition seeing as Witroys latest release, Lets Sew Our Hearts Together is chock full of bittersweet, intelligent rock songs. Since Witroys formation, the band has honed in on their skills as witty, tongue-in-cheek songwriters with a knack for poking fun of themselves and the music scene around them.
Having spent the end of 2004, and all of 2005 working on Lets Sew Our Hearts Together at Exit Music, Gravity Studios, and SOMA Studios in Chicago with producer/engineer Mike Hari, the boys in Witroy, singer/guitarist Craig Miller, guitarist Ron Robinson, bassist Mike Anderson, and drummer Steven DiGenova, are geared up to release their debut studio album on their own label, No Bull Records, with distribution through Suburban Home Records/Distribution and Hot Topic stores. The album is a 10 track, 32 minute romp through catchy choruses and clever lyrics from Chicago Isnt For Lovers, Lovers Are For Chicago, an obvious jab at the current music scene, to the more melancholy, and introspective Parking Lot.
With the release of Lets Sew Our Hearts Together coming roughly on the 3rd anniversary of the band, the album marks the beginning of a new chapter for this Chicago quartet. Forming at the end of 2002 from the ashes of several other bands in the south suburbs of the city, Witroy are the true underdogs to a scene that openly embraces hardcore and emo, while the band itself, as evident from the new record, has a style all their own. What seem like standard pop/rock songs on the surface, actually pull in influences from different musical styles from metal to jazz to classical as well as different eras from 60's style harmonies and 70s classic rock to 80s new wave and hair metal guitar solos. While working on the record, the band was looking for that perfect combination of new meets old, The Who meets Taking Back Sunday, Led Zeppelin meets The Rentals, and so on. Explains singer Craig Miller: We wanted to make a record that was like going to the ice cream shop where everything has a different flavor, but you like them all.
Along with making a new record and starting their own label, the band has also been busy spreading their entertaining live show, and capturing the hearts of fans across the country. Having slaved away with shows and other recordings all on their own, including dates on Vans Warped Tour 2005 and Chicagos famed Songs From A Scene 5 concert, and releasing 3 EPs and one home studio album between 2003-2004, as well as adding tracks to several compilation CDs with artists like The Plain White Ts and August Premier, these guys have earned their title as one of Chicagos hardest working bands. Witroy has also made live appearances with such national acts as Lucky Boys Confusion, The Dog & Everything, Madina Lake, The Plain White Ts, Lovedrug, Escape From Earth, Ludo, Emanuel, Happy Endings, Army Of Freshmen, and Jupiter Sunrise, as well as being the featured artist on sites like AbsolutePunk.nets Absolutely Unsigned, NoiseBlender.com, and ISound.com.
Witroy will tour behind Lets Sew Our Hearts Together through summer 2006, with plans to possibly begin recording their sophomore outing late fall 2006. According to Miller, the next record will be one of the most anticipated of 2007. With Lets Sew Our Hearts Together, we captured the raw energy of a young band struggling to be something more. The songs are great, fun, and alive, but I think our next record will be even more focused, and intense. Witroy will continue to captivate audiences for miles, and break hearts with style!
Read more...