MP3 33 West - So Far Off to a Bad Start

Shake cheesy reggae band with horns, vivid music, reasoning lyrics and an incredibly industrious live show.

16 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Punk ROCK: Hard Rock

So Far Off to a Bad Start Songs


Details:
33 West Bio
Andrew Gorski- Lead Vocals
Joe Nelson- Guitar, Vocals
Ken Barnum- Bass, Vocals
Nick Hughes- Drums
Dave McGraw- Trumpet Vocals
Jacob Walters- Trombone, Vocals

There are certainly no lack of rock bands striving to climb up from the nether-regions of the music industry and achieve musical recognition and success in its upper-reaches. There are few bands, however, who have the persistence and drive to aim for such success without the help of a record label. 33 West, from Fairfax, VA, is living proof that a band can record, tour and play entirely on their own. And it is certainly not for lack of offers that 33 West chooses to be independent, but rather due to the amount of freedom being unsigned allots them.

33 West, who have been together under their current line up since 2000, will release their first full-length album, So Far Off to a Bad Start, on May 11, 2004. This release marks an extraordinary accomplishment on the part of the band.

"The 16 tracks that appear on this album represent almost three years of hard work and dedication coming out of myself and my five best friends," explained guitarist Joe Nelson. "We've spent the last three years of our lives on the road together, playing, writing and growing as musicians as well as people. To me So Far Off to a Bad Start represents learning, growth and progress."

The new album, which boasts 16 songs written and produced by 33 West themselves, is an independent release. On four of the tracks, 33 West enlisted the help of producer Jim Ebert, who has previously worked with SR-71, Meredith Brooks and Marvelous 3. The four songs, which include fan favorite "The Tijuana Song," were recorded at Cue Studios.

While So Far Off to a Bad Start is 33 West's first full-length album, it is not the band's first release. In 2001 they released a four-song EP called No Cash No Problems, which was called a "fresh sounding disc that shows a promising future" by The Music Korner. In 1998 they released an EP entitled Snacks that was acclaimed "one of the year's snappiest local records" by The Washington Post. 33 West has also appeared on several compilation records.

Lead singer Andrew Gorski, bassist Ken Barnum, drummer Nick Hughes, trumpet player Dave McGraw and trombone player Jacob Walters started playing together in high school back in 1995. Their band underwent several different line ups until it became 33 West in 2000 when guitarist Joe Nelson was added to the mix. Since then, 33 West has been constantly touring to build their fan base and gain more exposure.
33 West has won numerous awards and honors, including first place in the Ernie Ball National Battle of the Bands in 2002 and second place in the National Hard Rock Cafe Battle of the Bands in 2001. In 2001, Gorski was named "Best Male Vocalist" at the Wammie Awards, a Grammy-knockoff ceremony based in Washington, D.C. 33 West is currently sponsored by LeVel 27 clothing, an apparel line started by Billy Martin of Good Charlotte fame.
33 West was lucky enough to play 10 dates of last year's Warped Tour alongside bands like Less Than Jake, Simple Plan, Thrice and Rancid. They have also shared the stage with Good Charlotte, Reel Big Fish, Sugarcult and more.
33 West's unique blend of rock, cheesy reggae and ska, along with their incredibly industrious and exciting live shows, are sure to appeal to a wide variety of listeners. The band's sense of fun and enthusiasm is evident both on and off the stage. Critics have hailed the band as "one of Virginia's rising stars" with the "distinct reputation of having one of the best live shows of any unsigned band."
"Bands come and go and there are a lot of bands that sound alike," said bassist Ken Barnum. "I think one thing we can honestly say that no one can even really argue is that we are unique."
33 West will be hitting the road this spring to promote the release of So Far Off to a Bad Start. For a list of confirmed tour dates, visit www.33westmusic.com.
For press requests please contact Smashing! Publicity at smashingpublicity@hotmail.com.

Press Release April 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
33 West Releases Debut LP
Independently-Released New Album, So Far Off to a Bad Start, Out May 11, 2004
FAIRFAX, VA- Virginia-based rock band 33 West will release its first full-length album on May 11, 2004. Written and produced by 33 West, So Far Off to a Bad Start boasts four tracks produced by Jim Ebert, who has worked with SR-71, Meredith Brooks and Marvelous 3.
So Far Off to a Bad Start contains 16 tracks that showcase the band's unique blend of rock, cheesy ska and reggae. Two singles, "The Same Ending" and "Call on My Lover," will be released, primarily to specialty and college radio.
"The 16 tracks that appear on this album represent almost three years of hard work and dedication coming out of myself and my five best friends," said guitarist Joe Nelson. "To me So Far Off To A Bad Start represents learning, growth and progress in our own genre of music."
So Far Off to a Bad Start will be available at online retailers cdbaby.com, interpunk.com and smartpunk.com, as well as select CD retailers in the D.C. / Virginia/ Maryland area. A list of stores carrying the album will be posted on 33 West's official website, 33westmusic.com closer to the release date.

Track Listing for So Far Off to a Bad Start:
1. Prologue
2. The Same Ending
3. Cambria
4. Dialogue
5. Automatic
6. Call On My Lover
7. Coeur d' Alene
8. Roses
9. Saves Me
10. Price You Pay
11. Teeth
12. Stupid Love Songs
13. Rust and Solder
14. The Tijuana Song
15. 17
16. Epilogue
After undergoing a few different line-ups since 1995, 33 West was born in 2000 when lead singer Andrew Gorski, bassist Ken Barnum, drummer Nick Hughes, trumpet player Dave McGraw and trombone player Jacob Walters added guitarist Joe Nelson to their line-up. The Fairfax, VA-based band has released several EPs and appeared on several compilation albums.
33 West has built up a large fan base in D.C., Virginia, Maryland and the rest of the East Coast. They have played at dozens of venues of all sizes, including D.C.'s 9:30 club. They also played the Nissan Pavilion in Virginia while on ten dates of Warped Tour last year. 33 West has won numerous awards and honors, including first place in the Ernie Ball National Battle of the Bands in 2002 and second place in the National Hard Rock Cafe Battle of the Bands in 2001.
33 West has performed alongside many prominent national acts such as Good Charlotte, NOFX, Less Than Jake, Sugarcult, New Found Glory and Simple Plan. 33 West is also sponsored by LeVel 27 Clothing, an apparel line started by Billy Martin of Good Charlotte fame.
33 West has been written up in publications such as The Washington Times, TheWashingtonPost.com and On Tap Magazine. Critics have hailed the band as "one of Virginia's rising stars" with the "distinct reputation of having one of the best live shows of any unsigned band." 33 West has also been called "one of the hottest tickets in the D.C. metro area."
33 West will be making several on-air radio appearances in the D.C. / Virginia area to promote the release of So Far Off to a Bad Start. They will be live on DJ Rossstar's Punk Rock Show on April 28, 2004 and on Steve Sievers' Max Rock Show on May 4, 2004. Both shows air on WVAU from American University in Washington, D.C. and are streamed over the Internet.
33 West will also appear on DC101's Local Lix on May 9, 2004 for an interview and acoustic performance.
33 West will be on tour this spring to promote their new album, with an East Coast tour in May and a Mid-West tour in mid-June.
Tour dates are as follows, with more to be announced as they are confirmed:
4-12-04 Flipside Festival Franconia, VA w/ Sugarcult and more
4-18-04 Mary Washington College Fredericksburg, VA w/ One Third Dork
4-22-04 The Bourbon Room Fredericksburg, VA w/Youth Medium and Pash
4-24-04 Wakefield Skatepark Grand Opening Fairfax, VA w/Urban Style and more
5-1-04 Frostburg State University Frostburg, MD w/ The Working Title
5-19-04 Awful Arthurs Roanoke, VA w/ TBA
5-21-04Chantilly Events Center Chantilly, VA w/ Urban Style, Front Page and Driving East (CD Release Party)
5-23-04 Lucky's Wilmington, NC w/ Flojo and Indo Nation
5-25-04 Ground Zero Spartanburg, SC w/ TBA
5-30-04 Swayze's Kennesaw, GA w/ Pipedown
5-31-04 The Lincoln Theatre Raleigh, NC w/ Flojo and 6 Inch Voices
6-5-04 TT Reynolds Fairfax, VA w/ Humanroom
6-13-04 The Day of Portugal Festival Newark, NJ w/ TBA



33 West is extremely proud of their first full-length and hope it will live up to expectations.

"Even with the offers of a few minor labels we've decided to do much of the album ourselves," Nelson said. "And because of that I couldn't possibly be more proud."

For more information on 33 West, please visit www.33westmusic.com.

To request review copies, interviews or show tickets, please contact Smashing! Publicity at smashingpublicity@hotmail.com.