More intense than straight shots of Everclear.

12 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Hard Rock, ROCK: Grunge



Details:
In a city as unpredictable as Philadelphia, there are bands that form and dissolve on a daily basis, but the truly passionate always find a way to infiltrate the scene with their art. This story begins in a rundown palace in West Philly, a few feet from Drexel University, in the fall of 2003.

Tired of getting their performance fix by playing acoustic open mics, three housemates with an extra bedroom and a yearning for amplification started jamming on their own ideas. With Adam Phaneuf on the drums, Chris Sulit on bass, and a charismatic Chris Jones singing and playing guitar, they stumbled upon an innovative sound and decided to go with it. Each member was noticeably saturated with influences from opposite ends of the spectrum and were not completely committed to a permanent arrangement. However, the trio practiced consistently and as the Dingbats played their only show in June of 2004 at the Abilene on South Street.

That summer, Sulit started his own project, To The Moon - a more melodious and dark triumphancy that remained more true to his influential roots. Phaneuf stayed in New York City for a few months doing live sound at BB Kings night club and playing in a punk rock band called Sworn Allegiance. Jones spent his time traveling through Italy and France to write and figure things out, but mostly to party. He came back to the States with a born-again resurgence to form another band.

Phaneuf, who had recently left Sworn Allegiance, jumped on board right away, with a similar enthusiasm and mentality of goals to achieve. The two picked up bassist John Walters, and guitarist Dan Reilly, two jam-band influenced musicians, and attempted to play on a lighter and more intricate level. Not quite sharing the same plan to take over the world, Reilly left the group. Jones, Phaneuf and Walters played one show together at the Continental in New York City under the name Come in November of 2004. Walters also came to terms with his lack of interest in the motivation displayed by Phaneuf and Jones and decided to leave as well.

In early January 2005, Phaneuf approached his classmate and acquaintance Tony Giunta about playing bass with them. After learning the songs and a few weeks of practicing together, Giunta was welcomed into the group with the classiest $5 bottle of champagne one could ask for. Giunta fit into the mix perfectly and allowed Jones and Phaneuf to redirect their sound to the hard hitting intensity that they originally had while bringing about a style all his own.

The band settled on the name Come Dionysus, a verbal summons to the Greek god who represents theatre and wine, and is the complete antithesis to law and order. They played their first show together at the end of January 2005 in the living room of the rundown palace where it all began. Come Dionysus has spent their time playing numerous shows, recording in various studios, filming two music videos and gaining fans one heart at a time.

With the release of their first studio full length, Mask, Come Dionysus proves they are ready to take on whatever the world has to offer them. As stated by Joby Martin in Drexelâs official newspaper, ââ¦Come Dionysus is more intense than straight shots of Everclearâ (The Triangle 2/4/2005).