Artist description Originally formed in the fall of 2000 at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY, Thanks Mr. Brown has enjoyed a great amount of success in the upstate NY area playing for packed houses in a variety of venues. The band is a 6-piece piano-based rock band with a horn section. Band members include Mike Santoro - lead vocals (dynamic frontman from Bristol, CT), Bear McCans - piano/bass/vocals (accomplished multi-instrumentalist from NJ), Joey Lorenz - bass/piano (Ithaca College music performance major for bass from Syracuse, NY), Sky Costello - drums (also a talented multi-instrumentalist from Newton, MA), Jason Rugg - alto saxophone (formerly of Rochester groups Round About Midnight and Uncle Funkbox), and Gabe Posner - tenor/bari saxophone (accomplished improviser from MA). Whereas most music from the college scene is more guitar-oriented rock, Thanks Mr. Brown combines a blend of piano pop and horn section funk. The band's fun and original sound has been simply described as "Billy Joel meets Presidents of the USA in Ben Folds' basement" (Jeff Miller, Ithaca Times). Qualities of the band include layered harmonies, strong songwriting abilities with lyrical ideas coming equally from humorous fiction and real-life experiences, and tasteful and enjoyable cover songs ranging from artists like Ben Folds, Stevie Wonder, Weezer, Elton John, Goldfinger, and Chicago. Santoro and McCans are the primary lyricists, while Lorenz, Costello, Santoro, and McCans have all written music for the group creating a unique and different style for each song. Also integral to the band are horn section members Rugg and Posner whose remarkable abilities lend yet another facet to this special lineup. "Music's Gonna Save Me", Thanks Mr. Brown's first release, was recorded in the fall of 2001. Recorded in Macedon, NY by Mike Muscarella of Belly of the Whale Studios and mastered at Dynamic Recording in Rochester, NY, the eight songs collected for the band's first album is an impressive mix of earnest piano-riffs and horn section funk. "Original," "bouncy-rock," and "amazing pop songs" are just a few words to describe Thanks Mr. Brown's music.

Music Style Billy Joel picks up some horns and jams in Ben Fold's basement.

Musical Influences Ben Folds, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Fishbone, Pearl Jam, U2, Greyboy AllStars, Spyro Gyra

Similar Artists Ben Folds, Billy Joel, Chicago, Weezer

Group Members Mike Santoro (lead vocals), Bear McCans (piano, bass, vocals), Joe Lorenz (bass and piano), Schuyler Costello (drums), Gabe Posner (bari and tenor sax), Jason Rugg (alto sax, vocals)

Instruments Piano, Bass, Drums, Alto, Tenor, and Bari Sax, Vocals, Backup Vocals

Albums Music's Gonna Save Me (2001)

Press Reviews "Harmonious pop sound with a unique lyrical range" - The Ithacan, "Piano-pop revivalists" - Ithaca Times, "Thanks Mr. Brown was up on stage with the intention of having fun" - The Ithacan, "Watch for VH1's 'Before They Were Stars' airing soon!" - The Ithacan, "The saxophone section was remarkable" - The Ithacan, "piano-popsters" - 14850 Magazine Online, "Bouncy rock and dynamic stage presence" - The Ithacan, "...original, Billy Joel-meets-Presidents of the USA-in-Ben Folds' basement tunes" - Ithaca Times

Location Ithaca, New York - USA

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