Artist description The talented duo features the engaging vocals of lead singers and multi-instrumentalists, Stephen Dees and Patricia Ann Dees. The Bandees music surrounds the listener with fresh colorful melodies, interspersed with imaginative orchestral shadings and superb song writing, paying careful attention to lyric content and arrangement. Some have referred to the duo as their own self contained orchestra, with Stephen on vocals, guitars, bass, keyboard, percussion and Patricia on vocals, flute, oboe, saxophone, harmonica and keyboard. This is a duo that displays both versatility and virtuosity with a wide-ranging yet distinctive sound.

Music Style A variety of styles from rock to folk, alternative to pop

Musical Influences Beatles, Peter Gabriel, Bjork, Bob Dylan, Patsy Cline

Similar Artists Beatles, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, Aimee Mann, Todd Rundgren, Tori Amos, Kinks, Chieftains, Ramones, The Poges, The Police

Artist History Since the Bandees first independent debut release in 1998, They Fly Around, the group has received national college and commercial airplay in the United States and international airplay as far away as Waterford, Ireland. The Central Florida press, were unanimous in their praise of the bands first CD. “They Fly Around is nothing short of a true pop masterwork” [JAM Magazine review 04/98]. “They Fly Around, offers the listener a great peak into the music and lyrics of one of Florida’s great bands” [the fritz, new college music magazine]. The following year saw the release of their second equally well-received offering, BIG DAY. “A colorful palette of style blending harmoniously together to produce a CD masterpiece.” [Joe Skinner, President of Trackspotting] “BIG DAY, the Bandees eclectic but seamless pop-rock emerges all new millennium fresh original and shiny.” [Rick deYampert, Entertainment writer/News Journal] The Volusia/Flagler County News-Journal chose two songs from the debut CD and two songs from their second CD release for a television promotion campaign, which won the prestigious Golden Addy Award. In addition, the producer of the spots, Chuck Roseberry, commissioned the band for a national PGA spot. Band founder, Stephen Dees has toured and/or recorded in America and Europe as bassist and vocalist with many diverse acts, including Todd Rundgren, Hall & Oates and Planet P. But is best known for his work with the modern rock band Novo Combo, co-founded by Dees and original Santana drummer Michael Shrieve. Novo Combo released two critically acclaimed Polygram Albums, the self titled "Novo Combo" and "Animation Generation" which yielded the Dees penned hits "Up Periscope", "City Bound" a song co-written with acclaimed tunesmith Desmond Child, and the Top 5 MTV Video "Animation Generation". Album Network said of Stephen's work with Novo, "Novo Combo is without question the most modern and wonderful musical album we've heard in months. The end result is a vital, thriving album woven with unique texture and artistic taste..." The Bandees open 2002 with the simultaneous release of two new CD’s, Saffron & three. Saffron showcases the bands acoustic side, featuring Stephen and Patricia’s mellifluous vocal stylings, beautiful melodies, heart felt lyrics and soothing soundscapes. Bandees three quite simply, ROCKS. Guitars, guitars and yes more loud guitars. Two for 2002! The Bandees are back!

Group Members Stephen Dees Patricia Ann Dees

Instruments Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Flute, Oboe, Sax, Harmonica, Percussion, Drums

Albums Saffron, three, BIG DAY, They Fly Around

Press Reviews Bandees Reviews “Three” and “Saffron” Reviews so far… 01/18/2002 Bandees, "Three" (SLD Music) (excellent) Bandees, "Saffron" (SLD Music) (excellent) "Saffron," one of two new albums by the Bandees, opens with "Anna," a sweet and airy, flute-buoyed love song that recalls John Lennon's "Julia." "Three," the other new Bandees album, opens with a blast of raw guitars and raunchy harmonica, then spills into a slab of stud rock. It's a tale of a crude 'n' lewd prowlin' wolf who'll make Beavis and Butt-head snicker with glee. If this satyr ever meets “Anna”, the results won't be pretty. But the results are quite pretty, and mod and rocking, on the Bandees' two new albums. The local rock duo, composed of soulmates and multi-instrumentalists Stephen Dees and Patricia Ann Dees, don't quite pull a Jekyll/Butt-head...er, Jekyll/Hyde maneuver. "Three" and "Saffron" aren't exactly night and day. Except for the aforementioned stud-rock lark, "Three" is too clever for the Beavis and Mr. Hyde set. But the mod rock of "Three" makes for an intoxicating and agitating (in a cool way) Saturday night record, while "Saffron" delivers plenty of cappuccino-on-a-Sunday-morning moments. "Three" finds Stephen deploying lots of sweet 'n' sour guitars, synths and his David Bowie-esque voice, whether it's to diss vapid followers of pop-culture fads on "Month of the Flavor," or to depict the frantic meltdown of a dysfunctional family (or rock band) on "It's Not Working." "Has Maxwell's silver hammer hit me on the head?" Dees sings on the latter tune, picking up the Beatles' reference with "Must be my instant karma, I've made my bed." But the Bandees are at their best when they amazingly crossbreed Tom Petty and Marilyn Manson on "Psycho Boy" and "Bad Seed," and concoct a rumble-billy/Tom Petty confection on "Temporary." "Are you mad or just insane? You possess a major damaged brain," Patricia coos coolly on "Psycho Boy," a masterpiece of paranoia that leaves one wondering whether the narrator might be a Travis Bickle (remember "Taxi Driver"?). "You might think that you're a spy. Geek boy, you're not FBI. Haven't you anything better to do than watching me hating you?" "Saffron" finds Patricia Ann stepping to the fore with her flute, oboe and sax playing, casting a balm over the album's many ballads. Dedicated to George Harrison, "Something Better" floats upon flute and harpsichord-like synth as Stephen sings a metaphysical plea to "hide the crosses, hide the stars, the dogma we've placed on ourselves." "You are My Baby" is a McCartney-like silly love song propelled by peppy piano. "Sirens Prayer" swings with the joie de vivre of Renaissance and Celtic folk tunes. "Square" deftly resurrects the cool jazz-rock style of Traffic. On both "Three" and "Saffron," the Bandees deliver the right spice! [By RICK de YAMPERT, Entertainment Editor, Daytona Beach News Journal] Big Day – Released December 1999 "To borrow a phrase from Nick Lowe, the new Bandees CD, "BIG DAY", is pure pop for now people. Dees and company have distilled a range of influences: Bowie, a touch of Tom Petty, synth pop, the Police, the Byrds, the Monkees, and the vibe and energy of New Wave (without the gee-whiz goofy feel of a lot of that era). Yet, by the end of the "BIG DAY," the Bandees, eclectic but seamless pop-rock emerges all new millennium fresh, original and shiny." [Rick de Yampert, Entertainment Writer - The News Journal] "A colorful palette of styles blending harmoniously together to produce a CD masterpiece. This music rocks the soul. The Bandees "BIG DAY" could be a hit for the millennium, hell, it would have been a hit in any of the last three decades." [Joseph Skinner, President - Trackspotting] "With an eclectic pop-rock sound, the Bandees’ BIG DAY continues in the spirit of their 1998 CD entitled, They Fly Around. This new record, like its predecessor, sports Stephen Dees’ Bowie-esque vocals with Patricia Ann’s outstanding harmonies. She also contributes such diverse instruments as flute, oboe, harmonica and saxophone. From pensive and poignant ("Breaking the Surface," "Serious"), to festive ("Big Day"), to ska-tinged ("Slow fade"), to Americana ("Talk About It"), this CD morphs all styles into one collective sound the Bandees are known for. Rating: ***** 5 out of 5 [Connections Magazine, July 2000] "On their latest album, "BIG DAY," the Bandees include a little ditty titled "Happy Tones, Cool Sounds." It’s a sly song in which singer-guitarist Stephen Dees praises "happy tones and cool sounds" by employing something of their opposite - a rustic, folkie, Bob Dylan sound, replete with a nasally imitation of Big Bob himself. However, the Bandees, an Edgewater-based modern rock band, indeed deliver plenty of cool sounds on "BIG DAY." The album includes the David Bowie vibe of the title track, some jangly, Tom Petty-like rock on "Kid’s Go Out and Play," frantic synth pop on "Turn Around" and "That’s What the Big Man Said," and some Police-like reggae with "Slow Fade."" [The News Journal, GO-DO, May 5, 2000] ""BIG DAY" is a concept album about the journey from life to death for one man. Stephen Dees wrote most of the CD’s tracks, plays guitar and bass, and sings in a husky, expressive Bowie-fied way. He may or may not be attempting autobiography with this chameleon of a disc, but he serves as narrator/protagonist from the get-go as he croons "I was late or so they said/I popped out upon my head" on the title track. From there, Dees and band have fun with country pop stylings reminiscent of the Monkees "Last Train to Clarksville" and funky acoustic grooves dealing with ignorant parents and mechanically unstable cars. But then, as the narrator comes of age, an uncle advises him to "Forget your dreams/Become a Marine" during the new wave pop of "That’s What the Big Man Said" and the tone of the album changes dramatically. MVP kudos to woodwind player Patricia Ann, who serves as an all-purpose orchestra with spacious patches, flutes, melodicas, harmonicas and sweet backing harmonies. From the car-horn tonality of the oboe on "Working for My Car" to playfully inserting a "Sabre Dance" motif into the mix for the maniac, restless ska/jazz jive of "Turn Around." Drummer and percussionist, Alberto Cruz, infuse the songs with a worldbeat feel, and Dees has solid chops to spare. Dees digs deeper into the psyche with tunes like the wide-open waltz of "Breaking the Surface," the material comes full circle with another dose of country wackery ("Talk About It") and r&b honey ("Slow Fade") before ending like an episode of "Fractured Fairtales." All over the map intentionally, this cycle is one that requires extra spins. Could be habit forming." [JAM Magazine, Bing Futch, May 2000] Rating: A They Fly Around – Released March 1998 Y’know, there are some people in the world who simply reek of ideas, Stephen Dees is one of those names on the fringe of pop music culture. He’s a better than good musician, which shows itself well on the debut release from Bandees, his new outfit. The band has achieved what many Consider impossible--a dozen perfect pop slices, all with a unique sound and identity that fit neatly together into a very cohesive package. No mean feat! Dees’ most obvious strong point is as a great songwriter. The influences are pretty classic; you’ll hear hints of everything from The Beatles to Elvis Costello in the songwriting. Nothing wrong with that. The album’s second strength is the sheer talent of the musicians involved. All the players are very, very good, including vocals that really stand out from the crowd. However, the glue that binds all this talent together is the creative cleverness displayed throughout. Production and engineering are both superb. In short, They Fly Around is nothing short of a true pop masterwork! It shouldn’t take more than the most basic break to push these people into the spotlight they richly deserve. **** (4 out of 4) [Craig Michaels JAM Magazine Review 04/98] The Bandees shine like the Corona Borealis on their debut CD entitled, They Fly Around. Each song is a luminous star that plots the course through the imaginative Bandees Constellation. With a psychedelic feel reminiscent of early David Bowie, the band embrace a refined sound with smooth vocals and colorful instrumentation. An essence of honesty is conveyed throughout the songs with styles varying from silky ethereal folk, to energetic pop anthems. Blast into orbit and experience an astral resurgence as you transcend to a newer dimension of musical renaissance with the Bandees and their exceptional CD, "They Fly Around" ***** (5 out of 5) [Gina Trifiletti, Managing Editor, Connections Magazine] The Bandees are on the cutting edge of music with a diverse style, incorporating many forms. On their debut CD "They Fly Around" there is something for everyone, from rock to folk, funk to alternative. It’s better than listening to the radio........" [The G-Man 95.7 WHOG the Top rated OZONE Saturday Night] "Stephen Dees writes outstanding pop rock tunes with infectious melodies and grooves. I foresee the Bandees rising to an international level ." [Beaver Felton, Super Chops] "Dees who tends to accentuate his vocals sounds at times like an American David Bowie, but Dees vocals contain the conviction and forcefulness that Bowie’s too often lack." [Steven Brieff, Records] "They Fly Around, offers the listener a great peek into the music and lyrics of one of Florida’s great bands. Wit a little more exposure for this band, they are destined to be famous. They Fly Around, is well worth getting" [the fritz, the new college music magazine] Absolutely evolutionary, perfect for the college market. [Joe Skinner, President, Trackspotting]

Location Edgewater, FL - USA

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