User:Ludasaphire/Josh and the Empty Pockets

Josh and the Empty Pockets is a pop rock band from Chicago, Illinois.

Buddy Holly
Josh Solomon (guitar and lead vocals) grew up in Lincolnwood, Illinois, playing music with his childhood friends Nate Bellon (bass) and Dan Rosenthal (drums). Shortly after forming the band in 2006, Josh Solomon was cast as Buddy Holly in the 2007 production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at Chicago’s Mercury Theatre, which had an extended run. Nate and Danny were cast as The Crickets in the show. During the run, the band met singer Erika Brett (lead vocals), who was playing a dancer. Erika is a singer and actress described by the Chicago Tribune as having "some killer pipes". As part of the production, the band released a tribute album called Celebrate Buddy Holly.

Baby It’s Cold Outside/Baby Please Come Home
The band added Erika as their female vocalist before recording and releasing a Christmas single, a rock arrangement combining "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and "Baby Please Come Home". Prior to joining Josh and the Empty Pockets, and occasionally afterwards, Erika has collaberated with Todd Kessler, a Chicago singer-songwriter, including on Kessler's single "Golden Bird". In December, 2008, Josh and the Empty Pocket's Christmas single "Baby, It's Cold Outside/Baby Please Come Home" reached #73 on the Mediabase AC chart playing on radio stations across the United States including over a dozen reporting stations.

First Album: Under the Bed
120px|left|thumb Josh and the Empty Pockets released their first album of original songs – Under the Bed – in 2008. In an interview with Phil Ponce on Chicago Tonight, Josh explains that the debut album is about growing up and that the title Under the Bed comes from the lyrics “where have the monsters under my bed gone” on one of the album's songs.

In an April, 2009, Daily Vault review of Under the Bed, Duke Egbert wrote "Under The Bed is tight, melodic, layered, harmony-drenched rock/pop, and one of the better new CDs I've heard this year. ... Besides the aforementioned 'Fall Right Now' and 'Freedom To Me,' I particularly liked the wordplay of 'Missteps,' 'Side Effects,' and 'Monsters,' all of which are both great pop songs and lyrical tours-de-force. Josh and the Empty Pockets have a bright future.  They play intelligent, well-crafted pop/rock with substance that still manages to not get bogged down in its own importance."

All ten of the tracks from Under the Bed were placed on the Nickelodeon TV channel's programs "iCarly", "Zoey 101" and "Drake & Josh". In his review of the album, Michael Capozzoli, Jr., former writer for Billboard magazine, describes Josh as "a young recording artist who writes and sings as if he is already an old master of the pop/rock genere. This singer/songwriter/recording artist and his band are THE BAND to watch in 2009." Echoing the sentiments of prior reviews, Amy Lotsberg, a music critic and producer of Collected Sounds, writes about Josh and the band that he "has a pleasing voice. It’s clear, and easy to understand; which is important because the lyrics are clever. The songs are melodic and interesting and they’re obviously talented musicians that work well together.  All their songs are pretty radio friendly, but I’d say Let Go and Side Effects are standouts. Though Monsters is pretty cute (about monsters under the bed)." In October, 2009, Terrence Flamm describes the album as "fun rock ‘n’ roll" in his Illinois Entertainer review.

Fall Right Now
As part of that release, the band promoted the single "Fall Right Now" to medium and secondary markets and reached #11 on the FMQB Adult Contemporary Chart.

The band also recorded an acoustic version of "Fall Right Now" at the world famous recording studio Sweetwater to be included on WAJI's annual charity CD, a fundraising project for the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Signing to 8th Impression/Universal Music Group
According to Mediabase, as of February 25, 2009, Josh and the Empty Pockets is with the label 8th Impression/UMG, the same label that signed Bang Camaro. After signing with the label, the single "Fall Right Now" was promoted to major radio markets and was added to the playlists of two radio stations the first week. Since then, "Fall Right Now" has gotten spins on over a dozen radio stations including Clear Channel and other monitored stations.

On March 16, 2009, "Fall Right Now" was listed on the Mediabase Taking Off chart, which records the track's increase in radio airplay over 7 days and lists "the Top 50 currents sorted by the most new spins showing detections for the first time". As of April 9, 2009, the single was #77 and climbing on the Mediabase AC chart and made the Taking Off chart a second time. According to New Music Tipsheet, the CD Under the Bed will be available in stores starting on April 21, 2009.

Music and Promotional videos
In the accompanying music video for the single "Fall Right Now," Josh portrays a high school student late for an end of the year talent show. Erika, Nate and Danny play a joke on Josh, mixing up the signs directing Josh to the show. Cheerleaders and skateboarders, as well as fans, are also featured. The band changes their look and also change from playing acoustic to electric guitar and bass from the first half to the second half of the video. As the clip ends, Josh, Erika, Nate and Danny run outside, jump into a convertible, and drive away.

As of July, 2009, Josh and the Empty Pockets are represented by David Spero and Adam Spero of Alliance Partners, releasing a promotional video incorporating clips from their album, music video and television appearances.

Chicago
In between touring the country in their 1977 Dodge Van with shag carpeting and wood paneling, Josh and the Empty Pockets have played many Chicago venues including the Double Door in July 2008 and again in 2009. In June, 2009, the band played at Chicago's Millennium Park Grill at the Party in the Park event sponsored by WTMX. The band also played at the Subterranean, Shubas , The Kinetic Playground, The Elbow Room, The Tonic Room , Deja Vu , and Martyrs.

In addition to city venues, the band has played at various restaurants, theaters and bars in the Chicago suburbs including Norton's in Highland Park, Onesti Dinner Club in St. Charles , Wilmette Theatre in Wilmette, Landmark Inn in Northbrook, Manhattan's Restaurant in Carol Stream, FitzGerald's in Berwyn, Chamber's Restaurant in Niles, City Limits in Schaumburg, EsKape Club in Buffalo Grove, Famous Freddie's in Mount Prospect, Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Ki's in Glendale Heights, The Avenue in Oak Park, and Gino's East in Lake Zurich.

On the Road and Sea
In the fall of 2008, Josh and the Empty Pockets performed along the Mexican Riviera on the Sapphire Princess cruise ship. After Mexico, the band toured the United States playing many venues outside of Chicago including the Winchester Tavern & Music Hall in Cleveland, Ohio, Sully's Saloon in Louisville, Kentucky , Sportsman's Tavern in Buffalo, New York , Freddy's Bar & Backroom in Brooklyn , The Delancey in New York City , John Harbor's in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin , Java Joe's in Des Moines, Iowa , and The Frequency in Madison, Wisconsin. In March 2009 the band played at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

After South by Southwest
Following their SXSW debut, Josh and the Empty Pockets continued touring the country to promote their single "Fall Right Now" playing at Ole Moulton Bank in Moulton, Texas, Poor David's Pub in Dallas, Texas, Cimarron Bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Murphy's	in Memphis, Tennessee, Cummels Cafe in St. Louis, Missouri, Rudyard Kipling in Louisville, Kentucky, Comet Bar in Cincinnati, Ohio, Canal Street Tavern in Dayton, Ohio, The Modern Exchange in Detroit, Michigan, and Johnny's Irish Pub in Rochester, New York.