MEMBERS: Steele Croswhite (vocals, guitar), Carl Broemel (lead guitar), Mike Flynn (keyboards), Dave Christianson (bass), Jim Stauffer (drums).
HOMETOWN: Salt Lake City.
ALBUM: “Stand” (Redline; release date: June 25).
THE SOUND: Modern, edgy rock.
PRODUCER: Mike Wanchic (John Mellencamp’s guitarist).
FIRST SINGLE: “Who Is Me.”
OTHER TRACKS: “Alone,” “Tired,” “So Bad,” “Stand,” “This Time,” “Frightened,” “Free,” “Dry,” “The Way,” “Dance,” “Tomorrow.”
WEB SITE: www.silvercrushband.com.
SOMETHING TO KNOW: Silvercrush was named “Utah’s Best Rock Band” by the Salt Lake City Weekly. … Broemel and Flynn were formerly in Old Pike, which cut one album for Epic’s 550 Music in 1999. Broemel also played with Lifehouse.
WHAT SONG DEFINES THE BAND?:
Croswhite – “I don’t think that there is really one song on the album which defines us … I really feel that the album as a whole defines us. The one thing we are all really proud of is the fact that ‘Stand’ is more of a work than one or two really good songs. It can relate to all people on so many different levels. There is so much hope, desperation, and learning on every song that for us to pick one would be a disservice to the others.”
WHAT WAS YOUR MANIFESTO FOR THIS ALBUM?:
Croswhite – “I think that the goal for this album was to establish ourselves as a band that can compete on a national level. I remember the first conversation I had with Mike Wanchic, our producer. He had asked me which band we wanted to be, a great bar band or a great national band. Of course, all of us wanted to be the band that could be on the radio, tour on major levels, and relate to people musically and emotionally for the rest of our careers. Thankfully, I think that we have accomplished that goal.”
WHAT BECAME OF OLD PIKE?:
Broemel – “Basically, O.P. dissolved in the beginning of 2000. At that point, we had already release one record on Sony 550 Music, and had done some new demos to get the label excited about doing another. We decided as a band that we weren’t willing to go through the whole process again as Old Pike. Other opportunities were coming up for each member individually. I worked for and played with Lifehouse; Mike Flynn, our keyboard player, started working with John Mellencamp; Tim Jones, the singer, began doing solo work.
“The band did some successful tours but could never really break to radio, which made sustaining the group very difficult. I look at the whole process as a great learning experience in the music business, and we made some good connections as well.”
DO YOU DOWNLOAD SONGS? IF SO, DO YOU FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT?:
Croswhite – “I never personally have downloaded songs. I really think that the answer to this question is dependent upon the artist and the consumer. For a band like Silvercrush, I think that a certain amount of downloading can be beneficial in building momentum and new fans. On the other hand, for more successful acts, I think that there is a greater risk of losing what they have worked so hard to build. It is important for people to realize that most artists are not money-hungry people, but rather people who have worked the majority of their lives trying to make their dreams come true. Whether or not downloading is ethical is simply based on the opinions of those involved.”
YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE TV SHOW?:
Croswhite – “My favorite shows are ‘The Practice’ and ‘Friends.’ ”
WHO’S SORELY MISSING FROM THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME? (SOME SAMPLES OF THOSE WHO AREN’T IN: ABBA, AC/DC, BLACK SABBATH, JACKSON BROWNE, CARPENTERS, PATSY CLINE, ALICE COOPER, DEEP PURPLE, NEIL DIAMOND, HALL & OATES, THE HOLLIES, GEORGE JONES, KISS, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, WILLIE NELSON, THE O’JAYS, RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS, TODD RUNDGREN, FRANK SINATRA, WAR, TAMMY WYNETTE):
Croswhite – “Honestly, so many of these artists deserve in one way or another to be included. Frank Sinatra changed the voice of as instrument forever; Black Sabbath, AC/DC and KISS allowed rock ‘n’ roll to shine with all of its aggressiveness. The greatest part of this, however, as that every one of these artists is still playing music or played music until their death. For musicians, music is something that they can’t help but do, whether or not they have been included probably wouldn’t make a diference in how influential their music has been and will always be.”
UPCOMING TOUR DATES: Part of the Jeep World Outside Festival Tour with Sheryl Crow, Train, Ziggy Marley and O.A.R. – Aug 14, Wantagh, N.Y., Jones Beach Amphitheater; Aug. 15, Virginia Beach, Verizon Amphitheater; Aug. 16, Camden, N.J., Tweeter Waterfront; Aug. 17, Mansfield, Mass., Tweeter Center.