Concert in your area for Rock, Indie & Alt, and Metal.
Formed first as band called Razzle by guitarist Jeremy Popoff, bassist Kevin Baldes, vocalist and drummer A. Jay Popoff and guitarist Sean Holland, the band played their first show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California in 1988. In 1989, A. Jay switched from drums to lead vocals, and the band added guitarist Jeremy Popoff and drummer Allen Shellenberger. By 1993 they had completed their demo/ EP entitled “New Vibe Revolution.” Razzle dissolved in 1993 and became Stain in 1994, which had a change in sound, but still the same members. They signed with Malicious Vinyl in 1995 and changed their name to Lit in 1996 due to band owning names already in use.
On 1 April 1997 the band released “Tripping The Light Fantastic” with Malicious Vinyl, however the label went out of business shortly after its release. During their time of being once again unsigned, the band continued to showcase and write new songs, eventually reaching a deal with RCA Records in 1998. A year after signing with RCA, Lit hit their big break with the release of their album, “A Place In The Sun,” which went on to reach platinum status. The band set out on a number of successful tours, and took part in the Vans Warped Tour and Woodstock 1999. They followed up with “Atomic” which contained another widely successful single, “Lipstick and Bruises.”
After being released from their contract with RCA Records in 2002, Lit toured on a smaller scale, and released a self-titled album on 24 June 2004. Additionally that same year, the band put out a DVD of their live performances entitled “All Access.” In 2009 Nathan Walker stepped in as drummer after the unfortunate passing of Allen Shellenberger (due to malignant glioma). Despite several announcements of a new record coming starting in 2010, it wasn’t until 2012 that Lit released “The View From The Bottom.” In 2013 the band celebrated their 15th anniversary show by performing “A Place In The Sun” in its entirety live at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California.
The story of Sponge begins, like so many other bands, with an earlier, failed attempt at rock-stardom. Loudhouse was formed in the mid-1980's by drummer Vinnie Dombrowski along with guitarists Mike Cross and Joey Mazzola, and they would go on to become a tried and tested almost famous story. They released a debut album on Virgin in 1988 before losing their record contract and splitting at the dawn of the 1990s, but Dombrowski, Cross and Mazzola weren't done. Deciding to form their own band, Dombrowski switched from drums to lead vocals, and the trio recruited Mike's brother Tim Cross on bass along with drummer Jimmy Paluzzi, christening the new group Sponge in 1992.
Previously playing a brand of gritty hard rock that most thought had been left dormant since the mid-70's, the new band incorporated influences cribbed from the fast exploding grunge movement, and struck gold very quickly as a result. By 1994, two years after they came together, they had signed a record deal with Columbia and released “Rotting Piñata”, their debut studio album. Thanks to the radio success of its singles “Plowed” and “Molly”, the album was a sleeper hit, eventually selling over half a million copies to be certified Gold by the RIAA. While the band were never able to match that record's commercial success, they quickly settled comfortably into their role as elder statesmen of alternative rock, remaining to this day a cult act still able to tear it up live and release records that are still as vital as they were in their commercial heyday. For that, they come highly recommended.
Lit is a very cool alternative rock band from California, which began in 1988 but didn’t see much success until the late 90’s. You probably know the song “My Own Worst Enemy” which is probably their most famous song.
When I saw them in 2000 they had a fashion show going on at the same time, which was just crazy but they had some really hot guys so I can’t complain. This band really knows how to rock but the fact that they brought Carmen Electra on stage really got everyone excited of course.
Their beloved drummer died of a brain tumor in 2009 at the age of 39, which was really sad of course. They were able to pick themselves up and move on though. They got a new drummer and are still performing now. They sound better than ever in my opinion and I am glad they were able to keep performing after their loss.
Their sound is a little different but you can still tell it is them and they can entertain audiences as good as ever. The have moved on with the times and kept their music fresh. They sound a little more hardcore and not as pop but this suits them well!
A true eccentric band of the 90s were Detroit alt-rockers Sponge who achieved mainstream success following the release of 'Rotting Piñata' which included the single 'Molly (16 Candles Down the Drain)'. Since these initial chartings, lead singer Vinnie Dombroski has lead a variety of musicians onto stages around the globe to perform a discography that now stands at seven albums.
The stage show has been carefully considered with the lighting, visuals and instrumentalists coming together to create an overall surrealistic rock experience. Sponge were always known for their flare so it is nice to see an amount of this has remained present in the years that followed. Fans old and new pack into the venue to hear classic material such as 'Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)' and 'Rainin'' bought into the modern day with reimagined arrangements and extended instrumentals in order to showcase the current touring band. Although the show is brief, the fans have seen what they came for and the band has really performed for the masses. They reappear once more for 'Fade From View' so the audience can jump along one last time.