About the Band

Stylish Tampa Bay unit Four Star Riot may have undergone a lineup change or two, but new album Land Of The Lonely finds the group further refining its singular blend of power-pop, timeless rock swagger and soulful R&B. From the first smoldering strains of opener “Move Forward,” it’s obvious FSR has left the crowd of three-chord soundalikes behind, and 2010 is the band’s most mature, original and thoughtful effort yet. Tracks like the melancholy “Land of the Lonely” and dynamic “The Only One” reverberate with depth and rhythm, yet never sacrifice hook; “Over & Over” and a playful cover of Prince’s “When U Were Mine” pack all the energy and punch of previous, more overtly pop-heavy releases.

Raulton Reichel’s B3 and Wurlitzer lines add another level to FSR’s already sophisticated songcraft, wrapping around Chaz Winzenread’s propulsive guitar like aural filigree while riding the alternately sweet and dirty grooves of drummer Mike Chilton and bassist Aaron Akers, and frontman Steve Alex’s tuneful, right-on-the-edge-of-raspy vocals deliver with compelling earnestness.

If great rock ‘n’ roll is a study in contrast and balance--subtlety and bombast, melody and beat, heart and libido, body and soul--then Land Of The Lonely is smart, sexy, ample evidence that Four Star Riot is one great rock ‘n’ roll band.

Four Star Riot have supported Bon Jovi, Lit, Jimmy Eat World, Def Leppard, Sum 41, Sugarcult, and Saliva, among many others, and have performed at Austin’s annual South by Southwest SXSW industry to-do, as well as Atlanta’s Atlantis Music Festival and the Florida Music Festival. The group has also garnered multiple awards and kudos from the hometown press, and national ink in outlets such as Music Connection.