BAG OF TOYS: Acoustic Surf Rock That Doesn’t Suck
In recent years, the soundtrack to coastal life has taken on many forms. From the laid-back island folk of Jack Johnson to the reggae-infused punk rock of Sublime, beach-inspired music has gone in vastly different directions.
In comes Bag of Toys, an acoustic surf-rock band from Northern California, that has emerged on the music scene with a completely original, infectious sound that is drenched in the sun and sand.
The foundation all began when lead vocalist Robert Tait began writing songs at the age of fourteen. The Pacific Ocean lured him out to San Francisco, and in late 2003, he found musical support in the melodic guitar playing of band member Steve Cowgill. Seeking to fill out the sound, the duo perused the internet for a rhythm section and found the perfect fit with Joe Schewe holding a bass and Robert Stadler behind a drum set. The foursome spent the summer of 2004 in Tait's apartment molding his early creations into the addicting sound that has become known as Bag of Toys.
In 2006, the group released their full-length debut album, “Nooner” and quickly propelled to the top of the rankings for unsigned acoustic artists on Myspace.com. Mastered by Dave Collins (Jack Johnson, No Doubt, Ben Harper), the CD was sold in all 50 states as well as over 20 different countries in less than one year from its release. In 2007, "Share," one of the band's original songs from “Nooner,” was prominently featured on both a national television commercial for the Microsoft Zune media player and San Francisco's KFOG Local Scene (Vol. 4) radio station compilation.
Starting out with a few appearances at a local open-mic showcase, Bag of Toys has quickly risen up the San Francisco venue circuit by entertaining the masses at venues such as The Independent and Slim's while sharing the stage with popular acts such as Pato Banton, Sean Kingston, John Cruz, Fishbone, The Expendables, and the B Foundation.
Bag of Toys is now set to release their second full-length album July 1st. Entitled "Afternooner," the album was recorded at Gadgetbox Studios in Santa Cruz, produced by Andy Zenczak (Gadgetbox Studios), mastered by John Cuniberti (Dave Matthews, The Grateful Dead, Aerosmith), and features 13 contagious tracks which not only have the signature sound that made their debut album popular, but also incorporate some new elements such as funk, country, and Latin rhythms.
Undeniably, Bag of Toys has invented a sound all their own. Featuring two acoustic guitars, the music offers a relaxed vibe supported by a catchy groove and rock-oriented rhythm section. So sit back, grab a beer, and enjoy the imaginary sand in between your toes because Bag of Toys will take you away to a better place with what the band jokingly refers to as “acoustic surf-rock that doesn't suck.”
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