Attila and the huns
Encyclopedia
Attila and the Huns are a three-piece powerpop/ska
band, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. They are notable for their work with producer Norwood Fisher of Fishbone
.
. Philip would join in 2004. After playing various cover gigs, AATH began recording originals in 2004, releasing two EPs. Their cover of the satirical holiday parody "Ramahanukwanzmas" was played on The Glenn Beck Program in December of that year. They signed with Dreamscape records in 2005, and were mentored by Badfinger
drummer Mike Gibbons
until his untimely death that October. Their first album was self titled. It was recorded in 2005, and released in 2006, and followed up by promotional touring, opening for bands such as The Know How
, Westbound Train
, Big D and the Kids Table
, Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer and B Real of Cypress Hill
.
AATH broke off their contract with Dreamscape in 2006, and recorded "Good Teenagers Take off their Clothes" (a reference to the Disney film Aladdin
). Ex Molly Hatchet
and current Pat Travers Band drummer Sean Shannon produced the record. The album led to more tour appearances, and radio airplay.
After releasing "Christmas Socks", a Christmas-themed album featuring both covers and original songs in 2007, the band did a small amount of touring. After about a year of inactivity, and a summer spent in California, the band released their 4th studio album "Black Coal, Golden Bridges". It is a self produced paean
for their hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. Kevin left during the recording of this album, and was replaced on guitar and lead vocals by Andrew. All three remaining members moved to the Richmond, Virginia
area in early 2011.
After a 2010 tour, AATH is back in the studio. They are currently recording under the production of Norwood Fisher of Fishbone
. A new album is expected in late 2011, or early 2012, although Andrew O'Donnell has hinted on twitter that a significant output of music can be expected from the band in the near future.
Attila and the Huns will appear in the upcoming B-Movie parody "Return of the Loch Ness Monster from Outer Space", starring model Melissa Chasteen (who tours with the band on occasion). Attila and the Huns will contribute songs to the film, and Andrew will score incidental music. The film is being produced by the Steven Spielberg
lauded Valencia Community College
film department.
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
band, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. They are notable for their work with producer Norwood Fisher of Fishbone
Fishbone
Fishbone is a U.S. alternative rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California, which plays a fusion of ska, punk rock, funk, hard rock and soul. Critics have noted of the band: "Fishbone was one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s...
.
History
The band began in 2003, the brain child of brothers Kevin, Andrew and Matthew O'Donnell while living in Orlando, FloridaOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. Philip would join in 2004. After playing various cover gigs, AATH began recording originals in 2004, releasing two EPs. Their cover of the satirical holiday parody "Ramahanukwanzmas" was played on The Glenn Beck Program in December of that year. They signed with Dreamscape records in 2005, and were mentored by Badfinger
Badfinger
Badfinger were a British rock band consisting originally of Pete Ham, Ron Griffiths, Mike Gibbins and Tom Evans, active from 1968 to 1983, and evolving from The Iveys, formed by Ham, Griffiths and David "Dai" Jenkins in Swansea, Wales, in the early 1960s. Joey Molland joined the group in 1969,...
drummer Mike Gibbons
Mike Gibbons
Mike Gibbons was an American boxer from 1908 to 1922. The brother of heavyweight Tommy Gibbons, Mike claimed Middleweight Champion of the World status in 1909 following Stanley Ketchel's murder. Although he never won the title, Gibbons is regarded as one of the all-time best welter and...
until his untimely death that October. Their first album was self titled. It was recorded in 2005, and released in 2006, and followed up by promotional touring, opening for bands such as The Know How
The Know How
The Know How is a third wave ska band from Gainesville, Florida, formed in 1998. Their musical style blends ska and pop punk and prominently features a Moog synthesizer alongside more typical ska instrumentation Despite releases on Jump Up! Records and Stomp Records, numerous nationwide tours The...
, Westbound Train
Westbound Train
Westbound Train is a ska band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 2001. Their name originates from the Dennis Brown hit song by the same name....
, Big D and the Kids Table
Big D and the Kids Table
Big D and the Kids Table is a ska punk band formed in October 1995 in Allston, Massachusetts when its members converged in college. Their first release was on their own Fork In Hand Records label, but have since teamed with Springman Records and SideOneDummy...
, Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer and B Real of Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
.
AATH broke off their contract with Dreamscape in 2006, and recorded "Good Teenagers Take off their Clothes" (a reference to the Disney film Aladdin
Aladdin
Aladdin is a Middle Eastern folk tale. It is one of the tales in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights , and one of the most famous, although it was actually added to the collection by Antoine Galland ....
). Ex Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet is an American southern rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1975. They are widely known for their hit song "Flirtin' with Disaster" from the album of the same title. The band, founded by Dave Hlubek and Steve Holland, took its name from a prostitute who allegedly mutilated...
and current Pat Travers Band drummer Sean Shannon produced the record. The album led to more tour appearances, and radio airplay.
After releasing "Christmas Socks", a Christmas-themed album featuring both covers and original songs in 2007, the band did a small amount of touring. After about a year of inactivity, and a summer spent in California, the band released their 4th studio album "Black Coal, Golden Bridges". It is a self produced paean
Paean
A paean is a song or lyric poem expressing triumph or thanksgiving. In classical antiquity, it is usually performed by a chorus, but some examples seem intended for an individual voice...
for their hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. Kevin left during the recording of this album, and was replaced on guitar and lead vocals by Andrew. All three remaining members moved to the Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
area in early 2011.
After a 2010 tour, AATH is back in the studio. They are currently recording under the production of Norwood Fisher of Fishbone
Fishbone
Fishbone is a U.S. alternative rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California, which plays a fusion of ska, punk rock, funk, hard rock and soul. Critics have noted of the band: "Fishbone was one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s...
. A new album is expected in late 2011, or early 2012, although Andrew O'Donnell has hinted on twitter that a significant output of music can be expected from the band in the near future.
Attila and the Huns will appear in the upcoming B-Movie parody "Return of the Loch Ness Monster from Outer Space", starring model Melissa Chasteen (who tours with the band on occasion). Attila and the Huns will contribute songs to the film, and Andrew will score incidental music. The film is being produced by the Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
lauded Valencia Community College
Valencia Community College
Valencia College, formerly known as Valencia Community College, is a public state college in Orlando, Florida, United States. Valencia is the third-largest member institution of the Florida College System....
film department.
Current lineup
- Andrew O'Donnell - vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, drums, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
(2003–present) - Matthew O'Donnell - vocals, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitar, tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
(2003–present) - Philip O'Donnell - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, vocals (2004–present)
Touring Members
- Melissa Chasteen - SynthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
- Justin Mousseau - Bass (2008–2009)
- Steven Addison - Drums (2009)
- Scott Zink - Drums (2010)
- Vincent Burchett - Drums (2011)
Studio albums
- Attila and the HunsAttila and the hunsAttila and the Huns are a three-piece powerpop/ska band, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are notable for their work with producer Norwood Fisher of Fishbone.- History :...
- 2006 on Dreamscape Records - Good Teenagers take off their Clothes - 2007 on Chaostrophy Records
- Christmas Socks - 2007 on Muntjac Music Publishing
- Black Coal, Golden Bridges - 2009 on Original Man Records
EPs
- Jaggelwuss - 2004
- There's More Sand Here than we Thought... - 2004
- Kick Me - 2008
Videos
- Westboro - 2007
- Rock and Roll: The Song - 2008
- Hi Leigh - 2008
- I, Casanova - 2011