Home Town Hero
Encyclopedia
Hometown Hero was a post-grunge
band from Southern California
active in the early 2000s. Founding members Aaron Bruno and Drew Stewart began playing together while attending Westlake High School
, where their early project was known as the Ice Monkeys. They were greatly influenced by the success of Southern California punk bands of the early 1990s and the Grunge
aesthetic popularized by bands like Nirvana
and Pearl Jam
. With the later addition of bassist Todd Burns and drummer Ray Blanco
the band re-christened themselves as Insurgence. As Insurgence they began playing famous California venues, including The Roxy Theatre
and Whisky a Go Go
.
When the band began work on their demo
EP
they again changed their name, this time to "Home Town Hero". In 2000 and 2001 Home Town Hero joined the Van's Warped Tour, where they attracted the attention of Madonna
's Maverick Records
label. The band's eponymous major label debut was heavily promoted by Warner Bros. Records
, and their single "Questions" received significant airplay in major American radio markets. "Questions" was also included in the video game soundtrack for Legends of Wrestling II
.
Hometown Hero split up shortly before releasing their second LP
, Bitch City, in 2004. The album did not see a physical release, but was freely available to download on the internet. The track "Robbers" was selected by EA Sports
for the soundtrack to their MVP Baseball 2004 video game.http://www.madden04.com/maddenplanet/newsdata/eafans/reviews/1108554795.shtml
Vocalist Aaron Bruno and guitarist Drew Stewart went on to found Under the Influence of Giants
under the Island Records
label in 2005, then to AWOLNATION
.
Ray Blanco
is now Drummer/Songwriter of The Bangkok Five (Universal Records/Execution style 2006, Sony/Long Live Crime 2008, Indiemedia, Inc 2010). A&R/Writer/Producer/Partner of Fundamental Music. Business Development & Entertainment Alliances at Indiemedia, Inc. Owner/ Executive Producer at Generator Productions. Owner/Partner of The Lowtide Lounge beach bar in Esterillos Oeste, Costa Rica.
Post-grunge
Post-grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the mid-1990s as a derivative of grunge, using the sounds and aesthetic of grunge, but with a more commercially acceptable tone...
band from Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
active in the early 2000s. Founding members Aaron Bruno and Drew Stewart began playing together while attending Westlake High School
Westlake High School (California)
Westlake High School, often known simply as Westlake or Westlake High is a public high school in Westlake Village, California, hosting grades 9–12...
, where their early project was known as the Ice Monkeys. They were greatly influenced by the success of Southern California punk bands of the early 1990s and the Grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
aesthetic popularized by bands like Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
and Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
. With the later addition of bassist Todd Burns and drummer Ray Blanco
Ray Blanco
Ray Blancowas once a drummer for a band named Home Town Hero. The band was able to shape up its professional image by performing at the world famous Whiskey-A-Go-Go. In 2000-2001 the band participated in the Vans Warped tour which gave the the national exposure, ultimately leading to them...
the band re-christened themselves as Insurgence. As Insurgence they began playing famous California venues, including The Roxy Theatre
The Roxy Theatre
The Roxy Theatre is a famous nightclub, on the Sunset Strip, in West Hollywood, California. The Roxy is owned by Lou Adler and Adler's son, Nic, who operates the club.- History :...
and Whisky a Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
.
When the band began work on their demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
they again changed their name, this time to "Home Town Hero". In 2000 and 2001 Home Town Hero joined the Van's Warped Tour, where they attracted the attention of Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's Maverick Records
Maverick Records
Maverick Recording Company is an American record label owned and operated by Warner Music Group, and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:...
label. The band's eponymous major label debut was heavily promoted by Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, and their single "Questions" received significant airplay in major American radio markets. "Questions" was also included in the video game soundtrack for Legends of Wrestling II
Legends of Wrestling II
Legends of Wrestling II is the sequel to the professional wrestling video game Legends of Wrestling. It was published by Acclaim Entertainment and released on November 26, 2002 for both the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube. It was then released later for the Xbox on December 5, 2002...
.
Hometown Hero split up shortly before releasing their second LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, Bitch City, in 2004. The album did not see a physical release, but was freely available to download on the internet. The track "Robbers" was selected by EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
for the soundtrack to their MVP Baseball 2004 video game.http://www.madden04.com/maddenplanet/newsdata/eafans/reviews/1108554795.shtml
Vocalist Aaron Bruno and guitarist Drew Stewart went on to found Under the Influence of Giants
Under the Influence of Giants
Under the Influence of Giants is a musical group from Los Angeles, California. They released their major label debut album in August 2006, which was a number one hit on the Top Heatseekers chart. Among their influences are the Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin, the Bee Gees, Prince, WHAM!, Chicago...
under the Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
label in 2005, then to AWOLNATION
AWOLNATION
AWOLNATION is an American alternative pop band, and is the solo project of Aaron Bruno, formerly of Under the Influence of Giants, Hometown Hero, and Insurgence...
.
Ray Blanco
Ray Blanco
Ray Blancowas once a drummer for a band named Home Town Hero. The band was able to shape up its professional image by performing at the world famous Whiskey-A-Go-Go. In 2000-2001 the band participated in the Vans Warped tour which gave the the national exposure, ultimately leading to them...
is now Drummer/Songwriter of The Bangkok Five (Universal Records/Execution style 2006, Sony/Long Live Crime 2008, Indiemedia, Inc 2010). A&R/Writer/Producer/Partner of Fundamental Music. Business Development & Entertainment Alliances at Indiemedia, Inc. Owner/ Executive Producer at Generator Productions. Owner/Partner of The Lowtide Lounge beach bar in Esterillos Oeste, Costa Rica.