The Stiletto Formal
Encyclopedia
The Stiletto Formal was a self-proclaimed "eccentric rock and roll" band from Phoenix, Arizona
, and were one of the few rock bands featuring a cello
and other exotic instruments and effects as an integral part of their sound. In addition, unusual time signatures, and Kyle Howard's falsetto
provided distinction in the music. Their lyrics are often constructed into a short story format. They had gained a local fanbase in Arizona and were attracting national attention after playing nationwide tours and appearing on the Vans Warped Tour; however, band frontman Kyle Howard relocated to Los Angeles in 2009, and the group's Facebook and Myspace profiles have since been devoid of group activity.
In addition to their two released EP's, Masochism In The Place Of Romance
and This Is My Boomstick
, the band has two unreleased songs, "The Everlasting Gaze" originally performed by Smashing Pumpkins and a demo called "This Song Can't Be About Blowing Things Up Because Of Terrorism".
Their debut album is entitled ¡Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta!
, which is self-described as being "dark but still upbeat". It was released on October 21, 2008. They worked with producers Cory Spotts
(Job For A Cowboy
, Greeley Estates
) and Darrell Thorp (Radiohead
, Outkast
, Beck
) for the album, which was released on Eyeball Records
.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, and were one of the few rock bands featuring a cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
and other exotic instruments and effects as an integral part of their sound. In addition, unusual time signatures, and Kyle Howard's falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
provided distinction in the music. Their lyrics are often constructed into a short story format. They had gained a local fanbase in Arizona and were attracting national attention after playing nationwide tours and appearing on the Vans Warped Tour; however, band frontman Kyle Howard relocated to Los Angeles in 2009, and the group's Facebook and Myspace profiles have since been devoid of group activity.
In addition to their two released EP's, Masochism In The Place Of Romance
Masochism in the Place of Romance
Masochism In The Place Of Romance is The Stiletto Formal's first release, it was released in 2005. The CD format of the EP has been out of print since 2006 but is now available digitally via iTunes and other online stores.-Track listing:...
and This Is My Boomstick
This Is My Boomstick
This Is My Boomstick is The Stiletto Formal's second release, it was released in early 2006. It also marked the last album ex-keyboard and percussionist Shelly Barnes and drummer Nole Kennedy perform on...
, the band has two unreleased songs, "The Everlasting Gaze" originally performed by Smashing Pumpkins and a demo called "This Song Can't Be About Blowing Things Up Because Of Terrorism".
Their debut album is entitled ¡Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta!
¡Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta!
¡Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta! is the debut studio album by The Stiletto Formal released on October 21, 2008.-Track listing:...
, which is self-described as being "dark but still upbeat". It was released on October 21, 2008. They worked with producers Cory Spotts
Cory Spotts
Cory Spotts is a record producer from Phoenix, Arizona. Spotts runs BLUElight Audio|Media, a recording studio in Phoenix. In 2005 it was said that he was one of the most sought after producers in Arizona...
(Job For A Cowboy
Job for a Cowboy
Job for a Cowboy is a American death metal band from Glendale, Arizona. Formed in 2003, the band's debut album Genesis was released in 2007, peaking at #54 on the US Billboard 200 and selling 13,000 copies in its first week of release. The second album, 2009's Ruination, sold 10,600 copies in...
, Greeley Estates
Greeley Estates
Greeley Estates is an American metalcore band from Phoenix, Arizona. Formed in 2002, the band has released five full-length studio albums and one EP...
) and Darrell Thorp (Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, Outkast
OutKast
Outkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...
, Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
) for the album, which was released on Eyeball Records
Eyeball Records
Eyeball Records is an independent record label based in Northern New Jersey, formed in 1995 by Alex Saavedra. They have released albums by artists such as Thursday, My Chemical Romance and Murder by Death....
.
Final Lineup
- Kyle Howard - Vocals, Percussion, Keyboard
- Paul Neely - Bass, Percussion, Keyboard
- Sunny Davis - Cello, Shaker
- Jimi Lamp - Guitar
- Pat McCarthy - Drums
Former members
- Nole Kennedy - Drums
- Drew Domm - Drums
- Shelly Barnes - Keyboard, Vocals, Percussion
- Brady Leffler - Keyboard
Discography
- Masochism In The Place Of RomanceMasochism in the Place of RomanceMasochism In The Place Of Romance is The Stiletto Formal's first release, it was released in 2005. The CD format of the EP has been out of print since 2006 but is now available digitally via iTunes and other online stores.-Track listing:...
EP (2005) - This Is My BoomstickThis Is My BoomstickThis Is My Boomstick is The Stiletto Formal's second release, it was released in early 2006. It also marked the last album ex-keyboard and percussionist Shelly Barnes and drummer Nole Kennedy perform on...
EP (2006) - ¡Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta!¡Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta!¡Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta! is the debut studio album by The Stiletto Formal released on October 21, 2008.-Track listing:...
(October 21, 2008)
Gear Used
- Kyle Howard - Korg Keyboard, Foot processor, Maracas, Cowbell, Timpanes, others
- Paul Neely - MicroKorgMicroKORGThe microKORG is a MIDI-capable virtual analog synthesizer/vocoder from Korg featuring high-quality DSP analog modelling. The synth/keyboard is built in such a way that it is essentially a Korg MS-2000 with programmable step arpeggiator , a less advanced vocoder , lack of motion sequencing The...
, RolandRolandRoland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
SP-404, BOSSBoss CorporationBoss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
Bass Overdrive, Electro-HarmonixElectro-HarmonixElectro-Harmonix is a New York-based company that makes high-end electronic audio processors. The company was founded by Mike Matthews in 1968. They are most famous for a series of popular guitar effects pedals introduced in the 1970s and 1990s....
Big Muff Pi, Sans-Amp, others - Sunny Davis - Zeta Strados Fusion Electric Cello, Boss Digital Delay, Either a Danelectro Chorus or Octave Pedal, others
- Jimi Lamp - '72 Fender Telecaster, Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi, Boss Digital Delay, ErnieBall Volume Pedal, IbanezIbanezis a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
Tube Screamer, others