SCENE: THE SPOTLIGHT | THIS WEEK'S BAND

The Scene Spotlight: Johnny Rocker and The Hitmen

11/20/2013
BLADE STAFF

Lineup: Jeff Smith, guitars/vocals; Kyle White, guitars/vocals; Scott Bylow, drums/percussion/vocals; and Lee Valasek, bass/keyboards/vocals.

Year began performing: This month, we are celebrating the band's 10-year anniversary.

Style of music: Modern rock/popular rock/classic, including current chart-toppers.

Influences: From Rush to Van Halen and all their progeny with the feel and emotion of Pearl Jam and Green Day. Modern influences of artists keeping the notion of a "band" alive such as Foo Fighters and Maroon 5.

Sounds a little like: Tight vocals and harmonies such as Journey or the Eagles; rocking guitars and high energy on modern sounds of Green Day and Foo Fighters; female-based vocals with heart and soul like Adele and other such artists with tonal depth.

Favorite local venue: Every venue that supports the local scene like the The Distillery and new entrants in the Warehouse District such as Ye Olde Durty Bird, Ye Olde Cock n' Bull, and Table Forty 4.

Upcoming gigs: Special 10-year anniversary celebration show at The Distillery on Saturday, followed by a return performance at The Distillery for the "biggest bar night of the year" on Wednesday.

Any CDs/online releases: Individual band member releases: Kyle White released "Blue Holes In a Gray Sky" in 2007 and "On With The Show" in 2011. Jeff Smith and Scott Bylow are co-writers and co-producers of Van Gogh Stereo and released "This Other Life" in 2001.

Web site: johnnyrockerandthehitmen.com