Full Powered Halo

Armed with some new great songs and a few old classics, Full Powered Halo is back to reclaim their place in Boston music and to (hopefully and finally) capitalize on what they started 15 years ago......... It was 1993 when Full Powered Halo originally formed as a 3 piece in Boston. It was the tail end of the world wide Grunge explosion. The Aero- Zeppelin riffs and the quiet verse/ loud chorus song formula had been all but mined dry by Seattle’s finest and their imitators. This meant ther...

Armed with some new great songs and a few old classics, Full Powered Halo is back to reclaim their place in Boston music and to (hopefully and finally) capitalize on what they started 15 years ago......... It was 1993 when Full Powered Halo originally formed as a 3 piece in Boston. It was the tail end of the world wide Grunge explosion. The Aero- Zeppelin riffs and the quiet verse/ loud chorus song formula had been all but mined dry by Seattle’s finest and their imitators. This meant there were hundreds of bands in Boston all looking to find the “new” direction in music and thus, become the next big thing......... There were Goth and Metal revivalists, New Wave and Electronica wannabes, Hardcore bands converting to Punk and Ska, and countless God - awful Berkeley College of Music party bands playing the most offensive type of music; white boy dance/ funk......... It was against this backdrop that with a few other local acts (Cold Water Flat, Jack Drag, the Outlets) and a few national ones (Superdrag, Lemonheads, Buffalo Tom), Full Powered Halo responded to the musical diversity of the time. Within this small cadre of bands there was but one directive; write great songs…or at least the best ones possible......... The first FPH lineup consisted of Craig Barcelo on Drums, Mike Cotter on Bass, and Mark Duchane on Guitar. Mark and Mike basically split vocal duties. Their first demo cassette was released in 1993 and was not well received by local Boston Rock paper of note “The Noise”. They described the demo as; “…piss-ant power pop pap… (and) a new low (in Boston music)”......... Fully encouraged by their ability to garner such a strong opinion, FPH printed flyers with the quote from the negative review and the caption “Come See What the Critics Are Raving About!!!” They booked several shows and very quickly became known as a popular act with a “good draw” in the Boston area......... In the next few years, FPH was able to grow and maintain a strong local fan base. This opened up several opportunities for the band. These included; opening for many national acts including hit-makers Matchbox 20 and releasing a pair of locally popular CD - EP’s, both recorded at the renowned Fort Apache studios in Somerville. Each of these CD’s went on to sell 1,500 copies, a respectable number for a local band. In addition to this, their song “One Penny” achieved regular rotation on WFNX’s “Boston Product Spotlight” which aired daily at 10AM. Finally, the band received a shot at local stardom at the then famous WBCN Rock N Roll Rumble......... This momentum carried the band forward to the point where they were given the opportunity to do a small tour of the east coast. This tour was to be booked by a then up and coming booking agent who worked for the legendary “Don Law” Booking Agency......... At this point, Craig decided that a touring situation was not what he wanted, so FPH found a more than adequate replacement in drummer Chris Ventolieri. He was a shoe – in for the job because he was a great drummer, and it didn’t hurt that he owned a mini van as well......... The trio played shows with some famous and many not so famous bands as far north as Portland, Maine and as far south as Beckley, West Virginia. They hit all the major towns in between (New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, etc.)......... While the tour did not result in a breakthrough hit for the band, it did give them some great stories that they enjoy telling to this day….and that’s what Rock N Roll is really all about, stories…...... ….but like the clichéd story of so many bands, FPH’s first incarnation died around 1998 from the apathy that comes from not being at the right place at the right time, and not being ready for the opportunities that were given to them. While they were a good band with a few great songs, the limitations of a three piece set up and the fact that the movement that most inspired FPH, the “song – focused” Britpop movement, started to wane made it difficult for them to want to continue. They found themselves playing the same places around Boston, and while they still had a strong core fan base, the momentum they once had was no longer there. Getting that momentum started again proved to be more of a challenge than the band was willing to take on…...... During their tenure, FPH tried a few times to become a traditional 4 piece with the same 2 guitar, bass, drums and multiple - singer set up as the bands they idolized; The Beatles, The Kinks, and Oasis (who really believes that Noel NEEDS Liam up there)......... In spite of their efforts to integrate a new member, no one really fit in with their attitude toward songwriting (good, catchy songs are more important than musicianship) and their desire to play anywhere instead of limiting themselves to the “popular” rock clubs of the time; the Middle East, Bills Bar, Mama Kin, etc......... Now, finally, 10 years later that problem has been solved. In May of 2008 founding members Mark and Mike were talking about reforming for a few shows. Mike mentioned that he knew a couple of guys that could fit in with them personality - wise and that held similar attitudes/ opinions about music......... That brings us to today…the beginning of a new chapter in the history of FPH......... Boston music fixture Anthony Aubrey has taken over drumming duties and Dave Scott has replaced Mike on bass. This move simultaneously upgraded the bass playing in the band and allowed Mike to move to a role more suited to his skills as a “rhythm” guitar player. It has also freed up Mark to be more expressive and creative in his “lead” guitar responsibilities and allowed him to become focused on singing better harmonies to Mike’s lead vocals......... All four members, old and new, agree that this is the best band of their extensive individual music careers… We hope you feel the same way......... Long live FPH!