Robbie Robertson

Solare is currently in the process of completing its first American full-length record entitled, Fireworks over a Funeral. Recorded in Dave Grohl's Studio 606 with engineer John Lousteau (Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains), the record features the mixing talents of Alan Moulder (Pink Floyd, Nine Inch Nails, My Bloody Valen...tine) and Brian Scheuble (Rachael Yamagata,Tom Petty, Dave Matthews band). The Los Angeles-based, alternative rock trio materialized out of the partnership between Joshua Johnson and Christine Bruton. The band began in earnest after Johnson returned from an intense world tour as a member of Auf der Maur (Capitol Records solo project for the former Smashing Pumpkins, Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur.) Both Bruton and Johnson write songs relating to nature and science, often referring to the sun. The name Solare encapsulates this preoccupation using the Italian word for solar and referencing the nation that spawned some of history's earliest astronomers. The music reflects the epic spirit of these themes with swirling, shoegaze guitar/synth tones along with heavily layered melodies and a thick rhythm section. As active players in the art-infused Silverlake scene, the addition of renowned drummer Tim Dow (Shiner, On, Year of the Rabbit) allows the band to stand out as unabashedly "rockist" in a predominately indie/folk environment. The group's first release, The Story of the Moon EP (2006), spawned considerable notoriety within the Southern California music scene, with tracks featured on national radio giant KROQ, as well as the influential alternative station Indie 103.1. With a feverish concert schedule, Solare has performed at some of the area's top venues including: the Troubadour, Key Club, the Viper Room, Spaceland and the House of Blues. The band has toured regionally, playing with notable acts such as Grandaddy, The Living Things, Aqualung, IO Echo and The Life and Times. After garnering a sizable online following, Solare caught the attention of Tokyo-based label Fabtone records. The label subsequently released Solare's first full-length record Theology in Japan in 2008. That year, the band was also asked to contribute the track "Daylight" to the Failure tribute record The Nurse Who Loved Me (released via Pop-Up records.)Read More