STARK is a New York City rock trio with old school roots and original tunes!
Lani Ford--vocals, bass, 4 time ASCAP Plus Songwriter Award winner. Lani has played for The Bicycle Dogs, The Blind Pharaohs, The Heather Larkin Band, The Wood Nymphs, Killer Pang (and other Pang projects), Sweet Ami, W/Dylan, and The Love Pirates. She's also toured as back-up singer for TEMPTRESS. Born in Ft. Worth, Texas, Lani played bass for years before teaching herself how to play guitar enough to sing her songs at open mics.
Sonic Joe Hogan--guitar/backing vocals/engineer/co-producer Dude! Whoa! The definition of shred! Check out his band Roarfiend.
Eric Rock’n Robel—drums A total badass! Formerly with Heroin Sheiks and Nova Express.
Lani Ford is one of those girls who guys want to take home after the gig, but they're afraid she'll write a song about them. She doesn't mind perpetuating that. She also loves to give the other girls in the room a platform to let their wild sides reign free. That alone makes STARK compelling to watch. What makes them a great band is that the songs are songs, the guitar rocks and the lyrics are more than interesting.
Well, yes, there was the topless incident at Piano's, the smoking fiasco at Grand Central Bar, beer poured on body at Lucky Cheng's, the Boston brawl at 169 Bar and the shattered bottle at Pyramid, but all in all STARK's rowdiness is nothing compared to the in-your-face rock and roll the band pours out of it's soul at every show for every audience member every time! The sparse arrangements and honest lyrics will make you laugh, cry, dance, drink and get nasty. Influenced by blues, country, punk and metal, STARK can't be labeled as easily as most, but they play straight-up rock and roll, mostly described as Pretenders meets Patti Smith…or if X and The Stooges had babies. More modern references include The Kills, The Distillers, Courtney Love and The Breeders. It’s obvious Lani has had a lifetime of taking punches and is still standing in the music that is like dark comedy and punked out country blues all rolled into one sexy package.
Slinging poetic hillbilly angst dipped in sleazy underground NYC rock, STARK blasted onto the NYC scene in 2003. Before that, Lani Ford (lead vocalist, bassist and songwriter of STARK), with original members Dylan Grewen and Greg Schiff, spent a year and a half kicking around together at open mics and playing together in a couple of other bands. In 2004, the band recorded its debut CD "The Curse", instantly making fans out of big players in the NYC rock and roll scene and beyond from Genya Ravan to Lenny Kaye with the music they call Punk-try. STARK then played the NYC club scene for 5 years with various line-ups but Lani always out front, busting up the norm and lifting hearts everywhere with her dirty, intelligent, harsh, honest, and funny lyrics and huge voice.
With a growing support base, international press and airplay, and sheer determination, Lani has teamed up with Sonic Joe Hogan and Eric Rock’n Robel to start kicking some tail world-wide. STARK just released their sophomore record "Put It To Your Head" in January 2008. The Hogan engineered/co-produced and Josette played guitar. Lani and Rob are the rhythm section with backing vocal help from Rob and Pam the Metal Queen Grande. "Put It To Your Head" is harder, more punked out, and has fun, dark, groove-based songs that will blow your dress up!
ASCAP (Kicking and Screaming Music) SAG/AFTRA (Lani Ford)
DISCOGRAPHY:
"Put It To Your Head", Released January 26, 2008 Tracks with airplay: 18 Again, OH NO!, R-D-R, Disturbed, Nothing's Wrong, I Pay, Co-Dependent, Dreams Come True
"The Curse" LP, released May 15, 2004 Tracks with airplay: Cryin' In The Mornin', Somewhere, White Trash Rock & Roll Diva, Summer Girl, Look at Me, Beautiful Mistake, Slut, The One, Wrong Guy
"The Morgue The Merrier", LP, Poptown Records (2005) Compilation CD of New York City Bands--featuring STARK’s song "Slut"
"Live at CMJ", EP, limited release 2005
"Lani Ford Acoustic Live", EP, limited release 2006
STARK’s CD "The Curse" is available at:
CDBaby.com Apple itunes Subterranean Records and Cds Bleecker Bob's NYC Hardcore Tattoos Stretch The Skies.com
STARK’s CD “Put It To Your Head” available on:
Digstation Apple itunes CDBaby.com StretchTheSkies.com
“The Morgue The Merrier” is available on: Poptown Records.com CDBaby.com
FILM:
STARK's song "Cryin' in the Mornin'" in the independent feature film "Fillbilly"(2007) Lani Ford co-wrote a song featured in the horror film "Zombie Cult Massacre" (1998)
TV:
WNYW, Fox 5-TV (New York City) Kitchen Nightmares/FOX (Josette) Manny In Manhattan (NYC, MNN Ch. 57) Be Yourself As Well As Art (NYC, MNN Ch. 34) Mark After Dark (NY) Mango TV (NY) Vidocity (NY) Indigo TV (NY) ILR (Australia)
RADIO:
K94 Rocks (L.A.) Total Rock FM (London, UK) Sirius Radio (Chicks and Broads with Genya Ravan on Underground Garage) Sirius Radio (Jim Breuer show on Raw Dog) Sirius Radio (Goldie's Garage with Genya Ravan on Underground Garage) WTSR (Trenton, NJ) WUSB 90.1FM (Long Island, NY) WBAB's Homegrown show with Fingers (Long Island, NY) The Drop Zone/KTWL-FM (Houston, Texas) WGBB (Long Island, NY) ISON LIVE RADIO (ILR), Australia WXPK (Westchester, NY) WDTS in Georgetown, DE (CMJ/Top 30) WRPI in Troy, NY (CMJ/Loud Rock report)
College/non-commercial radio: Cuts from "The Curse" and “Put It To Your Head” can be heard on over 50 stations throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia
**STARK has also been receiving college radio airplay on:
WHRB in Cambridge, MA WFWM in Frostburg, MD WUNH in Durham, NH WDCR in Hanover, NH WCDB in Albany, NY WITR in Rochester, NY CHRW in London, Ontario WKDU in Philadelphia, PA WUSR in Scranton, PA WMSS in Middletown, PA WRKC in Wilkes-Barre, PA WCHL in Wilkes-Barre, PA; CKUT in Montreal, Quebec WRIU in Kingston, RI WDTS in Georgetown, DE (reported CMJ/Top 30) WVUD in Newark, DE WMHB in Waterville, ME WMPG in Portland, ME WNTI in Hackettstown, NJ WARY in Valhalla, NY WNYU in New York City WSIA in Staten Island, NYC WUSB in Stony Brook, NY CKCU in Ottowa WESU in Middletown, CT WPKN in Bridgeport, CT WXAC in Reading, PA WWUH in West Hartford, CT WMFO in Boston, MA WTCC in Springfield, MA WKDT in West Point, NY WRPI in Troy, NY (reported to CMJ/Loud Rock report) WRUV in Burlington, VT WHUS in Storrs, CT WMUA in Amherst, MA WSMU in Dartmouth, MA WERU in E. Orland, ME WRUR in Rochester, NY WFSE in Edinboro, PA WXVU in Villanova, PA WECS in Willmantic, CT WRSU in New Brunswick, NJ (Rutgers) CIUT in Toronto, Ontario WKPS in University Park, PA CIBL in Montreal, Quebec***
INTERNET:
You Rock Radio WomensRadio YourSpace Radio (www.myrealbroadcast.com) iRadio LA (Indie 1047/L.A.) Joey Stuckey’s Audio Style (Engage Internet Radio/GA) That Blue Jeans Guy Podcast (Podsafe Music Network) A Quiet Time (PMN) UC Radio Podcast (PMN/CA) The Delicate Art of Noise Pollution Podcast (PMN) Bolt.FM The Big Red One (IAC) The party (IAC) Next Big Hit Street Blast (MO) The Drop Zone (KTWL.com/Houston, TX) Zing! Flip! Squash! (Waterplanet Radio) Indie Limelight Radio Show (Indie Artist Radio) www.wnyu.org Crystal Blue Radio Local Music Now Radio Podrama (DJ Burnout) 'nette radio (Dallas/L.A.) Roots Rock Radio Radio X (NY) Radio Gets Wild (UK) Music-Islands (Japan) Wild West Rocks Radio NightOwlz Radio (Soundclick.com) Best Hits Radio New Juke.com SongPlanet.com (WSPR)
PRESS:
Street Voice UK (May 2008) Sound-check Magazine (UK, March/April 2008) Devolution Magazine (UK, June 2008) Bubblegum Slutzine (UK, March 2008) The New York Daily News (page 3 feature 2005) The Big Takeover Magazine (Spring 2007/Spring 2008) The New York Waste Magazine (over 20 issues) The New York Post (2004) The Deli (NY 2004) Wildy's World Blog (2008) Halifax Courier (UK, 2008) Time Out London (2008) Punk Globe Magazine (UK, March 2008) Village Voice (NY) More Sugar (NY) San Antonio Express-News (TX) WNYW, Fox 5-TV, New York WGBB, Long Island WPLJ-FM, New York Go Girls Music Website Swiss Records Website Bassgirls Website Indiegrrl Website Feast of Noise Website Songplanet Website WXPK-FM, Westchester New York Sugarzine Black Angel Reviews Horrorwood Babbleon Website The Aquarian (NJ)
SHOWCASES:
LAMN Manhattan Jam, NY (2008) Make Music New York (2007, 2008) CMJ 2005 Battle of the GoGirls 2006 Girls Rock and Girls Rule 2006 GoGirls Invasion of SXSW 2007 Go Girls Music Fest 2007 Selected as Standby Artist for NXNE 2008 OS Arthouse Shure Showcase 2008
HONORS/AWARDS:
ASCAP Songwriting Award 2007 (Lani Ford) ASCAP Songwriting Award 2006 (Lani Ford) ASCAP Songwriting Award 2005 (Lani Ford) STARK CD Release Party and UK Tour—Music Dish Network Event Picks (2008) Featured Artist on Nextcat.com (April 2008) Featured Artist on Feast of Noise.com (March 2008) Featured on The Musician's Auction Open House Blog (April 2008) Featured Artist on Treblenation.com 2007 Featured Artist on Songplanet.com (2008) Featured Artist on A Quiet Time Podcast (2008) Featured Artist on Best Hits Radio (2008) Featured Artist on ‘nette radio (2008) Featured Artist on CD Baby (Garage Rock & Punk Pop/2008) Featured Artist on NYCMusic.net (2008) Featured Artist on Indiegrrl.com (2008) Featured Artist on Indie Artist Radio’s Indie Limelight Radio Show (2005) Top 25 Rock Artist on Overplay.co.uk (UK, March/April 2008) Top 20 Pop Punk Artist on My Music Stream.com (2007/2008) Top 200 Alternative Artist on My Music Stream.com (2008) Top 10 Artist on Ourstage (Pop/June 2007) Top 50/100 Artist on Ourstage (Punk, Rock, Americana, Acoustic, Pop/2007, 2008) Top 15 Video on Ourstage (February 2008) Top 40 on KIAC Big 50 for 5 weeks in 2007 (“18 Again”) Top 75 Artist on Soundclick (R&R, Punk/2008) Top 100 Artist on Soundclick (Indie/Alt Power Pop in 2007, 2008) CMJ/Loud Rock report 2004 CMJ/Top 30 2004
NEW YORK CITY CLUBS (selected few):
CBGB’s Cutting Room Don Hill’s Arlene’s Grocery Continental Meow Mix Otto’s Shrunken Head Knitting Factory Kenny’s Castaways Pianos Snitch North Six Trash
LONDON CLUBS:
Dublin Castle Hope and Anchor Dirty Water Club The Dry Bar
TOURS:
UK Amsterdam, Netherlands Pennsylvania Upstate New York Maine Texas New Jersey Long Island
CHARITIES:
American Heart Association 9/11 Police and Firemen’s Widows’ Fund Willie Mae Camp for Girls God’s Love We Deliver Habitat For Humanity Women Build Suffolk County Red Cross World Society for the Protection of Animals Caring Bridge (Go Girls Fest 2006) The Kids Rock Hep-C Awareness Blank-Fest X 2006 and XI 2007 Porn4Peace Darfur Benefit 2007 Princeton Hospital June Fete Benefit 2007 Mighty Mutts (Go Girls Fest 2007)
SPONSORS (Past or Present):
Rock Star Energy Drink Sam Ash Go Girls Music Electro-Harmonix Shure Gibson
© 2008 Lani Ford
www.starknyc.com www.myspace.com/stark www.myspace.com/starknyc www.cdbaby.com/cd/starknyc www.cdbaby.com/cd/laniford www.digstation.com/stark |
