SOUTHPAW

Through the past 12 years SOUTHPAW has been able to carve out there own unique style and sound while making a well known name for themselves not only in the Long Island and New York hardcore scene but gaining fans around the world. Formed by singer Keith ‘Elmo’ Franco and ex-guitarist Paul Maddaloni in the mid 90’s the 2 came up with the name for their new band venture in a van on a road trip to Providence, Rhode Island while acting as roadies for their friends band Scarab. The one main goal of the band at the time was to keep an old school sounding style with fast hooky riffs and intelligent lyrics.

Southpaw from the get go did not want to limit themselves to just being a Long Island band. They played every show in every borough of NY they possibly could to get there name out there and build a following. They gave away there merch and demos for free and rarely ever got paid. They started putting songs on tons of comps all over until they grabbed the attention of Queens, NY based New Found Hope Records. SOUTHPAW received such a overwhelming response on NFH’s first compilation CD, ‘The First Amendment’ that SOUTHPAW was offered a full length CD to be put out by New Found Hope Records.

After the release of their first CD ‘Brighter Future’ the band kept the buzz going by playing with such big hardcore & punk acts like Hatebreed, Kill your idols, Indecision,25 ta Life, Nrsv, One 4 One ,The Six and Violence and Murphy’s Law.

SOUTHPAW, while plagued with constant member changes never gave up and kept the ball moving by playing live on WNYU’S famed radio show ‘Crucial Chaos’ and then releasing the live recording on Brazilian label Conspiracy Chain Records. For 2 more years the band played every show they possibly could get their hands on. In July of 2000 the band was able to play the legendary venue CBGB’s before they decided to take a hiatus to pursue other ventures in their personal lives.

In the fall of September 2007, singer Keith Franco, bassist James Maloney, guitarist Bill Kelly and drummer Greg Cea reformed to start writing the best material they have to date. Catching the eye of Paul from Motherbox Records who started out as just offering to help the band with distro offered the band to release their 2nd cd, ‘Stand For Something’ under the Motherbox flag. In May 2008 the band parted ways with drummer Greg Cea and welcomed in new drummer Alan Koeppel (who also sings in Point Blank)

With the band 12 years later sounding as tight as ever and writing better than they ever have things couldn’t be any better for them. More and more people are coming to check out the shows and the new cd 'Stand For Something’ is getting many rave reviews . No matter what happens now the most important thing that SOUTHPAW is having fun , creating great music and doing what they love to do.
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