FORTUNE 500

FORTUNE 500 was formed in 2005 after several years of playing both together and separately in various successful bands in upper northwest Washington (Pavlov Jones, Bluegreen, Hindu Grass, Swerving Birds, etc). As they began jamming, writing music, and eventually playing LIVE as a “power trio”, it was clear that this was a serendipitous joining of forces.
FORTUNE 500's sound has been likened to a Green Day-Weezer sandwich with a crunchy Pete Townshend middle.
Members of FORTUNE 500 (Matt Lessley- guitar & vox, Scott Storie- drums, and Andy Brown- bass) have at various times shared the stage with bands such as Everclear, 54-40, Presidents of the United States of America, The Posies, Cowboy Junkies, Hoobastank, Harvey Danger, The Boss Martians, Second Coming, Clumsy Lovers, Tommy Tutone, Flowmotion, Huffamoose, and even Quiet Riot!
FORTUNE 500 is currently playing regularly all around the great northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and beyond) in support of their first full-length album, “Fly to the Sun” (released in early 2008 to very positive reviews). They are scheduled to re-enter the studio in the Spring of 2009 to record their follow up
FORTUNE 500 likes beers, beats, and power chords.
AND you can also find us on itunes!
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What others are saying about FORTUNE 500's LP, Fly to the Sun:
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“This release is filled with music that will rock your socks off! The songs are filled with guitar hooks sharp enough to go shark fishing with, while the drum beats shake the ground. All this is topped off with strong vocals that take command of each song. This release has so many positives, I don’t know where to start. Music sounding this good needs to be heard! If anyone is reading this from a major record label, you need to get to one of the band’s shows soon. For the rest of you, put FORTUNE 500’s Fly to the Sun on your music-shopping list! Rating: 9.4 out of 10”.
~ C.W. Ross, Senior Writer - Indie Music Stop (Pennsylvania)
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“…Maintains a very fun alternative flow that would be ideal on a summer road trip. The alternative-punk chord progression, the up-paced but not quite 2/4 punk beats, and the ‘couldn’t care less if I don’t sound like a boy band vocalist’ vocals gave it that college alternative rock feel. Two thumbs way up.”
~ What’s Up Magazine (Washington State)
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"Fortune 500 has a nice poppy-alternative sound, which has a tint of a '60s sound at the beginning of this release. Two good examples of this are the bouncy "Drenched" and "Anna" which both have a fine use of harmonies. "Anna" also has a bit of Green Day poppiness in the vocal. "It's a Poem" is another nice ditty, which has a driving guitar sound and twinkley piano. There's also a good cover of "Leavin' On A Jetplane" where the band makes the song their own. The band ends the release with the clappin' revival sounding "Willie Hold Back" that I absolutely hate. They should have just ended the CD with the live tune "Save Your Life" which starts off a bit sounding like Cracker's "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)" but then morphs into a rockin' little ditty. Then they would have a CD where I loved every tune."
~ The ChickenFish Speaks (Ohio)
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“CAUTION: You are going to play this CD a lot if you like catchy riffs, pop music hooks, quirky thoughtful sensitive lyrics, Beatles harmonies, or smokin’ hot guitar leads. You'll only like this if you are into bands like Flop, Hukser Du, Seven Seconds, The Clash, Chuck Berry, The Posies, Green Day, Elvis Costello, Fleetwood Mac, or the movie Raising Arizona.”
~ Shane Gildnes - MOPE Records (Milky Way)
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“...Through a strange turn of events, I happened upon FORTUNE 500’s CD release party. I’m pretty burned out on hearing slacker original bands so it was nothing I was looking forward to. But this band rocks! FORTUNE 500 is my new favorite band. The drummer is TIGHT and rockin’ with a great back beat… he grooves. The live mix was great - good thump on the bass and kick with the vocals thinned out over the top of the mix - kind of a Green Day sound. Their songs were very accessible and easy to digest. Great feel… Through their entire set, there was not a single thing that jumped out that I didn’t like. FORTUNE 500 should get signed.”
~ Conrad Askland - Cybermonsters, Cirque du Soleil (China)