About Me
The beginning of Blackened Blue’s story is clearly undefined. Many would say that the band is still taking its first steps, but the band members and their families know that it really began many years ago with Josh and Matt’s thirst for musical innovation.
Josh Nieto and Matt Ostrow have been best friends for over 13 years, before either one of them even began playing their instruments. Josh first picked up a guitar when he was about 12 and became instantly obsessed. Shortly after, Matt got a drum set and the neighborhood was never quiet again. They spent endless months jamming together and began forming bands over the next few years. From the beginning with Visions, to being joined by Steve Clifford, (currently of Circa Survive), in Waiting For… Josh and Matt grew very tight musically over the years. Yet, it wasn’t until one summer night almost 3 years ago that the two would realize the talent and ambition that surrounded them.
Bob and Matt had been friends since high school, where they not only had homeroom together, but several classes as well, in which they spent most of the time playing cards. Bob Portland began playing guitar around the age of 14 when his late friend Joe Kennick showed him a few riffs, as well as how to even hold the guitar. He began jamming throughout the years with friends and eventually his playing became more and more fluent and precise. As he continued to improve Bob dreamed being part of a band. However, with bassists, drummers, and vocalists few and far between, starting a band never seemed like a realistic endeavor, until one particular night changed everything.
That night, in the summer of ’04, Matt arrived at Bob’s backyard BBQ with a friend. As Matt introduced Josh and Bob for the first time, his mind began to race when he realized that neither of the two knew of the others musical talent. Instantly, Matt knew the two had to jam and see how they would mesh. And so they did, and from the first harmony, to last ear piercing squeal, it was a jaw dropping successes. The three immediately knew they had to start a band.
With Bob on board, the three began to put as much time and effort into the band as they could. They decided on the name ‘Blackened Blue’ because it describes the groups approach to their music: deep-rooted metal influenced riffs fused with a melodic musical understanding and presentation. At times while writing their music it seemed the trio couldn’t be stopped, except when they had to go back to school. College has always been a large obstacle for Blackened Blue, not allowing the three to jam more than once every two months during the school year, if they were lucky. With Matt and Bob both attending Penn State, they eventually moved in together, allowing them to spend the next 2 years jamming and partying together. Meanwhile, back at home Josh also was in school at Bucks County Community College, honing his skills while earning his degree in music.
As the months past, working and hanging out together Matt, Josh, and Bob became the best of friends, yet they still had one large problem: they had no bass player.
After recording their first demo with a bassist who didn’t work out, the band had no idea where to turn to find a new one. They had to look no further than Matt’s own home and his brother Zack Ostrow. A true bass prodigy at the age of 16, Zack was an obvious fit into the already tight knit group. Age has no barring when it comes to Zack and his bass prowess, since he has been playing the instrument since he was 7 years old. The move seemed almost too obvious: adding a brother to the already brother-close band. Now, with Josh and Matt graduated, Bob soon-to-be graduated, and Zack on board, the sky is not the limit for Blackened Blue, its only the beginning.(C) Blackened Blue 2006
