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When listening to ChrisSquier's music, you can almost picture wet, dimly lit streets, smokestacks towering in the sky, and the Friday night revelry at the local bar after a hard weeks work.
Chris may have come from simple beginnings, but he knows that life is far from simple. He was born and raised in a factory town outside of Newark NJ, and spent a lot of time listening to the music that flowed through the house almost every night. My parents had an enormous record collection, he explains. We would sit for hours listening to everything from Elton John to Billy Joel to Queen to Led Zeppelin. I couldnt have asked for a better set of influences. Small wonder that those influences show through in his music sincere, direct, and with a Rock n Roll edge that reflects ourselves right back at us. Maybe this is why his fans relate to his music on such a personal level. I dont sing about esoteric subjects, Chris explains. If someone says to me after a show that they felt like I was on their wavelength, Ive done my job well.
Since making Western New York his home base several years ago, Chris hasnt looked back. His 2003 debut EP Interstates sold over 1,000 copies in the first six months, and he has expanded his performing and touring schedule nationally. In 2005 he has played to enthusiastic audiences in Austin, San Francisco, Chicago, Cleveland, Erie, and of course Buffalo and Rochester. Western New York has been so good to me. Im humbled by all the support Ive received, and have had a hell of a lot of fun. Theres much to be thankful for.
So Whats Next for Chris?
Chris has just released his first full-length CD called No Ordinary Anything. The CD was produced and engineered by Armand J. Petri, who has produced such legendary acts as the Goo Goo Dolls, 10,000 Maniacs, and Sixpence None the Richer. Armand also played drums and percussion on the CD, along with several local music heroes. When Chris approached them to see if they would want to be involved in the project, he was stunned by the response. I was honored that so many people wanted to lend their talents to the project. Im really happy with the result. Their unique styles gave the music more than I could have hoped or dreamed. Im really excited to get this thing out into the world. One special person also lent their modeling talents to the CD cover - Chris three-year old son Alex. He was great, and really loves the camera. He and my wife Gretchen are the inspiration for the title too. Everything in life, if you scratch the surface, has an extraordinary story behind it. If you stop and think about the amount of things that have to happen for an event to occur, for two people to meet, for an idea to come to life, it is truly a wonder."
"Engaging...He plays his melodic, hard-strummed tunes with an impassioned urgency." - Erie News-Times "
A passionate vocalist -his gravelly voice is comparable to Darkness on the Edge of Town era Springsteen. Bob Sylvestri, Best of Western New York magazine
"(Squier) does what he does well...It's acoustic rock about real-life, small-town America situations and themes, reminiscent of Mellancamp or of Springsteen... and it doesn't need to pretend to be anything except what it is." - Northeast IN-TUNE Magazine
Stats: Nominated Best Singer/Songwriter 2004 WNY Peoples Choice Awards
Nominated Best Original Solo/Acoustic performer 2005 Buffalo Music Awards.
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