from Urban Style to Crash Boom Bang (8/20/05)

It's definitely been a long journey to make Crash Boom Bang who they are now. Born under the name, "Urban Style" during the winter of 1999, these four high school friends never knew what would become one day. Let's meet the band - they are Vocalist / Guitarist Omar Ruiz, Drummer Mauricio Rivero, his younger brother Raul Rivero on bass and Lead Guitarist KC Hatton. At first the sound was raw and blended together styles such as metal, punk and reggae. Urban Style did however accomplish quite a few things and became one of the more accomplished acts in the Washington DC area. The band grew from playing community centers in front of friends and family, to performing at the 2003 Warped Tour in Washington DC. A few months later Urban Style performed at the infamous radio festival, the WHFStival at RFK Stadium along with national big-hitters such as Jane's Addiction, Audio Slave, AFI, The Donnas and The Used. Urban Style even managed to score a full page spread on YM Magazine and later in 2003 set forth to promote their first album, "ZAZU" on their very first tour of the east coast spanning through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and all the way down to Florida. Life was good for the Washington DC local band, but it wasn't untill mid 2004 when one phone call would change the face of this band forever. Mauricio was approached with the opportunity to put his talent to the test and leave his band for a three month period as a touring drummer for a band out in California. Now temporarily drumming in another group, Mauricio found himself joining tours in the United Kingdom with Bowling for Soup and the Littlest Man Band (members of Reel Big Fish) then touring twenty states in the U.S. with Lucky Boys Confusion. The mission now was for Omar, Raul and KC to write the best songs they've ever written so that the experiened Mauricio could come home and put his new found knowledge to work...thus adding the final ingredient. Having returned home from touring two countries, Mauricio found a new inspiration along with Omar, Raul and KC to write with a more pop influence in mind. After six years, the band's songwriting skills have matured and blossomed into more of a focused Rock-Pop sound. "We wanted to write rock music you can dance to and at the same time hook you with sing along anthems" explains Mauricio. Now educated on how to reach their goal, and more confident than ever, Omar, Mauricio, Raul and KC dropped the misleading name of "Urban Style" and took on the name, CRASH BOOM BANG. "We chose this name because we wanted something that sounded quick, straight to the point and bright, so that when you say you're going to a Crash Boom Bang concert, it sounds like it'll be a great time." explains Raul. All ready in the short period of time since the rebirth of the band, Crash Boom Bang's new sound have received praise among their original fans and even more support from radio stations such as DC101. Baltimore, Maryland based radio station, 105.7 WHFS had once again invited Crash Boom Bang to perform at their 2005 WHFStival at M&T Bank Stadium, this time along with Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Good Charlotte, Sum 41 and Billy Idol just to name a few. CBB recently signed an Artist Endorsment deal with Maryland Drum Company and sponsorships from local and regional clothing companies such as Rotate Clothing. Crash Boom Bang has already established street teams spanning from the east coast to the mid-west to the west coast. The internet and Mauricio previous touring experience has already resulted in spreading the word of Crash Boom Bang across the country and a follow up tour has already been established. The guys have been put through a lot in their six years of existence, but Crash Boom Bang is proof that the real excitement is about to happen.