Talking to Walls
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Talking to Walls

Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2015 | INDIE

Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States | INDIE
Established on Jan, 2015
Band Rock Alternative

Calendar

Music

Press


"Reviews of 2006's "Naked""

Hartford Courant, 02/09/06
“Songs on 'Naked' are well-constructed rockers... Blaring guitars frame Kelly’s dark voice...”

"The world's first coffeehouse arena punk band?,"
Play, 03/22/06
"Loose, quick-tempo chord progressions recall the sloppy splendor of The Replacements; quieter moments bring to mind a more mature Dashboard Confessional. The disc's opening and closing tracks especially stick – Cut Out's insistent beat crescendos under Kelly's pleading vocals and acoustic strumming, while Come Home With Me closes things out on an energetically crunchy, power-poppy note, with a simple but infectious call-and-response chorus."

New Haven Advocate, 03/23/06
“[Naked] charges out of the gates with 'Cut Out', a tune with a simple yet effective guitar part, propulsive drumming, a smooth dynamic build... bursts into a coda that actually feels like it belongs... The theatrical earnestness in [Kelly’s] voice is pretty endearing...”

"Get Naked,"
The Register, 03/24/06
"'You walked across a field of dandelions'... goes through a complete transformation, replacing an engaging, yet solemn and stark tune with a keenly arranged, multidimensional epic.”

"What could be more satisfying than Talking to Walls?"
Standard Times, 4/26/07
"Read: uptempo Cure with the sloppy splendor of The Replacements. It is upbeat music with an artistic undercurrent and depth - Talking to Walls will deliver a show that is a little punk, a little rock, upbeat but with a dark charm, it promises a fun night of live music where there will be something for everyone to relate to; after all, Naked is all about relationships, right?"

"Replacing the Replacements"
The Day, 4/26/07
"The quartet's fine single “Cut Out” owes plenty to late-period Replacements and the New Wave anthems that Brits such as the Cure, Simple Minds and James were always better at...Talking to Walls singer Brian Kelly has a bit of Lloyd Cole in him, as evidenced on the lasciviously powerpopping 'Come Home With Me.'" - Various


"Review of The Megan EP"

Talking to Walls has taken it to the next level with this five-song disc of warm, polished and diverse rock 'n' roll. The four-piece, which includes Brian Kelly, Matt Krupa, Nat Webb and Peter Shindler, has been around the block a couple of times now and is making a go at bigger and better things starting with this "record about friendship." The opener, "Song for Megan," is an Irish punk shuffle. It sounds like cleaned up Dropkick Murphys, complete with bagpipes and gang sing-a-long choruses. "Crossed My Mind" is more in modern rock territory, but of the melodic, hooky variety. "Animate Me" shows the strongest punk influences, a two-and-a-half minute chugger straight out of Buzzcocks territory. Co-producer Greg Giorgio makes this disc shine, and exemplifies what a good artist/producer pairing can do for a band willing to work hard. - Mike Sembos, New Haven Advocate, 02/18/09


"Live Reviews"

QuirkyNYChick.com
8/18/09
"The first thing, they're really good live...full of fun and charm...I enjoy seeing musicians have a good time on stage and when they have genuine smiles, it's infectious. These guys smiled a lot and it was catching. The second thing, Kelly has an incredibly strong voice with a great tone."

Southcoast 24/7, 4/27/07
"By the way the band-members made their entrance, set up, and generally conducted themselves onstage, says a lot about the kind of band Talking to Walls is…the band played like it was a full house — fucken givin it."

Talking to Walls Rocks Boston
4/04 - Joe Feloni, Booking Agent, Boston, MA
"I booked Brian Kelly of Talking To Walls as a solo act and had him place in the second set, slotted between two full bands. Brian came out and ROCKED with his acoustic guitar jangling and his vocals soaring with an energy no less powerful than the bands he was billed with. He has a way of pulling in the audience to be part of the show and to enjoy themselves." - Various


"Reviews of 2010's "We Were Not So Tall""

"The radio-friendly sounds continue to flow, as song after hook-filled song confidently asserts itself as worthy of a listen or placement on a TV show." -Mike Sembos, New Haven Advocate

"A very good band that amazingly just keeps getting better" -Pat Ferrucci, New Haven Register

"This is the sound of Rock and Roll when bands actually had to have talent to make a record." -Accidental Genius

"12 rock and roll stories, filled to the brim with guitar soundscapes, tight harmonies, and atmospheric headphone treats." -Skope Magazine - Various


"Making a Mix - Brian Kelly"

"Talking to Walls makes Cure influenced pop songs laden with dark charm. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Kelly’s deep voice and penchant for throwing in an odd cover tune here and there make for an interesting live experience." - Pat Ferrucci, New Haven Register


"Making a Mix - Brian Kelly"

"Talking to Walls makes Cure influenced pop songs laden with dark charm. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Kelly’s deep voice and penchant for throwing in an odd cover tune here and there make for an interesting live experience." - Pat Ferrucci, New Haven Register


"Talking to Walls Rocks Boston"

4/2004 - Joe Feloni, Agent, Sky Bar, Boston, MA
"I booked Brian Kelly of Talking To Walls as a solo act and had him place in the second set, slotted between two full bands. Brian came out and ROCKED with his acoustic guitar jangling and his vocals soaring with an energy no less powerful than the bands he was billed with. He has a way of pulling in the audience to be part of the show and to enjoy themselves."


12/6/06 – Mike Snow, Agent, Milkyway, Boston, MA
“Both bartenders said you guys were really good, super easy to deal with and we should book you again.” - various agents


"Talking to Walls Rocks Boston"

4/2004 - Joe Feloni, Agent, Sky Bar, Boston, MA
"I booked Brian Kelly of Talking To Walls as a solo act and had him place in the second set, slotted between two full bands. Brian came out and ROCKED with his acoustic guitar jangling and his vocals soaring with an energy no less powerful than the bands he was billed with. He has a way of pulling in the audience to be part of the show and to enjoy themselves."


12/6/06 – Mike Snow, Agent, Milkyway, Boston, MA
“Both bartenders said you guys were really good, super easy to deal with and we should book you again.” - various agents


""I believe everything he sings""

"The thing that stands out about his (Kelly's) music is its earnestness. I believe everything he sings, and one can't say that about too many singers ... His earnestness shows through and, to me, makes his songs more than the sum of their parts...[Kelly] has some of the most honest lyrics ever." - Brian LaRue, New Haven Advocate music critic, 3/30/06


"What could be more satisfying than Talking to Walls?"

Read: uptempo Cure with the sloppy splendor of The Replacements. It is upbeat music with an artistic undercurrent and depth…Talking to Walls will deliver a show that is a little punk, a little rock, upbeat but with a dark charm, it promises a fun night of live music where there will be something for everyone to relate to; after all, Naked is all about relationships, right? - Jessica Davis, Standard Times, 4/26/07


"Live review of NYC show - August 2009"

"The first thing, they're really good live ... full of fun and charm..."

http://www.quirkynychick.com/2009/08/talking-to-walls-take-on-nyc.html - QuirkyNYChick.com


Discography

Run - February 2012
Black Hearts Parade - March 2011
We Were Not So Tall - February 2010
A Long Stilt Walk - July 2009
The Megan EP - January 2009
Naked - March 2006

Photos

Bio

2010 album We Were Not So Tall co-produced by Greg Giorgio (Interpol, The National, Mates of State) and features guest performances from members of The Stepkids, The Alternate Routes, Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, Rane and many more

We Were Not So Tall debuted on CMJs Top 20 Most Added Chart across the US & Canada (April 2010)

Had their song We Were Not So Tall featured in a national television ad (NBC) for the Michael Phelps Foundation/Boys and Girls Club of America

Licensed music to MTV (at stations request) for shows in development, and to a sports management company, including for a DVD release that had 20,000 presales

Awarded the Mayoral Arts Grant from their hometown City of Bridgeport, to record a single and shoot the accompanying music video. Still hoping for a key to the city or a street named after them...

Worked with photographer Nick Gamma (Art Director and Designer for multi-platinum artists & labels (NSYNC, A Tribe Called Quest, 311, Matthew Sweet, Jive, Merge) and publicist MuseBox (Death Cab for Cutie, Killers)

Has played 300 shows from Boston to LA.

Completed regional tours of Hot Topic store chain and Westfield Mall chain

Provided local tour support for Zox. Hired by the City of New Haven to play outside the show for musical heroes Soul Asylum. It rained. But was still worth it.

Showcased at several regional festivals and large venues: CT Film Festival, MEANY (NYC) & Millennium Music Conference (PA), Six Flags (NJ), Rye Playland (NY), Toads Place & Danbury Green (CT), Westfield Malls across NY & CT

2006 album Naked launched with blanketed press coverage from every print media outlet in their native New Haven and beyond

Special guests on commercial AOR station WRKIs morning show - interview & performance

Yes, drummer Matt Krupa is related to that other Krupa.

Selected as Band of the Week by guitar accessories manufacturer Dunlop (6/29/09)

Top Promo Artist on Artist Directs UBL.com, week of 5/2/06. UBL is one of the largest music destinations with over 12.8mm unique users per month. (Source: Media Metrixs, March 2006)

Krupa and Brian like to drink gin at 3am while watching old Star Trek reruns. Matt Miklos throws excellent theme parties.

Comfortable on camera, with multiple televised performances and four official music videos

In an early TtW performance, Brian took third place in a live New York showcase as a soloist playing against full bands.

Sponsored by Godin Guitars, Spectraflex Cables, Aurora Strings and Turnpike Music Garage

Band Members