THE COLOR FRED HEAD OUT ON WINTER TOUR WITH ANGELS & AIRWAVES, KICKING OFF JANUARY 30 IN TUCSON, AZ

THE COLOR FRED kicks off 2008 with tour news that extends through the end of the summer. Led by vocalist and multi-instrmentalist FRED MASCHERINO–former lead guitarist and co-vocalist from Taking Back Sunday–the band will head out for a few headlining dates before they join Angels & Airwaves for a national tour January 30 in Tucson, AZ. THE COLOR FRED’s U.S. tour plans also include an appearance at The Bamboozle Left this April in Irvine, CA and will play on all dates as part of this summer’s Vans Warped Tour. The band will also head to the U.K. for Give It A Name 2008 in London and Sheffield–headlined by Paramore and 30 Seconds To Mars.

While BEND TO BREAK–the debut album from THE COLOR FRED, released in October on Equal Vision Records–was recorded as a solo project, the upcoming shows will feature a full band that includes album contributor Steve Curtiss (drums). The live show finds the band “on top form, turning in a tightly assured, upbeat performance, and winning over the audience. (Kerrang!, 11/17/07)”

BEND TO BREAK was produced by the legendary Lou Giordano (Sugar, Paul Westerberg, Sunny Day Real Estate) and sees Mascherino singing and playing the guitars and bass throughout. As part of the 4.5 out of 5-star review of the album in the December 2007 issue, Alternative Press wrote: “The songs on his debut…take a straight-forward rock route, driving through catchy guitar riffs, memorable choruses and thoughtful lyrics.“ Outburn adds that “Mascherino’s musical virtuosity is impressive, with his guitarwork proving that he is capable of something other than just swift chords” (Jan – Mar 2008).

The video for the album’s first single “If I Surrender” has made its way onto Fuse, after being almost unanimously voted as a “Keep It” video as part of the network’s “Oven Fresh” weekly online competition. In addition, the video has been added to rotation on the station’s show “Steven’s Untitled Rock Show.” Shot at and around Mascherino’s residence in New Jersey, the video was directed by Andrew Paul Bowser (Gym Class Heroes) and is an homage to the film Groundhog’s Day, seeing Mascherino relive the same grueling day over and over again. In other online news, THE COLOR FRED’s MySpace page–located at www.myspace.com/thecolorfred–has recently reached the milestone of over one million song plays.  

Additional critical praise for THE COLOR FRED:

“‘If I Surrender’ chugs and sparkles with bittersweet abandon, ‘Hate to See You Go’ simmers melancholically before exploding into an instantly catchy feelgood chorus, while ‘I Didn’t See’ features Mascherino getting his Van Halen on with a widdlesome solo. It’s confident, convincing stuff, and a joy to finally see Mascherino fronting a band where he gets to shine unperturbed.”

“Although they range from introspective, soaring ballads (the piano-tinged ‘It Isn’t Me’) to feel-good rockers (‘If I Surrender,’ which lends its lyrics to the disc’s title), Bend to Break is largely upbeat, throbbing with propulsive drumming, dynamic melodies and Mascherino’s instantly likeable sing-along vocals.”

“While fans are familiar with his dynamic songwriting style and complementary gritty vocals, Bend to Break is a departure from the emo raggedness of Taking Back Sunday and steps into highly melodic rock and sometimes pop (“If I Surrender”). Mascherino’s viewpoint is very introspective, as weighty lyrics allude to a broken man in multiple senses: the arduous touring, the wear and tear the road takes on missing your family (the acoustic “I’ll Never Know”), or perhaps just valuable life lessons of growing older and wiser.”

“Ex-Taking Back Sunday guitarist/singer Fred Mascherino's new band hits the ground running with the power-pop debut Bend to Break.“

“Fred Mascherino illuminates a bright crop of power pop tunes.”

“…Mascherino has a knack for rhythmic snap…”

THE COLOR FRED Tour Dates:

For more information, contact MSO at 818-380-0400:
Shazila Mohammed, x 238     shazila@msopr.com
Libby Henry, x224                 lhenry@msopr.com
Chelsi Schriver (tour), x231    cschriver@msopr.com