Chase Stites

Chase Stites has a full band and plays as a duo with his band’s bass player, Tyler Rogers. They not only rock covers and make original music, but they truly enjoy playing shows for good causes.

Both men are from Tulsa, Ok. and now live in Lake Worth. Back in June they connected those two locales when The Chase Stites Band played at Cityplace in West Palm for the Oklahoma Tornado Victim’s Benefit.

They have also played for the children at the Joe Dimaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. You can see videos of both of those shows on Youtube.

At this stage in their careers, playing music is their only job. They have opened for established bands such as Lifehouse, and have an original single due to be released on iTunes on Sept. 9. Chase Stites Band also has a new EP of original songs due out in late September.

I walked in on the duo playing Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer”, Chase taking that opportunity to fully pound on the guitar changes so hard that I thought that he might break a string. In fact, he later told me that he does usually break a string or two each night.

These two are really fun to watch and even more fun to hear. They sang some Sublime tunes that went perfectly with the fading light at the relaxed riverfront venue. A few people began to dance and Chase remarked, “I guess it has to get dark before Captain Hiram’s wakes up!”

It’s amazing what these two can do with just a guitar, a bass and microphones. Chase plays guitar with a loose style that reminds me of an unplugged Stevie Ray Vaughan and Tyler rounds out the duo with his cool wandering electric bass guitar.

They sang “When I Come Around” by Greenday and it just flew through the crowd like a tropical storm wind. If there was any doubt about Chace’s vocal ability, his absolutely perfect, passionate version of that song dispelled it.

They sang “Red Red Wine” (the reggae favorite written by Neil Diamond but made famous by UB40), and James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain”. By the time they pulled off Guns-N-Roses “Sweet Child of Mine” I was beginning to wonder if there was anything the two couldn’t do.

Then they played “Jailhouse Rock” by The King himself and “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash. Each song was excellent and I began making notes in my datebook to hear them again.

You can find upcoming tour dates and hear music on their website chasestites.com, but the duo will be playing live again at Captain Hiram’s on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m and Saturday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m.

Meet you there! - Vero Beach Press Journal

Chase Stites has a full band and plays as a duo with his band’s bass player, Tyler Rogers. They not only rock covers and make original music, but they truly enjoy playing shows for good causes.

Both men are from Tulsa, Ok. and now live in Lake Worth. Back in June they connected those two locales when The Chase Stites Band played at Cityplace in West Palm for the Oklahoma Tornado Victim’s Benefit.

They have also played for the children at the Joe Dimaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. You can see videos of both of those shows on Youtube.

At this stage in their careers, playing music is their only job. They have opened for established bands such as Lifehouse, and have an original single due to be released on iTunes on Sept. 9. Chase Stites Band also has a new EP of original songs due out in late September.

I walked in on the duo playing Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer”, Chase taking that opportunity to fully pound on the guitar changes so hard that I thought that he might break a string. In fact, he later told me that he does usually break a string or two each night.

These two are really fun to watch and even more fun to hear. They sang some Sublime tunes that went perfectly with the fading light at the relaxed riverfront venue. A few people began to dance and Chase remarked, “I guess it has to get dark before Captain Hiram’s wakes up!”

It’s amazing what these two can do with just a guitar, a bass and microphones. Chase plays guitar with a loose style that reminds me of an unplugged Stevie Ray Vaughan and Tyler rounds out the duo with his cool wandering electric bass guitar.

They sang “When I Come Around” by Greenday and it just flew through the crowd like a tropical storm wind. If there was any doubt about Chace’s vocal ability, his absolutely perfect, passionate version of that song dispelled it.

They sang “Red Red Wine” (the reggae favorite written by Neil Diamond but made famous by UB40), and James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain”. By the time they pulled off Guns-N-Roses “Sweet Child of Mine” I was beginning to wonder if there was anything the two couldn’t do.

Then they played “Jailhouse Rock” by The King himself and “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash. Each song was excellent and I began making notes in my datebook to hear them again.

You can find upcoming tour dates and hear music on their website chasestites.com, but the duo will be playing live again at Captain Hiram’s on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m and Saturday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m.

Meet you there! - Vero Beach Press Journal

Chase Stites moved from Tulsa, Okla., to Lake Worth last year to pursue a music career. But in the last month, his heart’s been back in his home state.

“It was so tough to watch TV,” the 22-year-old singer/songwriter says of the coverage of the deadly tornadoes, including one in the small town of Moore that killed 24 people. “We’ve been in those neighborhoods, seen those houses, and to watch them all be leveled was too hard to watch from way over here.” - The Palm Beach Post

Chase Stites moved from Tulsa, Okla., to Lake Worth last year to pursue a music career. But in the last month, his heart’s been back in his home state.

“It was so tough to watch TV,” the 22-year-old singer/songwriter says of the coverage of the deadly tornadoes, including one in the small town of Moore that killed 24 people. “We’ve been in those neighborhoods, seen those houses, and to watch them all be leveled was too hard to watch from way over here.” - The Palm Beach Post

I’ve been in many “discussions” with my musical compatriots (and some family members) regarding the “demise” of Rock and Roll. “There aren’t any good rock bands any more,” they bemoan.

I’ve been to a few rock concerts over many years, and a few country concerts in recent years, and I’ve come to appreciate the music I hear at these “country” concerts… I’ve heard multiple covers of Led Zeppelin, and covers of Aerosmith and other rock icons — good covers, no twang included. While I like many of the current “sort-of-rock” bands, and am a big jam band fan, I’ve come to the conclusion that the new country bands are the ones playing rock and roll these days.

I was glad to hear the music of Chase Stites follows the “new country” “old rock and roll” model; Chase and his band followed up our favorite top 40 cover band Wonderama at CityPlace in a benefit for Oklahoma tornado victims. Chase performed mostly originals, with great hooks and a tight, rockin’ band accompanying his fine vocals and acoustic guitar. Stites is a singer/songwriter to watch closely; while he’s got a lot of Nashville competition, he’s got the whole package: Great vocals, great band, great arrangements, great stage presence.

Chase looks like he might be a perfect fit for the soon-to-open Tequila Cowboy club in CityPlace (more on them soon!) with his great new country sound. Here’s a sample of what he played downtown… - DoWestPalm.com

I’ve been in many “discussions” with my musical compatriots (and some family members) regarding the “demise” of Rock and Roll. “There aren’t any good rock bands any more,” they bemoan.

I’ve been to a few rock concerts over many years, and a few country concerts in recent years, and I’ve come to appreciate the music I hear at these “country” concerts… I’ve heard multiple covers of Led Zeppelin, and covers of Aerosmith and other rock icons — good covers, no twang included. While I like many of the current “sort-of-rock” bands, and am a big jam band fan, I’ve come to the conclusion that the new country bands are the ones playing rock and roll these days.

I was glad to hear the music of Chase Stites follows the “new country” “old rock and roll” model; Chase and his band followed up our favorite top 40 cover band Wonderama at CityPlace in a benefit for Oklahoma tornado victims. Chase performed mostly originals, with great hooks and a tight, rockin’ band accompanying his fine vocals and acoustic guitar. Stites is a singer/songwriter to watch closely; while he’s got a lot of Nashville competition, he’s got the whole package: Great vocals, great band, great arrangements, great stage presence.

Chase looks like he might be a perfect fit for the soon-to-open Tequila Cowboy club in CityPlace (more on them soon!) with his great new country sound. Here’s a sample of what he played downtown… - DoWestPalm.com

Chase Stites, Musician

The young man who got started with scream act Valmont and pop-punk band Restless Ribbon has set out on his own to exercise his songwriting chops and his gift for huge pop melodies. Positive response to his first few singles has garnered him ABoT music awards for "Best Male Vocalist" twice and "Best Pop/Rock" artist in 2011. A full-length debut CD produced by Geoff Rockwell (Forever the Sickest Kids, Disco Curtis) is due in 2012, but recent efforts like organizing the "Rock for the Homeless" benefit concert prove he's more than just another pretty voice with slick packaging. - Urban Tulsa Weekly

Unlike most young men turning 21, Tulsa recording artist Chase Stites will host a charity rock show on his big day. - Tulsa World

ABoT Music nominee Chase Stites throws a party and the Del Toros continue to pick up steam - Urban Tulsa Weekly

ABoT Music Awards returns for a third year -- and your winners are - Urban Tulsa Weekly

ABoT Music Awards returns for a third year -- and your winners are - Urban Tulsa Weekly

ABoT Music Awards returns for a third year -- and your winners are - Urban Tulsa Weekly

As the winner of the 2010 ABoT Music Award for Best Male Vocalist, Chase Stites' name is already a familiar one to many UTW readers. In fact, he's the veteran of this movement, both in age and experience. The oldest of the current crowd -- he turns 21 this month -- Stites has already made quite a transition since starting out fronting his first band, the post-hardcore outfit Valmont in 2006. From there, his pop sensibilities started to move to forefront with Restless Ribbon, the high school band that garnered nominations for Best Rock/Pop, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Band of the Year in the 2010 ABoT Music Awards after winning Best New Artist in 2009.

What many people didn't realize was that by the time the awards show rolled around, the band had already run its course and dissolved, a byproduct both creative differences and differences in vision and direction for the band. As the primary songwriter for Restless Ribbon, Stites was constantly working on new material and knew he wasn't about to quit when Restless Ribbon came to an end.

"I decided it was smarter to just do it myself," Stites said in late July as he headed into the studio with Geoff Rockwell, producer for Forever the Sickest Kids and Schoolboy Humor, amongst others. Stites said he entered the studio intending to emerge with high quality demos, but the end product was far better than expected, so he decided to use the tunes to test the solo waters and released them via iTunes.

At the 2010 music awards on Aug. 8, I finally met Stites in person and he handed me an un-mastered version of "Love Again," his first single. Within three spins, I was sold: a mid-tempo ballad with a soaring chorus, a big hook and a bridge catchy enough to tie it all up in a perfect, radio-ready package. Well, almost. Clocking in at about four and a half minutes, radio stations balked and called for a shorter radio edit.

The second single, "Be My Vice," was more guitar-oriented, but hit its marks, clocking in at almost three minutes exactly. Building upon an already growing online following and positive reception at the few solo shows he had played to gauge response, Stites shot a video for the single in October, which added to the digital frenzy and reaffirmed that Stites was on the right track with his latest effort.

Stites returned to the studio in the fall, this time with producer Kevin Gates, to work on four new songs. The tracks are tentatively slated for an April release and have a mature, developed sound that strays from the sound associated with niche acts like Forever The Sickest Kids, Mayday Parade and The Maine and enters the more commercial territory of acts like One Republic, Maroon 5, and even Taylor Swift.

Considering his influences, Stites development and evolution seems logical.

"Early on it was Green Day all the way," he admitted. "That's all I knew, played or listened to thru my middle school years. Nimrod was the album I grew up on -- Dookie was great, but that wasn't my record."

Later, as his taste began to develop and expand, Stites' older sister introduced him to more pop-oriented artists like John Mayer and Maroon 5, which he said "completely broadened my horizons."

It only makes sense, then, that Stites' writing has been a work in progress, evolving from post hardcore to pop-punk to more straight-forward, melodically oriented pop.

Even when measured by his first demos, Stites' compositions have the most potential for mainstream radio success and can stand on their own next to pop acts such as Girls Like Boys and Hello Goodbye or even more commercially oriented artists.

Stites' new tracks, especially "Still In Love" and "Leavin' the City," definitely move him in a more adult-contemporary direction. The songs incorporate just enough acoustic guitar to possibly give him a toe in with the pop-country genre that has embraced Taylor Swift and Darius Rucker. That possibility isn't lost on Stites, who puts his focus on the song above style.

"I'm not trying to specifically fit in anywhere. I'd be fine if country radio wanted to pick me up and make me something like the male version of Taylor Swift," he said. "I'm just trying to write songs to entertain people. I just want to make people feel something -- I'm not trying to teach them anything. I'm an entertainer, above all."


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As is stands, Chase Stites is the most radio ready of the bunch with a cool grasp of melody and big hooks. Apollo is not far behind and all the more impressive in how quickly the band has found a chemistry the goes beyond explanation. The group's piano-pop sound fits squarely within the realm of bands like The Fray, The Script and Snow Patrol and could lead them into even more success on the college circuit. Meanwhile, although Zeke Duhon is the youngest of the bunch, his affinity for simple singer-songwriter oriented fare rounds things out and balances Tulsa's pop palette.

One thing is sure: we've got plenty of promise a - Urban Tulsa Weekly

"Best Male Vocalist
Chase Stites..." - Urban Tulsa Weekly

"...Chase Stites, former lead singer of Restless Ribbon and this year's "Best Male Vocalist" at the ABoT Music Awards slips into the middle of the evening's lineup. Stites has been developing his solo band, but already has two killer singles in hand, the pop oriented "Love Again" and more guitar oriented "Be My Vice," both of which are radio ready. Just a few prime time spins and Stites could take off at any minute, making this a prime opportunity to catch him before his shooting star launches. Just last week, Stites was shooting a video for "Be My Vice," preparing for a media launch to push his new solo project..." - Urban Tulsa Weekly

"...Last summer we happened upon three separate acts that made an impression on us. Two of those acts, piano-pop group Apollo and former Restless Ribbon leader Chase Stites both have songs, hooks and charisma to make moves within the pop and rock scene. We like their sounds..." - Urban Tulsa Weekly