HAITZ

Former leader/bassist of infamous Venice sleaze-trio @om Proton & The Tri-Sexuals (and Pushing Daisies), @om (Get it? The "at" character plus letters "o" and "m" make up his name: Atom) aka Chris Wood, now fronts HAITZ. The garage-rockin threesome also features Sarasota/Los Angeles composer/guitarist Richard Haitz (Pushing Daisies and L.A.'s HAITZ), who penned the theme song to Discovery Channel's former car modification reality TV program "Monster Garage," along with other backing tunes available on the albums "Monster Garage 2" (2004). HAITZ's third member is Joe Morningstar. Hear 'em 9pm Saturday at Pastimes (924-7782) in Gulf Gate, with Sixteen Penney. $5. - HAITZ History

What’s in a name? For Atom
“@om” Wood, Joe Morningstar
and Richard Haitz (pronounced
the same as “heights”), hopefully,
the future. Forming together in August 2008, the three have donned Richard’s last name, and are establishing themselves as Sarasota’s latest in-your-face rock
sensation. Lead guitarist Richard Haitz, a Sarastoa native, spent the
last 10 years in the California limelight, trying his hand in a variety of media avenues in Los Angeles, from movies to television, but it was his passion for music that suited him best, and eventually brought him back to Florida’s west coast. “I’ve played with a lot of different bands and helped out a lot of friends,” he said. His music has accompanied shows on TLC and Discover Channel. He worked with the crew
of Monster Garage, including motorcycle connoisseur Jesse James, for 66 episodes, providing
theme music. “I tried a bit of everything, even acting,” Richard added, “but I had always focused on the music a little more.” He started the band bearing his namesake as a side project, performing live and even opening for headliners like The Used while in California, but homesickness got the best of him. “I went to Riverview High,” he said, “so when I came back to Florida, I saw tons of friends. It just made sense. My family and friends were here and my wife was able to get a transfer.”
Back home in Sarasota, he teamed up with bassist Atom Wood, who played with Richard in the past. “It didn’t take long before it sparked back up,” said Richard. “He’s a supreme lyricist, and we started writing right away.” The duo began
looking for some rhythm and found it in Joe Morningstar, who not only provided a mean tempo, supported by thunderous double-bass, but brought a younger sense of music to the band, growing up through the late 80’s and early 90’s. Growing up, Richard was raised on the heavy classics. “I really got into Def Leppard, Kiss and Led Leppelin,” he said. “I listened to a lot of Beatles, too. The hair-metal got to be a little too much for me,
but I liked bands like Metallica and Motley Crue. I really liked making rock music fun, and getting people out of their daily grind.” A few of the bands from the grunge era found their way into Haitz’s mixes, too, from bands like Alice in Chains and Pantera. Wood brought an influence of the 80’s pop-rock, made by bands like U2, the Cure and Van Halen. “I was part of the
‘Breakfast Club’ generation,” said Wood. “I was all about the early 80’s influence. Richard and I had a long history together, and we decided this time around, it was all about having fun. Basically, we had a balance between each other. I still wrote for him, but there’s just a richness to having two vocalists. It really helped us branch off.” Drummer and songwriter Morningstar had a younger taste to his musical fix, picking up inspiration from some of the newer metal groups like Slipknot and Avenge Sevenfold. The 90’s punk-rock era hit him hard, too, with names like Green Day, Blink 182 and Sum 41 having a part in Morningstar’s upbringing. “I found that I had a hidden love for Motley Crue and Metallica, also,” he added. “My brother listened to that stuff, and honestly, that’s how I got started on the drums.” Piecing together the musical influences, Haitz wasted no time finding their groove. “Working as a trio,” said
Richard, “we still have the great sound. The older Haitz was darker
than now. Our new stuff is catchier.” The trio is not afraid to show their creative side, playing originals and covers of early Haitz hits, but they understood they needed something a little more mainstream. “I knew that if we wanted to make money,” said Richard, “we’d have to play some covers of songs people know, so we decided to rock up some songs we really liked.” Judas Priest’s “Breaking the Law,” Kiss’ “Love Gun” and “Synchronicity” by the Police
have been weaved into the setlist. “People really respond when they hear these songs,” said Richard. “We put our own spin on it, but they’re wellknown songs, so it keeps the integrity. Our sound is something fresh, and we play hours at a time. Our originals are strong, but as we keep playing, we keep adding covers that people want to hear.” “It’s cool being my age and playing the music I’m playing,”
said Morningstar. “It’s really a lost art, so to speak. Richard and Atom have the experience, and with the sound I bring, it really blends together well.” “It can be tricky having people understand what we’re trying to achieve,” said Wood.
“We’ve got great originals, but when we pick our cover songs, we want to make sure we love it. We pick things that people would like, but may not be your typical cover songs. Each time we play the songs, we challenge each other in doing it our own way.” In the past year, the band has booked 25 shows, one of their latest ones at Tommy Knockers in Bradenton. “That show was really a turning point for us,” said Richard. “Most of our fans come out due to wordof-mouth. Their booked on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Tommy Knockers in Bradenton, starting at 9 p.m. and at Pastimes, Saturday, Nov. 21, opening for LA Guns at 9
p.m. At the end of the month, Haitz will be releasing their fifth album, Lucky #13. To view and listen: www.haitzlive.com, www.
myspace.com/haitz, www.facebook.
com/haitzlive” Tracks and albums are available on itunes and can be purchased at: www.cdbaby.com. - MOD Magazine or modmag.biz 11/2009