Jon Sandler

He's opened for Jimmy Buffet and Teddy Geiger, sang the national anthem in front of 20,000 at the Times Union Center, has a new CD called ''Late Night Champ,'' and ... he's from Niskayuna.

Singer-songwriter Jon Sandler moved to New York City seven years ago, but returns to his roots Saturday having made considerable career headway. He plays over 200 shows a year, his songs are on Delta Airlines in-flight radio, and he's been featured in Billboard magazine and has opened for another national known Nisky native, Terra Naomi.

The title track of his new CD "Late Night Champ" melds a melody that might be at home over an acoustic guitar; instead keyboards and beats add a distinctive urban flavor. Other tracks go other places: "Million Different Windows" has an urgent yet soothing Bruce Hornsby vibe, while the searching "Take My Time" finds a place for love in a hectic life.

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Red Square, 388 Broadway, Albany

Tickets: $10

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/entertainment/article/Local-boy-Jon-Sandler-plays-Red-Square-3716895.php#ixzz23l4plfeV
- The Albany Times Union

Artist: Jon Sandler
Video: "Late Night Champ"
Highlight: "The shoot felt amazingly late-night champy," Jon Sadler tells Spinner. "We started shooting at 7PM and ended at about 10AM the following morning. There is nothing like performing in a red velvet tuxedo jacket for fully costumed circus freaks at 5AM. I loved it." - AOL - Spinner

Our May Rising Artist, Jon Sandler played one of the most important gigs of his career Sunday night at a packed City Winery in SoHo. It was not just any regular gig for the New York singer-songwriter, it was the official release party of his new record, Late Night Champ.

As he walked on stage, Sandler understood what this gig was all about, in fact he hired a string ensemble and a group of backup singers to help bring his songs to life. Playing Late Night Champ from start to finish, Sandler showed the New York crowd just exactly what he is made of. Sandler is not just any other singer-songwriter out there in the New York circuit, he is ambitious and not afraid to mix and blend various styles of music together. For Sandler, his range goes from folk to rock to jazz to blues to ambient to dub and makes no apologies for the various style changes. Sandler and his band, The Fancy Band, are some of the most talented musicians in the city right now, from killer piano solos that would have kids at Juilliard in awe to roaring guitar solos that could fill an arena, Sandler has the best at his fingertips. Sandler himself is a showman, his excitement and child-like innocence playing Late Night Champ was like watching a kid on Christmas morning opening the gifts they asked Santa Claus for. As he danced around stage and grooved to his own music, Sandler added to the layers of his songs just by being himself. In a set that spanned an hour and 45 minutes that included all of Late Night Champ, new songs, a handful of old ones and a killer cover of Queen's "Somebody to Love," that would have the surviving members of the band impressed, the self proclaimed "Late Night Champ," is more than ready to make his mark.
- http://www.officiallyayuppie.com

About a year ago, Jon Sandler’s Fancy Band EP was one of the loveliest new album’s to come across my path. I loved the willingness of the New York singer-songwriter to experiment with the folky genre he seemed so at home in.

Cut to 2012 and Sandler’s new full-length album, Late Night Champ has finally been released (as of June 12th) and I am amped to hear it.

But I balk.

There’s an electro blanket lying over many of the tracks on the record. We’re a guitar blog – no one’s too sure what to do around an electro beat, after all.

But, wouldn’t ya know it – Sandler’s unstoppable musical experimentation and his subtly emotive vocals knock Late Night Champ right out of the park!

Because you see, Sandler is so great at making music that it turns out that whether he’s picking strings on an acoustic guitar or accompanying a synth beat like he does on the album’s title track, it still turns out great.

Which is, luckily, not to say that life’s been put on autotune for Sandler. Tracks like “Save, Apologize, Go”, “Million Different Windows” and “Diamond Miner” are more delicate numbers of the troubadour style we know and love Sandler for.

I balk no more.

Sandler has taken his time to craft an album that feels like every note was on purpose and every beat is where he means it to be – all killer, no filler. - athousandguitars.com

What do mariachi music, a Brooklyn band, premium tequila and 10,000 bucks all have in common? Ask Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band, the winners of Hornitos Premium Tequila's Mariachi Mashup contest.

The rules were simple: contestants would choose from five possible songs, transform their selection into a mariachi-style mashup and submit a video of the cover by May 30. The submissions were then judged by Billboard editors and a Hornitos tequila expert (among others), and the winning band was awarded $10,000 by Hornitos and a spotlight in Billboard Magazine's BackBeat.

Outfitted in sombreros and with maracas in hand, Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band members (including Jon Sandler, Sam Merrick, Chris Kelly and Dominic Fallacaro) replaced the whistles found on Peter Bjorn and John's hit "Young Folks" with a fiery, mariachi-style trumpet line. Watch the band's winning entry below.

"They truly embodied the essence of this competition, combining popular music with traditional mariachi musicality. The band's incorporation of Spanish lyrics and horns brought the song to life in a fitting and festive way," said Billboard.com Editor Tye Comer.

Not only was this the Jon Sandler and the Fancy Band's first time dabbling in the Mexican musical genre, band members tell Billboard that they entered the contest on a whim after hearing about it from a friend. The quartet's prize money -- $10,000 -- will fund a celebratory band dinner, rent and replacing broken musical equipment, they said.

"It was our very first attempt, and I think we're just gonna transition into being a mariachi band full-time and hang out in the subways," Sandler joked.

After an exciting year that included releasing "The Fancy Band EP" in September 2010 and playing two showcases at CMJ in October, winning Hornitos Premium Tequila's Mariachi Mashup contest was just the icing on the cake, the band says.

"I think we would all kind of agree that it all feels really special," says Sander, the band's lead vocalist. "And then winning this contest, it sort of just feels like it's all falling together nicely. We're excited to see what the future brings."

Jon Sandler and the Fancy Band are preparing for the upcoming release of their debut full-length album ("it's going to blow everybody's minds," they say), which will be followed by a fall tour.
- Billboard.com

Hornitos™ Premium Tequila Names Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band Winners of First Ever National 'Mariachi Mash Up' Competition

Well-Known Brooklyn Band to Receive "Backbeat" Exposure in Billboard Magazine plus $10,000 for Mariachi-Style Cover of "Young Folks" by Peter Bjorn and John

DEERFIELD, Ill., June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hornitos™ Premium Tequila is proud to announce Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band as the winners of the first ever national "Mariachi Mash Up" competition. Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band, based in Brooklyn, New York, went Horns Up!™ in their mariachi cover of "Young Folks" by Peter Bjorn and John. In addition to receiving a $10,000 cash prize, Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band will also be featured in the coveted "Backbeat" section of Billboard magazine.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110607/NY15150LOGO )
From April 25th through May 30th, Hornitos™ Premium Tequila gave up-and-coming bands a chance at stardom via the Hornitos™ Tequila Mariachi Mash Up competition. The national contest challenged musicians of all types and genres to create their own mariachi-inspired mash up to celebrate the official kick-off to tequila season.
Hosted on the Hornitos' official Facebook page, the Mariachi Mash Up competition encouraged bands to submit a three minute video incorporating traditional mariachi elements (trumpets, violins or even guitarrons) into a well-known song in order to create a memorable musical mix-up. Entrants were evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges, including Billboard Editor Tye Comer and a tequila expert from Hornitos.
"The Hornitos Mariachi Mash Up competition was the perfect way to kick off tequila season this year," says Amy Weisenbach, Senior Director of Tequila, Beam Global Spirits & Wine. "We're so impressed by the creativity of all the bands who participated in the Mash Up and their enthusiasm to go 'Horns Up' and embrace the spirit of tequila."
Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band eventually won over the judging panel with their use of Spanish lyrics, trumpets, maracas and even sombreros in their spiced up rendition of the indie favorite "Young Folks." Jon Sandler recently released an EP titled "The Fancy Band", signed with super duper records, have opened for several influential musicians, and in October played two official CMJ showcases in NYC. The band consists of Jon Sandler (lead vocals and guitar), Sam Merrick (drums), Chris Kelly (bass) and Dominic Fallacaro (piano).
"We chose Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band due to their unique take on the hit song, 'Young Folks.' They truly embodied the essence of this competition, combining popular music with traditional mariachi musicality. The band's incorporation of Spanish lyrics and horns brought the song to life in a fitting and festive way," said Billboard Editor Tye Comer.
"Combining our love of music, Cinco de Mayo and Hornitos Tequila, we knew we had to be a part of this competition when we first heard about it. We couldn't be more excited to be recognized by Hornitos and Billboard magazine," said lead singer Jon Sandler.
About Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc.:
Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. ("Beam Global") is one of the world's largest premium spirits companies, encompassing a portfolio of nearly 100 brands (including 10 of the world's top-100 premium spirits brands), more than a dozen global operating and commercial facilities and 3,200 employees worldwide. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for our brands, including Jim Beam® Bourbon, Sauza® Tequila, Canadian Club® Whisky, Courvoisier® Cognac, Teacher's® Scotch Whisky, Maker's Mark® Bourbon, Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky, Cruzan® Rum, Hornitos ™ Tequila, EFFEN® Vodka, Larios® Gin, Whisky DYC®, DeKuyper® Cordials and Knob Creek® Bourbon. Growth through innovation is a key strategy at Beam Global, with Red Stag by Jim Beam® Bourbon, Cruzan® 9 Rum, Maker's 46™ Bourbon and Courvoisier® 12 Cognac and Courvoisier® 21 Cognac all being launched as new products over the past two years. Beam Global is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), a leading consumer brands company. For more information on Beam Global, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.
About Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band:
Jon Sandler will be playing June 7th - 9pm at Arlene's Grocery in NYC and June 24th at Rockwood Music Hall and will begin touring in September. The EP 'The Fancy Band' can be found on iTunes, Amazon.com and superduperrecords.com. Jon is currently in the studio working on a new full length album to be released in the Fall. For more information about the new album, music videos, tour, merchandise and much more, visit www.jonsandler.com, www.facebook.com/jonsandlermusic, and follow Jon Sandler at www.twitter.com/jonsandler.
- PR newswire

Six Reasons why I Can’t Wait To Get Out Touring
1. I love New York City, I’ve lived and performed here for about 5 years, playing over 100 shows at about 20 different venues. It’s like my favorite old shirt… but it’s still awesome to get a new shirt. I can’t wait to get some new shirts.
2. We just completed our new EP The Fancy Band. The songs all mean a lot to me, and are, if I must say so myself, “fancy”, so I can’t wait to share them with the rest of the country.
3. My Band is hilarious and all have unique hidden talents. For example, my drummer Sam does an uncanny Jack Bauer impression, Dom, my pianist does a great Herbert from Family Guy and Jens, the violinist, can snap like a drumming madman. I’m thinking that being forced to spend several hours at a time with each other, we can create some sort of weird variety show or something.
4. I want to start a collection of obscure state community college lanyards.
5. Over the past few months I have developed an obsession with Coca Cola. I just LOVE it. I would like to drink from the cola fountain at the Coca Cola museum in Atlanta. I also have relatives there and in other states that I would love to see and perform for.
6. Some people say I am too skinny…I figure hours of extreme muscle atrophy, fast food and long naps should do trick! - thesoundalarm.com

September fourteenth, Jon Sandler’s outstanding EP, The Fancy Band, was released to the public through Super Duper Records. Before the official release, Sandler opened for Jimmy Buffett at the Nikon Theater in Jones Beach. Sandler has also performed at over 150 important musical venues since his entrance into the music scene. Also, he has written music for an upcoming television pilot and his song ‘Lost Time’ is the theme song for the new novel-made-movie, Love Sick, by Alex Gellen. All this to say: Jon Sandler has had a very lucrative year and his fan base is growing substantially every day.
The Fancy Band EP is an exciting six-song album full of variation. Each song has a very different sound to it. The first song and title track, ‘Nowhere Bound,’ is a reggae/folk piece that blends acoustic guitar and soulful vocals with striking synthesizers and tribal drums. The song for Alex Gellen’s movie, ‘Lost Time’ resembles a typical pop-rock piece with airy vocals and a catchy/bouncy melody. ‘Broken Rubberband’ leans more toward the reggae genre, but the addition of beautiful violins adds an extra level of depth to the piece. Folk rock is the best description for ‘The Right.’ This song involves a fiddle, soft drums and acoustic guitar mixed with tight harmonies and passionate vocals. ‘Alabama’ fits into country rock with a fiddle, strong harmonies and a bit of a vocal twang. A soulful ballad, ‘Forgotten’ takes the album into reflective and dark territory. All together, the six unique and individual songs tie the album together into an exciting and eclectic conglomeration of folk, rock, country, reggae, R&B, and pop.
The band, consisting of Sam Merrick, Dominic Fallacaro, Chris Kelly and Jens Kramer, help to make the unique and original sound on The Fancy Band EP. Their sound is often referred to as a combination of John Lennon, Jason Mraz, Elton John and Ben Folds. But even this blend does not fully describe the genre complexity of Jon Sandler’s band. Take a listen to Jon Sandler and see how you would classify him! And be on the look-out for tour dates in your area this fall! - Staticmultimedia.com

Y'know, artists who defy genre classification really make this job kind of hard. Well, no. This job's the easiest job in the world, but people like Jon Sandler, who manage to segue into a different genre with every new song on a record really do make me have to search for the right words.

Over the past four years, Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band (made up of Sam Merrick, Dominic Fallacaro, Chris Kelly, Jens Kramer) have been making their mark on New York City, producing melodic tunes that are so easy to listen to, they're addictive.

This year they released The Fancy Band EP. It's a six-track gem that features everything from earnest, vulnerable ballads ("Nowhere Bound") to country-tinged tunes ("Alabama"), to reggae strains ("Broken Rubberband").

Take a listen to a live performance of "Lost Time" which is also on the EP:

Sandler is currently busy writing original music for film and television projects, including a feature documentary and a theme song for a new television pilot. There is also a full-length album and a Fall tour on the horizon. To be kept up to date on tour and music news, join Jon online at www.jonsandler.com, or on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and Youtube. - www.athousandguitars.com

Jon Sandler opened his set at Rockwood Music Hall by thanking the nearly sold out crowd for coming out on a school night; 11pm on a Monday is rough for those of us who are lucky enough to have jobs in this economy. Losing the extra hour or two of sleep was worth it.

Jon Sandler and the Fancy band opened with 'Nowhere Bound.' The room filled with excited murmers at the recognition of the first few notes. Sandler's velvet soul filled voice treated the crowed to some old favorites including 'Down On My Luck' and 'The Right'. He also delighted the crowd by debuting two songs, including 'Slow Parade' and 'Late Night Champ.' As a thank you for attending, Sandler sent a recording of LNC from the show to all those who signed up for the mailing list. I should note that in the middle, Jon does a stellar comedic rap about being a late night champ; involving eating cereal, watching porn and considering purchasing a slap chop.

Jon Sandler's arsenal of songs spans the stylistic spectrum from heart wrenching ballads like 'Forgotten' to the peppy, up tempo, 'Broken Rubber Band.' 'Lost Time' was the highlight of the show, with the crowd singing along to the catchy chorus.

There is a rumor, which I am helping to spread, that there is a video and a new website in the works since Jon recently signed with new indie label Super Duper Records.

Jon Sandler is definitely an artist to watch. Check out his myspace for music, tour dates and more information.
- Examiner.com