Boxkar

With 12,000 entries, 390,000 fan votes and 941 competing bands, Fox Valley's Boxkar beat out other artists in the Hard Rock Rising 2013. This global battle of the bands created by Hard Rock Records, is an opportunity for musicians to gain exposure and a recording contract.

The first round of fan voting pushed Boxkar into one of the top places to perform at Hard Rock Cafe Chicago. Out of many stellar performances, the Fox Cities-based band won the top spot.

April 22, 2013 marked the next round in fan voting. In this round, the top twenty five bands will move on to the final round where a panel of music industry professionals will evaluate and select the grand prize winner. Some of the judges set to be there are: Steven Van Zandt of the E Street band, Live Nation Senior Vice President of Music Toby Leighton-Pope and Hard Rock International's Head of Music and Artist Relations John Kirkpatrick.

The grand prize winner will play a world tour in six cities arranged by Hard Rock International, make an album and music video with Hard Rock Records and receive new music equipment valued at over $10,000.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Boxkar's Chris Szebeni via phone to discuss the competition and how fans can vote in the current round.

J: How did you guys hear about the Hard Rock Rising competition?

C: A women we work with for special and charity events named Michelle has been gnawing at us for about two years to do this. First of all, a battle of the bands is the opposite and last thing Boxkar has ever wanted to do. We have shied away from so many of them. But, the more we read into it and the more Michelle made us read into it, the competition seemed like a really good starting point.

We just released a new album and we feel like this is a brand new start to our career. It's almost a reformation. It's Hard Rock, one of the strongest brands in the world. We know that the end game is a recording contract, which is something we are ready for and interested in. Now that we have this start, we think it's time.
J: One of the things about Boxkar that makes you guys stand out is how polished and professional your concerts are. What can you tell me about your prep for this opportunity?

C: We decided to throw our name into the hat and there were over 600 bands in Chicago alone. And, low and behold, out of 600 bands we got the opportunity to perform.

The first round of voting could only be from fans within 90 miles of Chicago. All of our fan base, here <northeast Wisconsin>, couldn't vote. We saw this as a great opportunity to reach more in-depth into the Chicago market. Our fans in Milwaukee and Chicago rallied for us and next thing we knew, we were in the top ten in the performance round. It gave us all the gusto to go and win this for them (all the people who believed in us).

Hard Rock Chicago is a beautiful place and they made us feel at home. When we arrived, we realized they knew far more about us than we knew about them. They had done a lot of research and were very excited to have us.
There were two rounds and we were in front of three judges. The first round we had to play with three other bands. There were three nights of first round performances and the winner of each night went on to the finals.

When put on the show in both rounds we had more fans there than the Chicago bands. But, that really has to do with the fans more than us. In the finals we were up against some very stiff competition. I looked at the guys and said, "Ya know what? We have nothing to lose. Let's just give 'er."

And, now after two performance rounds, Hard Rock Cafe Chicago picked us because they feel we represent their brand and the Chicago-Midwest rock band. I believe in the brand and what Hard Rock is doing. Most of all, I believe in the fans.

To this day I'm hearing from our fans and friends who were there that this was, by far, the best they've ever seen Boxkar in the ten years we've been around. There was something to that night. It's nice to know we still have the fight like a group of garage band twenty-year-olds who just want to go out and prove to the world that they'll do anything and everything possible to have their music heard.

We proved it to ourselves that night. It was a good feeling. We play 80-90 shows per year and sometimes, sometimes you lose track of that feeling...your back is up against wall, you're competing against people who are in a big market like Chicago, you're not supposed to be there and you're not supposed to win. It was nice to know when our backs were up against the wall, we just looked people in the face and we were ourselves. We brought the Wisconsin rock-n-roll to Chicago and they picked us.
J: This part of the competition process fans need to vote online. Can you explain a little about how fans can vote for you?

C: We're almost done with day number two in voting. - Examiner.com

"It's been a long time since I have seen a band with this much promise. Everything needed to be a player in todays music market is rooted in this band from Wisconsin.
I am completely confident that given the right opportunity, Boxkar will be performing and recording
music on a mass level."
-Bob Destocki
Former A&R Director for Electra/Asylum
Promotions Director for Warner Bros.
Frontline Management
- -Bob Destocki Former A&R Director for Electra/Asylum, Promotions Director for Warner Bros. Frontline

"It's been a long time since I have seen a band with this much promise. Everything needed to be a player in todays music market is rooted in this band from Wisconsin.
I am completely confident that given the right opportunity, Boxkar will be performing and recording
music on a mass level."
-Bob Destocki
Former A&R Director for Electra/Asylum
Promotions Director for Warner Bros.
Frontline Management
- -Bob Destocki Former A&R Director for Electra/Asylum, Promotions Director for Warner Bros. Frontline

I have been a DJ in top markets from east to west
cost and between. I don’t say this often, rarely do I
see a band like boxkar that actually has what it takes.
A band that I am proud to play on my station.They are welcome here any time! kick ass music, powerful rock show.
A "Cheap Trick" for today.
-Jason Lee Rock 107 WIRX, Michigan
- Jason Lee Rock 107 WIRX, Michigan

I have been a DJ in top markets from east to west
cost and between. I don’t say this often, rarely do I
see a band like boxkar that actually has what it takes.
A band that I am proud to play on my station.They are welcome here any time! kick ass music, powerful rock show.
A "Cheap Trick" for today.
-Jason Lee Rock 107 WIRX, Michigan
- Jason Lee Rock 107 WIRX, Michigan

Szebeni is a true on stage entertainer. Strutting around with a Steven Tyler swagger and Jon Bon Jovi's flair for the dramatic, his presence is second only to his
phenomenal voice, which (unlike many of today's rockers) he doesn't need to hide with grumbles, raspy whispers or technological gizmos. The boy can sing!Quite simply,
Boxkar celebrates the release that rock and roll is supposed to give from everyday life and they do so in addicting fashion. Now sing along ...
"Hey! Hey! Hey!"
-Jim Martyka, ALL ACCESS
MAGAZINE, L.A. - Jim Martyka, ALL ACCESS MAGAZINE, L.A.

Szebeni is a true on stage entertainer. Strutting around with a Steven Tyler swagger and Jon Bon Jovi's flair for the dramatic, his presence is second only to his
phenomenal voice, which (unlike many of today's rockers) he doesn't need to hide with grumbles, raspy whispers or technological gizmos. The boy can sing!Quite simply,
Boxkar celebrates the release that rock and roll is supposed to give from everyday life and they do so in addicting fashion. Now sing along ...
"Hey! Hey! Hey!"
-Jim Martyka, ALL ACCESS
MAGAZINE, L.A. - Jim Martyka, ALL ACCESS MAGAZINE, L.A.

"Boxkar is the real thing! A great band in the classic tradition of rock and roll bands. The songs are infectious, the players are very strong and Chris Szebeni (front man) is a
superstar in the making."
-Monty Powell-CMA Award Winning Producer
Writer of seven #1 songs selling over 35+ million units - Monty Powell-CMA Award Winning Producer

SEE URL - CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE

SEE URL - CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE

PLEASE SEE PHOTOS FOR PRESS CLIPPINGS - CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE, L.A. ACCESS MAGAZINE....

PLEASE SEE PHOTOS FOR PRESS CLIPPINGS - CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE, L.A. ACCESS MAGAZINE....