Eighteenth Hour

EIGHTEENTH HOUR - PRESS

“The Analog Sessions” CD Review in The Morning Call (September 8, 2007):

Eighteenth Hour, the Bethlehem-based rock band, has been through several line-ups and a hiatus since they began in 2000, but core members David Zullo (guitar) and Geoff Houser (guitar and vocals), are back rocking it old school. As the title "The Analog Sessions" indicates, their new disc (the band's fourth of original tunes) is a throwback to pre-digital music. The eight songs feature big distorted guitars, bluesy solos and dramatic acoustic ballads. A classic rock influence can be heard, with riffs in the style pioneered by Led Zeppelin - although it should be noted that Houser's vocal style is more restrained than the typical caterwauling associated with '70s rock. He sings in a straight-ahead modern rock style, occasionally cutting loose with a satisfying scream and impressive falsetto.

"Sound the Sirens Off," the most overtly blues song, is a standout. It begins with a slow blues guitar riff by Zullo, accented by an organ before joining a steady beat by drummer Tom Chaffier and building to a tightly rocking chorus. Impressive and melodic bass-playing by Jim Touchton is an unexpected touch, leading nicely into Zullo's guitar solo. The opening track, "Come Back Later," is also impressive. Here the guitars sound modern in a Foo Fighters sort of way while vocal harmonies add a soft touch over the heavy fuzz.

Featured artist in Pulse Weekly Magazine (April 7, 2004):
Excerpts from “Eighteenth Hour Gets Stripped!”

Unless you’ve been living under the Hamilton Street bridge for the past three years, you know who Eighteenth Hour is – a four man band from Bethlehem that has racked up more awards than the final installment of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy did at this year’s Academy Awards (including Best Original Band in this year’s Pulse Weekly Readers’ Choice poll)…

Now Eighteenth Hour is heading to New Jersey for a gig…Oh, and did we mention the show is going to be at a strip club? Read on to find out the scoop on the dirty side of the Lehigh Valley’s “friendliest” band.

PULSE WEEKLY: Ok, tell us about this Double D’s place you’re playing at in Jersey. The name sounds pretty incriminating.

TOM CHAFFIER: Yeah, it’s a strip joint – I want to be able to say, “We just wanted to be around strippers,” but the truth of the matter is, I was online and came across a post wanting bands for the place. After talking to some industry guys in the area who said, “It’s a pretty good place to get into if you can,” we got a show lined up. It’s our first strip club show.

PULSE WEEKLY: I read that you guys hoped that “Shine” would thrust you into the national spotlight. Did it work?

TOM CHAFFIER: [laughing] We’re waiting to see. Being in a local original band, especially when you have full-time jobs…it’s a slow process. I always say, as long as we keep moving forward, we’re doing the right thing, and that’s what we’ve been doing consistently for three years now.

PULSE WEEKLY: Have you gotten any offers from any labels out there yet?

TOM CHAFFIER: We’ve had some small offers, but we’re just being careful and taking our time….At this point in time, our plan is to concentrate on writing songs, as many as possible, get good quality demos and keep pushing them.

“Mary Street” CD Review in Pulse Weekly Magazine (February 9, 2005):

From the local electric pop-rockers Eighteenth Hour, Geoff Houser and David Zullo have released their first solo effort, “Mary Street”. The six-song collection of fantastically crafted acoustic pop is rich with texture, vibe and spirit. (Words like "heartfelt" and "soulful" come to mind.)

Houser’s voice, deep in some spots, drips with emotion as he belts out lyrics about casual observation and past personal experiences. This musical collaboration is explosive, but instead of sending the energy through the roof like the two do in their band, they only hint at the notion; they realize that they’ve been there before and have decided to rest comfortably on a different dynamic plane. The result is a beautifully constructed piece that makes this listener eager to hear more.

Featured artist in The Morning Call’s GoGuide (Thursday, April 17, 2003):
Excerpts from “Get Into the Act”

Don’t be fooled by the laid-back look of T-shirt and jeans – Eighteenth Hour has a high-octane show to go along with hard-driving rock. Frontman Geoff Houser works the stage with authority while David Zullo rips elastic lightning from his fretboard. The exhilarating thunder stomp produced by drummer Tom Chaffier and bassist Jim Touchton could cause Donald Rumsfeld to designate the city of Bethlehem – the band’s home base – a haven for weapons of mass destruction.

Gigging heavily in the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and New York City, the three-year-old combo has cultivated a loyal following. More than 300 fans packed the Sterling Hotel in Allentown a month ago, when the band unveiled its latest release, “Shine”.

Judging from audience response, it’s a surefire method that promises a hefty harvest.

Featured artist in The Express Times’ Enjoy (Friday, August 25, 2006):
Excerpts from “Houser-Zullo upfront in the moment”

How can they lie? Fans can hear selections Friday as Eighteenth Hour founders Geoff Houser and David Zullo perform cuts from their newest release, “Would I Lie?”. Writing about relationships and their observations of daily life, Houser-Zullo offer a different take on the singer-songwriter classic fare, paired down from their driving rock beat with Eighteenth Hour. Houser said both Eighteenth Hour and Houser-Zullo draw inspiration from the music of the 1970s. “We put a rock-infused edge to our acoustic music. It’s a different kind of singer-songwriter approach,” Zullo says.

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
FINALIST in the 2007 PUSH PLAY Online Music Competition - hosted by The Great Allentown Fair.

FINALIST in the 2006 MUSIKFEST Regional Band Showcase Competition - Musikfest is the country’s largest music festival which draws over a million people annually to Bethlehem, PA during the festival’s nine day run each August. Musikfest 2006 performers included Train, Carrie Underwood, Melissa Etheridge, Alice in Chains, Heart, The Wreckers and many others.

5 out of 5 stars: “Shine” CD Review, Pulse Weekly Magazine – February 18, 2004.

WINNER of the WZZO 15th Annual Backyard Bands Competition. Held by the Lehigh Valley's biggest rock station WZZO (95.1fm), hundreds of bands entered the annual contest. Eighteenth Hour competed among the five finalists at The Great Allentown Fair for the big prize of $2000 to be spent at Dave Philips Music & Sound. The finals were aired on RCN TV and sponsored by Pepsi and Aquafine Water. The contest was judged by representatives from Atlantic, Virgin and Interscope Records.