Brian Littrell of Backstreet Boys talks about the band, fans and rivals

Originally published in The Patriot-News on July 28, 2011.

Brian Littrell, member of the Backstreet Boys and heartthrob at large, is making his way to Hershey. The same man whose faced grinned from posters on bedroom walls and covers of teen magazines has joined up with his band mates and New Kids on the Block for a concert tour that makes every boy-band fan’s dream come true. Their next destination? Hersheypark Stadium Saturday.

Even if the name Backstreet Boys sounds foreign, chances are you know their music. The group shot to fame in the late 90s with hits like “Quit Playing Games With My Heart,” and “I Want It That Way.” Six of the group’s albums have been in the Billboard 200 Top 10. It has recorded numerous hit songs and has been nominated for seven Grammy Awards.

When BSB’s first U.S. album debuted in 1997, Littrell’s photo made elementary students squeal. Now, 14 years later, those same kids are adults — and many have kept on screaming.

The band has done a fair bit of growing as well. Their music has changed from standard boy band pop to acoustic rock to dance and they lost a member, Kevin Richardson. Littrell has shed his nickname “B-Rock,” in favor of his first name. “I’ve kinda out grown that phase,” he says.

“I got that title growing up as a Backstreet Boy, being a young man,” he says. “That’s not really my title now. I’m a grown man, husband, father.”

He could also add to that lyricist and song writer, as many BSB fans know. Littrell co-wrote the hit “Larger than Life,” in addition to “The One” and “The Answer to Our Life,” among others.

“I hear melodies in my head and I write about what I feel,” he says. “It’s a way for me to tell the fans, tell the public, what’s going on in my head and what’s going on at that time.

His favorite song he’s written, however, cannot be found on any Backstreet Boy album. Read more of this post

Rusted Root spreads its roots in Lancaster

Photo by Julia Hatmaker, edited on Instagram.

Originally published in the official guide to Launch Music Conference 2012. 

Not every band can say its music has been played in space.

But, then again, Rusted Root is not your average band.

Formed in the early 90s, Rusted Root has built a name for itself on its unique blend of the world and rock genres. Its music has been played during television shows and movies, including “Ice Age,” “Ally McBeal,” and “Twister.” In 2003 the band’s song “Send Me on My Way” was chosen as wake-up music for the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity by NASA engineers.

This year marks the release of a new album and a 20th anniversary for the group.

“Honestly, I feel real blessed to be making a living 20 years later from this band I started in college,” said Liz Berlin, percussionist and vocals for Rusted Root.

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Digging the drums: Frankie Muniz talks Kingsfoil and career so far

Photo by Dan Gleiter, The Patriot-News

Originally published in The Patriot-News on April 7, 2012.

It’s Friday afternoon and Frankie Muniz has locked himself in with his drum kit.

Since arriving in Harrisburg on Thursday morning, Muniz has been living and breathing the music of Kingsfoil, the York band in which he plays drums.

Muniz rose to fame in 2000 as Malcolm in the hit TV series “Malcolm in the Middle.” He also played the title character in the “Agent Cody Banks” movies. After “Malcolm” ended in 2006, Muniz took a break from Hollywood and moved to Phoenix, Ariz., to be a race car driver. Two years ago, he left competitive racing to be a drummer for You Hang Up, an unsigned band in his southwestern home.

Now, at age 26, Muniz has come to the midstate to pursue his drumming dream.

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