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For the 1918 film, see Empty Pockets.
The Empty Pockets
Performing at Double Door in 2008 (left to right: Josh, Danny, Erika, Nate.)
Performing at Double Door in 2008
(left to right: Josh, Danny, Erika, Nate.)
Background information
OriginChicago, Illinois, United States
Genresblues, Americana, rock and roll, rockabilly
Years active2006–present
LabelsMT Pockets Music, Inc.
MembersJosh Solomon
Nate Bellon
Adam Balasco
Erika Brett
Past membersDanny Rosenthal
Websitetheemptypockets.com

The Empty Pockets (formerly known as Josh & The Empty Pockets) is an American rock and roll band from Chicago, Illinois. Josh & The Empty Pockets released a Buddy Holly Tribute album in 2007 and Under the Bed in 2008, with Erika Brett featured on two of the songs.[1][2] The band changed its name to The Empty Pockets following the addition of Erika Brett to its lineup.[3] The Empty Pockets released two EPs, one of which features holiday songs.

The group is composed of four members: Josh Solomon, guitar and lead vocals; Nate Bellon, bass and lead vocals; Adam Balasco, drums; and Erika Brett, keyboard and lead vocals.

History

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Josh & The Empty Pockets

[edit]

Josh Solomon (guitar and vocals) grew up in Lincolnwood, Illinois, playing music with his childhood friends Nate Bellon (bass and vocals) and Danny Rosenthal (drums). Shortly after forming the band in 2006, Solomon was cast as Buddy Holly in the 2006-2007 production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at Chicago's Mercury Theatre.[4][5][6] Bellon and Rosenthal were cast as The Crickets in the show.[4] During the run, the band met Erika Brett (keyboard and vocals), who was a singer and dancer in the show. Alongside the production, Josh & The Empty Pockets released a Buddy Holly tribute album called Not Fade Away.[1]

Under the Bed

[edit]

Josh & The Empty Pockets released their first album comprising 10 original songs, Under the Bed, in 2008.[2] In an interview with Phil Ponce on Chicago Tonight in April 2009, Josh explained that the debut album is about growing up and that the title Under the Bed comes from the lyrics "where have the monsters under my bed gone" on one of the songs.[7] Erika Brett was featured on "Let Go" and "Fall Right Now." The album was produced by Rick Fritz.[8] All ten of the tracks were placed on the Nickelodeon TV channel's programs iCarly, Zoey 101 and Drake & Josh.[2][9]

Fall Right Now
[edit]

As part of that release, the band promoted the single "Fall Right Now" to medium and secondary markets and it reached #11 on the FMQB AC chart.[10] The album's single, "Fall Right Now" is said to be inspired by Erika Brett. The band also recorded an acoustic version of the song at Sweetwater Studios included with a second previously unrecorded song called "Leaving Jackson" on WAJI's annual charity CD, a fundraising project for Riley Children's Hospital, with other notable artists including Ingrid Michaelson, Gavin DeGraw, Uncle Kracker, Vertical Horizon and Eric Hutchinson, among others.[11][12][13][14]

The Empty Pockets

[edit]

Baby It's Cold Outside/Baby Please Come Home

[edit]

The band added Erika Brett as their female vocalist before recording and releasing a Christmas single in 2008, a rock arrangement combining "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and "Baby Please Come Home."[3] The song peaked the week of Christmas 2008 and reached #51 on the Mediabase AC chart playing on radio stations across the United States.[15] The following year, the single reached #36 on the Mediabase AC chart in November.[16] That month it was the #1 song played in several cities including KQIS in Lafayette, Louisiana WJYE in Buffalo, New York, and WYYY in Syracuse, New York.[17][18][19] By the first week of December the single reached #31 on the Mediabase Christmas chart and was the #1 played song on WEZF in Burlington, Vermont.[20][21]

Signing

[edit]

The album "Under The Bed" was re-released nationwide in stores, as well as online outlets, in April, 2009. Later that year, David Spero, manager of Joe Walsh, Cat Stevens and Dickey Betts, became the band's manager.[22] After signing, promotion of the single "Fall Right Now" to major radio markets got underway, which saw it receive airplay on a number of Clear Channel and other monitored stations.[23] During March and April the single appeared twice on Mediabase's weekly Taking Off airplay chart, which lists "the Top 50 currents by most new spins, showing detections for the first time." The track reached #77 on the Mediabase Hot AC chart, and #65 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[24][25]

EP releases

[edit]

In 2011, the band released a six-song EP called Introducing The Empty Pockets. "Take Me," one of the songs released on Introducing The Empty Pockets, was featured in the award-winning documentary, Patrol Base Jaker.[26] That same year, the band revisited holiday music with a five-song album entitled A Holiday Staycation with The Empty Pockets.

The Ten Cent Tour

[edit]

In 2015, The Empty Pockets released the album, The Ten Cent Tour.[27][28] Radio One Chicago praised "their first full-length album recorded in a studio they built with their bare hands. The Ten Cent Tour is a leap forward for the already-accomplished band. Solomon’s smooth pop vocals possess a newfound throaty gusto, while Brett’s bring a sort of polished abandon to the proceedings. The rhythm section of Rosenthal and Bellon finds a groove from the first track and doesn’t let go.

“You Know I Do” is a showcase for Brett as a vocal powerhouse, while “Find Or Fail” brings tight vocal harmonies and jaunty banjo into the mix. “Leaving Jackson” is a heartwrenching ballad with Brett's vocals taking on a world-weary croon backed by chiming, shimmering guitars and a driving backbeat. “I Hear Your Voice” features a haunting refrain and some nimble slide guitar from Solomon. Album closer “Travelin’ Song” asserts its worthiness of inclusion on the list of great road songs with a brash fearlessness in the vocals, a classic drum-and-bass groove and a brief-but-impressive bout of flatpicking midway through.

But it's the group's eponymous song, the jaunty, confident “Empty Pockets” that's the true stand-out. Showcasing the group's understanding of songcraft rather than any individual member, the song is a reminder of the fun we can have when we have nothing else–and possibly a perfect summary of The Empty Pockets as a band.

Beyond the obvious Buddy Holly influence, the new batch of songs bring to mind modern Americana tentpoles like Drive-By Truckers, soul studio legends like Raphael Saadiq, fellow Chicago greats like JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, and 1990s pop-rockers such as Blues Traveler. Such a laundry list of obvious influences might make the group sound derivative on paper, but the resulting handcrafted rock ‘n roll is fresh yet familiar, exciting yet comfortable. In a word: timeless."[28]

Touring

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In late 2008, the band performed along the Mexican Riviera on the Sapphire Princess cruise ship.[29] Since, the band has continued to tour the United States.[30] The Empty Pockets have played many venues in Chicago, including headlining twice at the Double Door in 2008 and 2009.[31][32] In March, 2009, the band played at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.[9] In June, 2009, the band played at Chicago's Millennium Park at the WTMX-sponsored Party in the Park event and at the same event in July, 2010.[33][34]

In June 2010, the band kicked off the 2010 Concert Series at Evergreen Lake, Colorado, playing songs from their first album, Under the Bed, as well as several unreleased songs.[35] On October 5, 2010, The Empty Pockets played at the House of Blues for Michigan Avenue Magazine's second anniversary party, which also featured performances by Jennifer Hudson and DJ Rock City.[36] In June 2011, the band opened for Dave Mason at the Beverly Arts Center.[37] In 2012, The Empty Pockets headlined for comedian George Lopez, Dickey Betts, Richie Furay, and Kansas.[9][38][39][40] That same year they also performed at Michele Clark 's Sunset Sessions, where they played alongside Jason Mraz, Jimmy Cliff, Fun, among others; followed by Sunset Sessions showcases at the Hotel Café, and the Belly Up in San Diego. The band also headlined at The Bitter End and the Palms Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.[41][42][43] In May 2013, the band performed at the Niagara Falls Hard Rock Café.[44] In August of that year, The Empty Pockets opened for Dickey Betts again at the City Winery in Chicago.[45] The band toured with Richie Furay, playing three shows together, in 2013, at Kent Stage, Fairfield Theatre Company, and at B.B. King's NYC.[46][47] In October 2013, Josh was selected to participate in the Sunset Sessions Alumni Songwriting Retreat in Tulum, Mexico with Mark Bryan from Hootie & the Blowfish, Bob Schneider, Louise Goffin, Tristan Prettyman and members of the Parlotones. In December that year they opened for Paul Thorn at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio.[46][48]

Since 2013, The Empty Pockets opened for Buffalo Springfield's Richie Furay and also performed as his band at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,[49] as well as opening for Pure Prairie League[50] and Bob Schneider.[51] Building their reputation as "musicians' musicians," the band continues to work with legendary artists, including touring as the backing band and support act for Al Stewart ("Year of the Cat") and Gary Wright ("Dreamweaver"),[52][53] while simultaneously producing, recording and performing live with Bad Company's Simon Kirke to promote his solo record, All Because of You (BMG), recorded in The Empty Pockets' studio in Chicago.[54] Rolling Stone said of the collaboration, "Though he's hung his hat in New York City for years, Kirke shows an enviable rapport with bandmates Josh Solomon, Erika Brett, Nate Bellon and Danny Rosenthal, members of polished yet rootsy Chicago outfit Empty Pockets."[55] The band has also backed up Kenny Loggins, performing his hits, as well as sharing Empty Pockets' original material as part of the SoundExchange Influencer's Series.[56]

In November 2022, the Empty Pockets opened for Al Stewart at Hangar 11, Tel Aviv, in their Israeli debut.

Reception

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Josh & The Empty Pockets

[edit]

Daily Vault staff writer Duke Egbert described their sound as "harmony-drenched," and labeled it "intelligent" yet unpretentious and "well-crafted." Egbert rated the Under the Bed "one of the better new CDs I've heard this year," and complimented the wordplay of "Missteps," and "Monsters," among others.[57] Echoing the sentiments of prior reviews, Amy Lotsberg, a music critic and producer of Collected Sounds, wrote "Josh Solomon has a pleasing voice. It's clear, and easy to understand, which is important because the lyrics are clever." Lotsberg deemed the songs "melodic and interesting."[58]

The Empty Pockets

[edit]

AMD Entertainment's My Nguyen described The Empty Pockets as vibrant and energetic with a range of influences varying from "classic pop-rock to doo-wop."[42] Clinton Weiderholt of Vocals on Top wrote that the band has a listener friendly sound with vocals on top of the music, which is refreshing.[59] He calls the band "catchy and fun" and mentions "All I Need" as being the "strongest song of the evening in St. Joseph."[59] Peter Jurew & Lou Montesano of Elmore Magazine opine, "worthy of mention are the Empty Pockets, a tight and soulful quartet who are much more than just a backing band. They are credited as Kirke’s writing partners on the new album and have their own songs and their own sound. With Josh Solomon on guitar and vocals and Erika Brett on keyboards and vocals, they tend toward lighter pop melodies but managed to cover the harder-rocking Bad Company tunes without dropping a beat."[54]

Discography

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Heat
[60] 		US
Folk
[61] 		US
Indie
[62] 		US
Blues
[63]
Under the Bed
  • Release date: January 2, 2008
  • Label: 8th Impression
 — — — —
Introducing the Empty Pockets (EP)
  • Release date: 2011
 — — — —
A Holiday Staycation
  • Release date: 2011
 — — — —
The Ten Cent Tour
  • Release date: June 2, 2015
  • Label: MT Pockets Inc.
 9 — 30 —
Voices[64]
  • Release date: September 1, 2017
  • Label: MT Pockets
 — 9 14 —
Snow Day
  • Release date: 2018
 — — — —
Tanglewoods
  • Release date: January 18, 2019
 — — — —
Live in Seattle
  • Release date: June 14, 2019
  • Label: MT Pockets Music, Inc.
 — — — —
Outside Spectrum
  • Release date: 2022
  • Label: MT Pockets Music, Inc.
 — — — 1
Party at the North Pole
  • Release date: 2022
  • Label: MT Pockets Music, Inc.
 — — — —
Gotta Find the Moon
  • Release date: September 7, 2023
  • Label: MT Pockets Music, Inc.
 — — — 1
Oh! Darling (single)
  • Release date: June 18, 2024
  • Label: MT Pockets Music, Inc.
 — — — —
Al Stewart & The Empty Pockets Live
  • Release date: August 6, 2024
 — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Adam Harrington. "Review: 'Josh Solomon & the Empty Pockets' 'Celebrate Buddy Holly'". W&H. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Top40 Charts. "Josh & The Empty Pockets". Retrieved 2009-01-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b "Baby It's Cold Outside/Baby Please Come Home by Josh and the Empty Pockets". OurStage. 22 October 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Theater: Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story". Windy City Media Group. 14 February 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story Extends Chicago Run At The Mercury Theater". ABC 7. 13 March 2007. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Rave on, Buddy". Wilmette Life. 5 July 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  7. ^ "Live Music Wednesday: Empty Pockets". Chicago Tonight. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  8. ^ "Under the Bed". All Music. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  9. ^ a b c Shea Connor (27 September 2012). "Nerdy, quirky fun". St. Joseph News-Press. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  10. ^ FMQB (26 January 2009). "ACQB Adult Contemporary Top 40 Chart (archived on flickr)". Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  11. ^ Mike McVay (2 March 2009). "Josh & The Empty Pockets visit with WAJI PD Barb Richards". Retrieved 2009-03-02.
  12. ^ Sweetwater. "Sweetwater Majic Miracle". Retrieved 2009-11-27.
  13. ^ Sweetwater Sound’s Notes. "Josh and the Empty Pockets in Studio A". Facebook. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
  14. ^ "Majic Miracle Music". Sweetwater. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  15. ^ "Baby, It's Cold Outside/Baby Please Come Home". Mediabase. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  16. ^ "Nov 15 - Nov 21". Mediabase. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  17. ^ Mediabase. "KQIS Playlist (archived on Flickr)". Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  18. ^ Mediabase. "WJYE Playlist (archived on Flickr)". Retrieved 2009-11-22.
  19. ^ Mediabase. "WYYY Playlist (archived on Flickr)". Retrieved 2009-11-24.
  20. ^ Mediabase. "Mediabase Christmas 7 Day Chart (archived on Flickr)". Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  21. ^ Mediabase. "WEZF Playlist (archived on Flickr)". Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  22. ^ Jeff Piorkowski (2 June 2012). "South Euclid's David Spero has done it all in nearly half-century career in the music business". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  23. ^ "Mediabase Report for Adds as of February 24, 2009 (archived on Flickr)". Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  24. ^ AllAccess.com (16 March 2009). "7 Day Charts - Taking Off - Hot AC (archived on Flickr)". Mediabase. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  25. ^ "Second Time 7 Day Charts - Taking Off - Hot AC (archived on Flickr)". Mediabase. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  26. ^ David Scantling (22 July 2010). "Greenlight the PATROL BASE JAKER Movie". Kickstarter. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  27. ^ The Ten Cent Tour, MT Pockets Inc., 2015-06-02, retrieved 2016-10-26
  28. ^ a b "Chicago's THE EMPTY POCKETS celebrate album release May 29th at Uncommon Ground - Radio One Chicago". Radio One Chicago. 2015-05-20. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  29. ^ "On the Sapphire Princess YouTube Clip". YouTube. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  30. ^ John Benson (9 December 2008). "The Plain Dealer". Retrieved 2009-02-20.
  31. ^ Chicago Sun-Times (Requires registration for a free trial). "Ticket line". Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2009-02-08. May 30, 2008
  32. ^ "Things to Do in Chicago". Chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  33. ^ Chrissy S. "Josh and the Empty Pockets Back In Chicago!". Retrieved 2009-06-03.
  34. ^ "WTMX Party in the Park Archived 2008-07-09 at the Wayback Machine" Special Events Management
  35. ^ Summer Concert Series. "Evergreen Lake Presents". Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
  36. ^ Jessica Zweig. "Jennifer Hudson Sparkles at Magazine's 2 Year Anniversary Party". Archived from the original on 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  37. ^ "Beverly Arts Center's summer concert series". Southtown Star. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  38. ^ "Dickey Betts and Great Southern Concert at State Theatre in New Brunswick". Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  39. ^ Karyn Spory (13 July 2012). "Saturday's Fair Line-Up Features Kansas". Hometown News. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  40. ^ "Josh and Erika from the Empty Pockets". 21 December 2012. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  41. ^ "Locations & Alumni". Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  42. ^ a b My Nguyen (20 February 2012). "Live Show Review Makepeace Brothers @ Belly Up Tavern". AMD Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2014-05-13. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  43. ^ "The Drowning Men and The Empty Pockets add to the live performance lineup at The Lounge at Palms Casino Resort". 18 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2014-05-13. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  44. ^ "The Empty Pockets". Reverb Nation. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  45. ^ "Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Special Guest The Empty Pockets". Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  46. ^ a b "Happenings -- your guide to upcoming events in Northeast Ohio". The News-Herald. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  47. ^ "Richie Furay Band". Fairfield Theatre. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  48. ^ "Paul Thorn & Band". Ticketweb.com. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  49. ^ "Rhonda's Kiss fundraiser to benefit inner-city Clevelanders diagnosed with cancer". Crain's Cleveland Business. 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  50. ^ "Pure Prairie League with Special Guests: The Empty Pockets - Tickets - The Kent Stage - Kent, OH - February 14th, 2016". Kent Stage. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  51. ^ "May 27: Memorial Day Weekend Bash". Bob Schneider. Archived from the original on 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  52. ^ "Tickets | Al Stewart & Gary Wright w/ The Empty Pockets | The Triple Door". Tickets.thetripledoor.net. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  53. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  54. ^ a b "Simon Kirke and the Empty Pockets". Elmore Magazine. 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  55. ^ "Review: Bad Company Drummer Simon Kirke Simmers on 'All Because of You'". Rolling Stone. 31 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017.
  56. ^ "SoundExchange Hosts Influencers Series with Kenny Loggins and The Empty Pockets at the Virgin Hotels Chicago". Prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  57. ^ Duke Egbert. "Daily Vault Review". Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  58. ^ Amy Lotsberg. "Collected Sounds Album Review". Blog.collectedsounds.com. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
  59. ^ a b "Concert Review: The Empty Pockets at Cafe Acoustic in St. Joseph 10/4/12". Vocals on Top. 2012-10-05. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  60. ^ "The Empty Pockets - Chart history (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard.
  61. ^ "The Empty Pockets". Billboard.
  62. ^ "The Empty Pockets - Chart history (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  63. ^ "Blues Albums - Billboard". Billboard.
  64. ^ "Bottles & Bibles - Tyler Childers". iTunes. 11 October 2011.
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