Thursday, March 15   7:00 p.m.
SXSW Dew Music Festival at Town Lake   (Auditorium Shores)

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Aside from the fact that Bryce Avary's talent as a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and live show performer is phenomenal; aside from the fact that after touring the US, Canada, Japan, and Europe relentlessly, making several quality records, all while writing everything, singing, and performing all instruments on each album, Bryce has proven himself to be one of the hardest working artists in music for years now. And aside from the fact that with very little help, The Rocket Summer has become a modest but somewhat cult-like movement among fans, quite possibly the most intriguing fact about The Rocket Summer is the warm and personal connection between the music and the listener that is clearly visible and audible at a TRS show.

The Rocket Summer is a very original, piano/guitar filled melodic pop rock and roll project that not only rocks the party but is filled with passion and sincerity and has uniquely become a place of acceptance where everyone is invited.

"The TRS family (fans) are absolutely the most amazing people. I don't know what I would do without them. This isn't a huge band by any means, but I feel that there's definitely something special going on and I hold it very dear to my heart. I'm really blessed to get to do this. It's definitely been a load of very hard work, but getting to hang out with new people, make music, play shows with other bands that love music; it's awesome." Bryce Avary

Since the age of 14, Bryce Avary has been obsessed with music, obsessed with making records, obsessed with connecting with people, and obsessed with touring, and now at the old age of 24 with several records and near world touring under his belt, it's safe to say that The Rocket Summer could be making it's way up.

In 1999, after playing local shows for a several years, Bryce went in to the local studio on a small budget to make his first EP. He pressed up 1000 copies and started playing shows, sending out the disc to anyone he could, and after the disc ended up on a local credible specialty radio show, word started to spread. With no label, Bryce took a loan out from his dad to go make a full length record in Kansas which he named "calendar days". The disc ended up in the hands of The Militia Group, and soon after they signed a deal together. After "calendar days", the 2003 critically acclaimed full length debut was released, The Rocket Summer became an underground favorite. And as pockets of people found a place for TRS in their stereos, they saw it grow in a very grassroots way. After touring the USA relentlessly behind calendar days, word started to spread and eventually TRS found its way to Japan and was received warmly. With quick popularity, Bryce and Co. had the opportunity to share the stage with Radiohead, The Strokes, Blondie, Interpol and more at the touring Summer Sonic festival. The exposure was amazing and lead to an awesome Japanese family of fans, a headlining tour, and chart making radio play.

"That was such a surreal moment. I was in the middle of a US tour and the last show I played was in front of 30 people on a Sunday afternoon at a bowling alley in Long Island. 2 days later I was in sold out arenas in Japan. It was so crazy."

Over the course of a year later, The Rocket Summer toured the UK with The Ataris, toured the States headlining or opening shows with Something Corporate, Ash, Hellogoodbye, Copeland, Recover, The Format, Relient K, Mae, Plain White T's, Sugarcult, and maritime, with occasional one off shows opening or headlining shows with Ted Leo and the pharmacists, Idlewild, Jimmy Eat World, The Polyphonic Spree, The All-American Rejects, and Eisley.

In November 2004, Bryce teamed up with co-producer Tim' O'Hier (The All-American Rejects, Say Anything, Hot Rod Circuit, The Jealous Sound) in Brooklyn to record his third cd, "Hello, Good Friend.". With a couple of years having gone by since the making of "calendar days" Bryce's songwriting and musical performances have sky rocketed, resulting in a great record. "Hello, good friend." shows the variety of Bryce's musical growth with honesty and sincerity that is simply moving. Recently released in May 2005, "Hello, good friend." said "hello" to the family of trs fans/friends and has had an amazing response that is growing by the week.

Bryce and Co. plan to continue to tour the states and possibly the world extensively, in a van, rockin' the party, and becoming your friends.