The Philadelphia based duo DRGN King is thrilled to announce the October 28th release of their sophomore full-length album on Bar None Records. Titled Baltimore Crush, the new LP has front man Dominic Angelella telling his story of growing up in Baltimore, MD.
The narrative takes the listener on trip through time and all from the point of view of the disenfranchised youth who are trying to make it on their own terms while still having fun. Angelella is joined in everything DRGN King by producer, bandmate and longtime musical collaborator Brent Reynolds.
Baltimore Crush, unlike their debut album Paragraph Nights, was recorded over time and distance.
Dom did most of his writing while on the road and when not on tour, he spent hours in the studio with Brent to further hash out the songs. Reynold’s deconstructed sounds were fed back to the rest of the band who perfected the songs as the tour rolled on.
Angelella and Brent then re-worked the new material at Kawari Sound, a studio built in a century-old carriage house in rural Pennsylvania. Angelella's singing and guitar playing is only matched by Reynolds’s mastery on the keyboard and it’s all anchored by the killer percussion section made up of drummer Joe Baldacci and bass player Steve Montenegro.
Dom and Brent’s connection goes back to 2010 when the two first met at a chance recording session that paired Angelella’s DIY pedigree (Hop Along) with Reynolds hip-hop track production skills (The Roots, Mac Miller). They instantly clicked and started to work together and in January 2013 they released their debut DRGN King album – Paragraph Nights – via Bar None Records. The release was met with positive press feedback.
Esquire picked the band as one of “15 Music Artists to Watch in 2015” with critic Andy Langer writing, “Because Philadelphia, home of Hall of Oates and the DJ that coined the phrase ‘blue-eyed soul’ strikes again. Dominic Angelella might just be your new favorite singer.” WXPN, whose Program Director Bruce Warren included DRGN King in his April 2012 Paste feature, “11 Pennsylvania Bands You Should Know” alongside Strand of Oaks, continued their support with numerous pieces on The Key and a live session. They also did a session for Daytrotter, premiered a song on Rolling Stone and were featured by VICE.
DRGN King spent most of 2013 on the road in support of their debut LP. Continuing with his DIY ethos, Angelella booked all the band’s tours and even landed slots for them on this year’s Firefly Festival in Dover, DE as well as WXPN’s XPONENTIAL Festival in Philly.
Baltimore Crush is a feverish ten-song meditation on memory, nostalgia and the dangers of being stuck in the past. All the members of DRGN King are incredibly excited about Baltimore Crush’s October 28th release on Bar Non Records and are ready to hit the road again!
Catch DRGN King at MOTR Pub Monday October 6th!
