Bio

A quick look and listen will give you some facts about Falling Andes; they're a five-piece indie-pop band with ear-friendly catchy hooks, like so many other bands these days. They're not. Look a little deeper and you'll discover this is a band from Pittsburgh, a city widely panned despite turning out waves of amazing musicians - from jazz legends Ahmad Jamal and Ray Brown, Wiz Khalifa, Ray Luzier (David Lee Roth/Korn), Reb Beach (Winger), Nick Catanese (Zakk Wylde/Black Label Society), to multi-platinum artists Rusted Root and Christina Aguilera, naming only a few. It's apparent the Andes continue on in this quiet tradition. What isn't readily apparent, however, is these are five guys from wildly different backgrounds that fell together to create a sound, and not just another indie band.

Singer/songwriter Dan Peluso turned his back on a career in progress with Universal/Island Records in New York City, choosing instead to return to Beaver and reconnect with longtime friend and songwriter - keyboardist Jordan Wood - forming the nucleus of what would become Falling Andes. The goal was simple: to craft great pop songs, to earn the "indie" label through actual independence, looking to beat long odds and find success and longevity on their own terms.

Drummer Peter-Michel Natishan knows something about beating long odds, as well. His quiet, critically lauded, career as a multi-instrumentalist, film and multimedia composer and engineer was interrupted by what ultimately would become a two year arc of fight and recovery from late-stage, supposed to be terminal, cancer. Victoriously, he resumed his career playing a stint with the critically heralded, national touring artist - and Pittsburgh native - Matt Kiefer in the band Ribbons before joining Falling Andes. His uncompromising, never-say-die attitude can be felt driving the band with every note.

After becoming a part of this developing band, Peter-Michel made a call, bringing a friend and long-time musical collaborator on board as a fill-in guitarist; Andes needed to fill that position, if even on a temporary basis. That was Mike Boyer - a player with raw talent, fluidity and expression, sharpened with musical intelligence and intuition. His under-the-radar career has seen everything from national tours with bands such as Haywire Deluxe, stints with Nashville recording artist Deanna Denning to performing in acoustic duos and wedding bands, in leaner times.

The last of the Andes to come on board was well-traveled regional veteran, bassist Mike Radage. Also a multi-instrumentalist, Mike's uncanny ability to play just the right thing, coupled with formidable chops, make him a secret weapon, driving the point home with subtlety and authority. He's battled in the trenches, done the miles and managed to carve a career out of almost nothing in a city not known for such things.

Falling Andes isn't any band. This is our band. They're us: the struggles, the adversity, the determination, independence and small victories. All for the love of making music, the kind of music we can listen to, believe in and be a part of. Pittsburgh is as much a part of them as they are of it, and the Andes reflect this city - overlooked and counted out, quietly becoming a bigger and bigger part of popular culture with international relevance and attraction that can't be denied any longer.

Falling Andes is:

Dan Peluso :: vocals, keyboards, guitar
Jordan Wood :: keyboards, backing vocals
Mike Boyer :: electric guitar
Peter-Michel Natishan :: drums and percussion
Mike Radage :: electric bass

www.fallingandes.com
www.sonicbids.com/fallingandes
www.soundcloud.com/fallingandes
www.facebook.com/fallingandes
www.reverbnation.com/fallingandes