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THE BRANTFORD EXPOSITOR THURSDAY, MAY 5^th, 2005

After The Lounge

After The Lounge plays Brando's

Simcoe native Scott Bollert brings his London-based band, After the Lounge, into Brantford for a show at Brando’s on the Market on Friday night.

Previously a jazz vocalist and dance instructor, Bollert brings those elements to the band’s music, which is also influenced by pop, rock and funk. The group recently released a four-track CD of original music and is working on a full-length album.

In addition to the frontman, After the Lounge includes bassist Kerry Hayden, drummer, Jon Dias and guitarist Bryan Parsons.

The show is at 10 p.m. at Brando’s 135 Market St.

Simcoe Reformer, Friday February 11th, 2005

ENTERTAINMENT

Simcoe-born artist leaves boy band past behind

Tiffany Mayer

Simcoe Reformer

There was a time when Scott Bollert could have been mistaken as the doppel-ganger for N’Sync’s Lance Bass – not a stretch considering Bollert was once in a tribute group devoted to the much-hyped boy band.

These days, the Simcoe-born Bollert has left his sugar pop, bleach blond past behind in pursuit of paying tribute to his own

musical talents. And they culminate on a four-track CD single of original music entitled Desperation that he’s released with his band, After the Lounge.

Bollert was given every indication he and his band mates were on to something when the jazz vocalist was asked for the first time to autograph a copy of the disc after a recent performance.

I was like, “No I should be asking you for an autograph,” Bollert recalled.

“There’s a big difference between being someone else and being yourself and when you’re being recognized for being yourself, that’s great.”

The single is also a sneak peak of the full-length disc Bollert and crew will be releasing in April. Most of the music that can be heard was written by Bollert over the past seven years, including a duet with London country artist Shelly Rastin.

The songs include jazz, pop, rock, funk and dance elements. If he has to draw comparisons, the mixed bag of music has elements off the Dave Matthew Band and even the Tragically Hip.

But that doesn’t mean After the Lounge is gearing up to become another tribute band. In fact, it’s their sound that sets them apart from all others, Bollert noted.

“When I’m saying jazz vocal and funk, dance and rock hand, that’s the sound we discovered,” he said.

“We all kind of got together and made the sound what it was.”

And that’s a sound Bollert is more than happy to have discovered because it was exactly what he wanted.

“Every time I’d do a single or demo or try to write a song, everyone pushes me back into dance jazz and jazz,” Bollert

explained. The sound I have with After the Lounge is the sound I want. It’s the key that I want. It’s the emotion that I want.

Desperation is available at CD Plus in Simcoe. For more information, log on to www.afterthelounge.com

Scene Magazine, January 6^th/2005

*NOTE* The following article "Lounging Around" states incorrectly the writers of After The Lounge's, Desperation. The song was actually written by Parsons and Bollert. Scene Magazine actually mistaken the song with another song called "Love On The Run", to which Gregory Scott Bollert has recorded as a solo artist. Also, Rastin will appear Thursday January 13th at the Salt Lounge with the band as part of the Debut Single Release Party.

Lounging Around

After The Lounge is a London-based pop band comprised of vocalist Gregory Scott Bollert, bass player Kerry Hayden, drummer Jon Dias and guitarist Bryan Parsons. Recently, Bollert learned of a song written by London country singer Shelly Rastin and Canadian rock icon Randy Bachman entitled Desperation. Scott felt the tune suited the band so with the help of producer Glen Teeple from The Music Room, After the Lounge recorded it, along with the tracks Pornstar, Stay Right Here and acoustic version of Reaching (Living For My Son). The band, with Shelly Rastin as a guest vocalist, will debut the single at a special release party on Thursday, January 13 at the Salt Lounge (183 King St.). The group will also perform sans Rastin on Saturday, January 15 at The Last Drop (511 Talbot St.).

PAGE 10 / TIMES-REFORMER, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2004
Arts & Entertainment

After the Lounge gets cozy in Simcoe

Scott Bollert is using his home town as a promotional launch pad for a new single next month, as well as and informal southern tour of Ontario in the new year.

Bollert of Simcoe is bringing is London-based band After The Lounge home for a weekend gig at Spanky’s on Oct. 22-23.

After a solo career as a jazz vocalist, Bollert has found a niche with bassist Kerry Hayden, drummer Jon Dias and guitarist Bryan Parsons performing a fun, dance rock sound.

"And there is still my jazz vocals," he said in a telephone interview last week from London.

Bollert’s entertainment career began with dancing in clubs as a teenager. After moving to London in 1998, he began teaching ballroom dancing and got into swing dancing.

"The swing invasion took me," he said. "Everyday, everything was swing."

He and a partner would dance at shows and "never has anything been so cool."

Bollert also ventured into vocals, singing classic jazz and four years ago formed his first band. After playing mostly tributes, a collaboration with Parsons marked a turning point in his career.

"Bryan is the most passionate and devoted songwriter ever," he said. "He and I have clicked with our writings right from the start."

But it was a meeting with London area country artist Shelly Rastin which may prove to be a breath for him.

Rastin co-wrote a song with Canadian rock icon Randy Bachman and Bollert received the go-ahead to record it himself.

"Its been sitting in the vault (since 2002), but I’ve just taken it to a new producer," he said.

Bollert credited Bachman for promoting young Canadian artists like himself.

"It’s a nice name to have behind you," he said.

Bollert has since written and recorded several songs, including a duet with Rastin about the birth of his son in 2002.

After The Lounge features original music and their distinctive covers of sings by major artists, such as Neil Young.

"We play covers, but we funk it up," he said.

He’s also looking forward to performing with his girlfriend, London model Marie Sauer, who will perform with the band in Simcoe.