SHORT OF BREATH
Formed in September 1999, Short of Breath have rapidly progressed to become
one of the most well-known and well-respected bands in Western New York.
Combining raw intensity with unbridled energy and cathartic anger, the band
has developed a brutally hard-edged sound that has to be heard to appreciate
and can only be described as "Short of Breath."
Hailing from Niagara Falls in the wintry shadow of Buffalo, the members of
Short of Breath come from such varying backgrounds that one has to wonder
how they ever came together let alone discovered a sound that drives them
all. After a period of searching, experimenting, and experiencing the loss
of several original members, the current line-up has solidified into a group
of determined individuals who have left behind the drama of their former
bands and set their sites on nothing less than the best and nothing short
of success.
Since their inception, the band has played an impressive amount of shows
and released a 6-song demo that, thanks to grassroots promotion and their
powerful, frenetically charged live performances, sold out all four of limited
pressings. In March 2000, a documentary film, entitled "This is Short of
Breath," was created by a devoted fan to showcase their quick rise to a level
of prominence in the Western New York hard music scene. It usually takes
a band years to accomplish what Short of Breath has done in less than a year
through hard work and the help of supporters in the scene. Short of Breath
are determined to make their efforts pay off and with each concert, they
gather in numerous new fans and remind those who have been with them from
day-one exactly why they are extremely devoted to this band. For living testimony
of Short of Breath's intense focus, experience the band play live for yourself
and you will, no doubt, become a convert to their cause.
GEOFF
FULL NAME: Geoffery Nathan Barone
BIRTHDATE: Febuary 23, 1980
BIRTHPLACE: Lewiston, NY
HOMETOWN: Niagara Falls, NY
EQUIPMENT: Peavy Foundation 5-string bass
FORMER BANDS: Ad Infinitum, Pipe Dreams, 11th Heaven
FAVORITE BANDS: Jeff Buckley, Chris Cornell, Dream Theater, Pantera,
Strapping Young Lad/Devon Townsend, Frank Zappa
FAVORITE BOOK: The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
FAVORITE MOVIES: Jacob's Ladder, Labyrinth,
Legend, The Usual Suspects
BET-YOU-DIDN'T-KNOW-THAT: I want a drink of "pop."
WORDS OF WISDOM: Carpe diem
BILL
FULL NAME: William Edward Bilson
BIRTHDATE: June 9, 1983
BIRTHPLACE: Jacksonville, Florida
HOMETOWN: Niagara Falls, NY
EQUIPMENT: Pork Pie 12"x16" Junior Pie snare drum, Sabian 16" crash,
Sabian Sizzle High Hat cymbals, Tama Iron-Cobra double-bass pedal, Tama Rockstar
drum set, Vic Firth 5B drumsticks, Zildian 16" thin crash, Zildian ZBT
20’’ ride
FORMER BANDS: 5 Year Mission, Numb, Sylph/Evescrust/Provoke
FAVORITE BANDS: Cardinal Biggles, Embodyment, Fear Factory, Genesis,
Kittie, Living Sacrifice, Meshuggah, Sevendust, Slipknot, Staind, Frank Zappa,
Zao
FAVORITE BOOKS: Watchmen by Alan Moore, The Hobbit by
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien
FAVORITE MOVIES: 12 Angry Men, The Matrix, The Shawshank
Redemption, Stir of Echoes
BET-YOU-DIDN'T-KNOW-THAT: I need a girlfriend.
WORDS OF WISDOM: If a guy in a hat offers you candy, take it but throw
it away.
MIKE
FULL NAME: Michael William Hatalak
BIRTHDATE: September 17, 1982
BIRTHPLACE: Niagara Falls, New York
HOMETOWN: Niagara Falls, New York
EQUIPMENT: Jackson Dinky Reverse 7 String guitar, Peavey Transtube
Supreme head, 2 Fender 4x12 cabinets, Boss Metal Zone, Digitech Whammy-Wah
pedal
FORMER BANDS: Ultra-X, Cannons of the Bell, Dementia,
Sylph/Evescrust/Provoke, Eucharist, Gank, Stricture
FAVORITE BANDS: Carcass, Fear Factory, Living Sacrifice, Meshuggah,
Sevendust, Slipknot, Staind, Zao
FAVORITE BOOK: The Odyssey by Homer
FAVORITE MOVIES: Event Horizon, Forrest Gump, Saving
Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line
BET-YOU-DIDN'T-KNOW-THAT: My name is not really Mike.
WORDS OF WISDOM: If you can't do it, then screw it.
JOSH
FULL NAME: Joshua Ian Strasburg
BIRTHDATE: February 3, 1980
BIRTHPLACE: Victoria, Texas
HOMETOWN: Niagara Falls, New York
EQUIPMENT: Shure SM58-LC microphone
FORMER BANDS: Zealot, Stricture
FAVORITE BANDS: The Bloodhoung Gang, Embodyment, Five Iron Frenzy,
Havalina Rail Co., Joy Electric, MxPx, Stavesacre, Training for Utopia, Zao
FAVORITE BOOKS: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, The Children's
Story by James Clavell, Watchmen by Alan Moore, Gates of Fire
by Steven Pressfield, Maus by Art Spiegelman, The Wheel of Time
series by Robert Jordan
FAVORITE MOVIES: American Beauty, Clerks, Hackers,
Mallrats, The Princess Bride, The Shawshank Redemption,
Stand by Me, The Thomas Crown Affair (1999), The Usual
Suspects
BET-YOU-DIDN'T-KNOW-THAT: Two of the toes on my left foot are webbed
together.
WORDS OF WISDOM: If you want to be a vocalist, don't follow my example:
learn to sing first.