The straight-ahead and melodic hard rock band Philpot first started gaining notice in late 2004, when a rousing set in front of some celebrities in a chic New York City night club owned by the members of Velvet Revolver earned them a bit of buzz in the New York City media (including the New York Post and NY Press). This would have been just another night out for an up-and-coming, hip New York City band, but the very young Philpot (some were teens at the time) had come from the rural environs of Dugger, IN, where they rehearsed and wrote tunes in a flower shop at which one of the members worked. The band consists of lead singer Kentz Ward, lead guitarist Caleb Smith, rhythm guitarist Josh Kennedy, bass guitarist Tyler Evans, drummer Arthur Ready, and keyboardist AJ Boone. They received an early hand up from Travis Meeks, leader of Days of the New, who was impressed enough with them to arrange an opening slot for the young, unknown band at a couple of out-of-state Days of the New concerts. In July 2005, the band released Bitch Be the World, establishing their vein of full-bore, muscular, guitar-heavy rock with Ward's gravelly howl atop it. The band found an even wider audience when they released Hate Writes Better Than Love in 2007 on Toucan Cove Entertainment (Universal Records). The album boasted more polished production but was still just as straight-ahead and aggressive in rock intent. Certain tracks are reminiscent of early, hard-edged Oasis ("Rock 'N' Roll Star," etc). ~ Erik Hage