VOCALS:Jimmy Johnson GUITARS:Gary Lee Becker/Benny Bilodeau BASS:Drew Hilbert DRUMS:Mike Finucane HARD ROCK FROM OK CITY XIT27's debut EP packs a huge punch of melodic, soulful hard rock. Produced by Creed bassist Brett Hestla (Dark New Day, Framing Hanley, Faktion, Stone Cold Sober, Virgos Merlot) RIFL: Breaking Benjamin, 3 Doors Down, Three Days Grace, Fuel, Tonic, Chevelle XIT27‘S 5 SONG LIMITED EDITION EP is XIT27’s debut release produced and engineered by Creed bassist and Dark New Day front man Brett Hestla (Framing Hanley, Dark New Day). This hard rocking quintet’s debut effort is full of memorable, hard-rocking melodies. Vocalist Jimmy Johnson delivers a solid performance, singing in low and soothing tones as well as weaving in and out of stunning vocal harmonies. Guitarists Gary Lee Becker and Benny Bilodeau play some undeniable combinations of overlapping thick and crunchy guitar riffs and well thought out licks. The entire band interlocks incredibly well, with the hard-hitting rhythm section provided by Mike Finucane on drums and Andrew Hilbert on bass, presenting a tight and unified front. Throughout this EP, Jimmy Johnson’s lyrics are heart-felt and very forthcoming. The songs are about specific events in Jimmy’s difficult personal life, plagued, amongst other things, by an early departure of his best friend Nathan Eugene Thompson at the age of 27. This loss is the meaning behind the band’s name which also serves as the subject for the song "You Never Know." The band chose the name XIT27 to pay tribute to Nate “Dogg” Thompson and to also recognize the many other talented musicians that were taken away from us much too soon at the age of 27 including: Jimmy Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Brian Jones among others. In the song “Burning,” Jimmy vents his frustration about relationships that can’t work, perhaps because both parties aren’t equally in love, or because of a lack of honesty. At the same time there is a longing for such relationships to survive because of the fear of facing life alone and the good times and warmth that can come of them. "Living in the Moment" comments on the state of mind of rock stars struggling to accept their success and hinting that they can be incapable of dealing with their fame, fortune, and iconic status, but also that we must blame the pressure placed on them by society for their downfalls. Other subjects touched on are betrayal, in "Good As Gone", and deception, in "Price You Pay". Despite the darkness that clouds Jimmy’s lyrics, the light at the end of tunnel can be found in many of his words. Members of XIT27 have shared the stage with such bands as: Puddle of Mudd, Staind, Drowning Pool, Disturbed, Godsmack, Buckcherry, Texas Hippie Coalition, Trust Company, Flaw, Project 86, Stereomud and so many more. Check out XIT27 on myspace for information on current tours and new releases. If you're into hard rock with thick guitars, catchy melodies and well thought out harmonies, XIT27’s 5 song limited edition EP is what you NEED!!! Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.