Manhattan Heroes are a three piece rock
combo that operates out of New York City. Formed in 1998, the trio began by experimenting
with short melodic pop rock tunes which eventually lead them to heavier things. Their
three chord heavy-pop sound is reminiscent of old time favorites like The Velvet
Underground and The Modern Lovers, but The Heroes rock out with equal admiration
of their contemporaries like Minneapolis' Lifter Puller and D.C.'s Fugazi. The band's
recent club appearences include opening spots for Epic Records' Nine Days and New
York rock legends The Devil Dogs.
In search of extreme cold and unaffordable
housing, Carlos Carnota and Sami Buccella came up north from their homeland and tracked
down suburban ne'er-do-well Marc Rosenthal in an upper Manhattan tenement. The two
Argentine's had backed the singer/songwriter during a South American stint and wished
to continue the pursuit of money still owed them by their friend. Unable to repay
his old pals, Rosenthal suggested that the three form a pop/ rock combo. They agreed
and voted unanimously to name the group after their favorite Cuban sandwich shop.
The Manhattan Heroes were born.
The newly formed trio immediately began opening for punk bands in top Greenwich Village
alternative rock venues. The words of praise poured in nearly as fast as the flying
beer bottles and their wallets were filled with tens of dollars. In search of other
audiences and other bottles, the Heroes hit the road for their first U.S. tour.
In Minneapolis, MN veteran Twin Cities producer/musician Jacques Wait was fooled
into recording an EP of their work , "Red Giant" (PMMR2) for indie label
Pompello. The band stormed back to New York, with giant red discs in their hands
and snuck onto the set of Oprah Winfrey's Oxygen TV show "Trackers." They
played two full numbers before a live studio audience and found their way back to
the freight elevator. Oprah herself has yet to comment.
