Making The Band

Tinted Windows is comprised of Taylor Hanson (Hanson) on lead vocals, James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) on guitar, Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) on bass and Bun. E. Carlos (Cheap Trick) on drums.

It does appear to be a very random meeting of artists with there being 25 years difference in age between youngest and oldest member and each artist having lead very different musical careers.

"It's an interesting story. The thing about the band is sort of two fold. Adam and I originally met because we [Hanson] were making our first record in '96 and we were meeting with different people that were either up and coming songwriters or artists. We were writing with a couple different people, and we sat down to write a song [with Adam] and really never ended up completing something that made that album. But we always kept up a friendship. We just kind of always said, I think partly because we didn’t really finish the song, "Oh, yeah, we should do something together...." Taylor Hanson

Around 2006, James Iha joined the project due his close working and personal relationship with Adam [Schlesinger] which left the band only missing a drummer. After thinking long about who they would invite to join them and wondering who could play drums as well as Bun E. Carlos the trio decided to bite the bullet and ask the man himself. Much to everyone's relief he accepted and Tinted Windows was complete.

Making The Music

Once the band was complete it was time to create. Easier said than done with the band members being spread through 3 different US states, Hanson lives in Tulsa, Iha and Schlesinger in New York and Carlos in Chicago.. Getting everyone in the studio together needed a touch of military organisation. It did happen the the result is a combination of mostly '70s rock and power-pop, with Hanson's powerhouse vocals leading the way on songs like "Kind of a Girl" and "Messing with My Head." Schlesinger wrote the bulk of the 11-track "Tinted Windows," while he and Iha produced the majority of it. (Billboard.com)

The debut single 'Kind Of A Girl' will be available on general release from 21st April followed by the self titled debut album. Both were recorded and produced at Stratosphere studios in New York which are owned by Iha and Schlesinger.

Making a performance

The band will be making their first public performances at the SXSW festival in Austin, TX starting 20th March 2009 along with select club shows. The band will be appearing at the Bamboozle music festival in East Rutherford, N.J., over the weekend of May 2-3. They will also be supporting No Doubt for their Atlantic City show on 2nd May 2009.

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