Ilan Harel
Regional Drumset Artist - United States
Overview
Born in Queens New York, and currently the drummer and founding member of the NYC hard rock band “Tempest City”, Ilan has been playing, performing and teaching drums for the better part of the past 20 years...or ever since he broke his first rental violin back in elementary school.
Fast forward a bit and the drums have taken Ilan all over the world, notably touring the country with the band Sputniks Down as part of the Vans Warped Tour, playing Madison Square Garden as part of the New York Rangers house band, sharing the stage and opening for bands such as Sonic Youth, Citizen Cope, The Spin Doctors, Queensryche and now bringing "rock" back to the masses as part of Tempest City.
Ilan is currently rocking the world's coolest Pearl Birch Masters Studio in custom “crushed glass” finish. Usually in 24’ kick, 12” rack, and double floor tom (14” & 16”) configuration.
In an interesting twist, Ilan can be found playing them on film in the movies Step Up 3-D and The Amazing Spider-Man.
Tempest City is a throwback to a time when music was built in garages and basements…by musicians. Created off of passed down influences, questionable taste and a shared understanding of where we want to take it to.
With all five of their members born and bred right here in the outer boroughs of the city, Tempest City is a true New York Band. Playing rock with no prefixes, and delivering on the promise of their namesake...look it up.
The band is anchored by the thunderous virtuostic bass guitar chops of Cops-n-babies mastermind, Eric (the Goob) Ramin, and groove your face off with a kick so hard you feel it in your chest drumming of Ilan Harel.
Their twin guitar attack comes compliments of Vincent Degretzia and Walt Ramin. Combining swirling rhythms, powerful riffs and soaring harmony leads, these two players complement each other while ripping it up with their own unique style.
Lastly, keeping this ship headed in the right direction and absolutely steam rolling it on lead vocals is Alfredo Venuto. A true "rockstar" frontman with the range to back it up and a presence that instantly captures your full attention.
Coming off multiple "hometown" sold out shows (where the band sometimes literally "broke" the stage) of such NYC mainstays as The Gramercy Theater, Webster Hall, and Mercury Lounge. The band is also hard at work cultivating a fast building fanbase up and down the east coast! Having just released their debut full length self titled record, featuring both a "Side 1" (an in your face all out rock feature) and "Side 2" (a straight to tape all live unplugged experience), the record is already seeing rotation on radio stations spanning the Northeast to London, to its radio debut in Perth, Australia! On the heels of their highly acclaimed debut, the band is at the moment carefully entertaining all offers of management and label support.
If you are wondering where all the good music has gone, do yourself a serious favor, stop lamenting... get out and see Tempest City rock your face off.