Fastball

  • Austin, TX
    hometown
  • Rock
    genre
  • 1994
    started
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About Fastball

Official Site: http://fastballmusic.com/


Formed in 1994 in Austin, TX, Fastball combined a fondness for melodic, Beatles-inspired pop with the alternative aesthetic of late-'90s mainstream rock. Guitarist/vocalist Miles Zuniga, bassist/vocalist Tony Scalzo, and drummer Joe Shuffield -- all veterans of Austin's underground rock scene -- originally banded together under the name Magneto U.S.A. After signing with Hollywood Records, the musicians changed their name to Fastball (sharing the name with the title of their favorite baseball-themed pornographic film) and released their debut album, Make Your Mama Proud, in 1996. The album failed to yield much commercial success, but it did demonstrate the band's synthesis of modern flavor and bygone pop hooks, a combination that would later launch Fastball into the mainstream.

The follow-up effort All the Pain Money Can Buy appeared in early 1998, featuring a considerably tighter band and more pop flourishes. Although the bandmates were still working side jobs at the time of its release, leadoff single "The Way" proved to be a meteoric hit, topping the American rock charts for seven weeks while enjoying crossover success as a pop single. "Fire Escape" and the piano-fueled "Out of My Head" did similarly well, and All the Pain Money Can Buy went platinum within six months of its release, earning two Grammy nominations along the way. Fastball celebrated their success with a considerable amount of touring, including shows alongside Marcy Playground and Everclear.

The Harsh Light of Day arrived in fall 2000, featuring piano work by Billy Preston and an increasingly arty sound. Although "You're an Ocean" cracked the Top 40, the album's sales were extremely slow, and Fastball eventually left the Hollywood roster in favor of a new deal with Rykodisc. A retrospective compilation, Painting the Corners: The Best of Fastball, marked the band's final release for Hollywood Records in 2002. Two years later, they resurfaced with Keep Your Wig On, having fully embraced their power pop roots with the help of co-producer Adam Schlesinger. While the album didn't yield any successful singles, it still strengthened Fastball's work ethic, with frontmen Zuniga and Scalzo writing together for the first time. That collaborative spirit helped fuel another album, Little White Lies, which appeared in 2009 to warm reviews. ~ Andrew Leahey, Rovi

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Photos

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  • Fastball
    Fastball
    Fastball
    Publicity
  • Fastball
    Courtesy of Hollywood
  • Retro-rockers Fastball had two huge radio hits, "The Way" and "Out Of My Head."
    Fastball
    Retro-rockers Fastball had two huge radio hits, "The Way" and "Out Of My Head."

News

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  • Fastball
    The 100 Greatest Songs Of the '90s
    VH1 Tuner
    May 23, 2013
    From the decade that brought us hits by Beck, Bell Biv Devoe, and Britney Spears, VH1 lists the 100 Greatest Songs of the ‘90s . Seattle’s grunge...
    Read More

Tour Dates

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  • Jul 4 Thursday
    El Paso, TX, US Socorro Entertainment Center
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 7 Sunday
    San Diego, CA, US Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay
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  • Jul 10 Wednesday
    Livermore, CA, US Wente Vineyards
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  • Jul 11 Thursday
    Saratoga, CA, US Mountain Winery
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  • Jul 12 Friday
    Lincoln, CA, US Thunder Valley Amphitheatre
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  • Jul 13 Saturday
    Los Angeles, CA, US Greek Theatre
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  • Jul 14 Sunday
    Tucson, AZ, US Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater, Casino del Sol
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  • Jul 16 Tuesday
    Sandy, UT, US Sandy City Amphitheater
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  • Jul 19 Friday
    Council Bluffs, IA, US Stir Cove, Harrah's Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel
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  • Jul 20 Saturday
    Highland Park, IL, US Ravinia Festival
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  • Jul 20 Saturday
    Highland Park, IL, US Ravinia Pavilion
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  • Jul 21 Sunday
    Clarkston, MI, US DTE Energy Music Theatre
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  • Jul 22 Monday
    Lansing, MI, US The Loft
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  • Jul 24 Wednesday
    Pittsburgh, PA, US Stage AE
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  • Jul 25 Thursday
    Cincinnati, OH, US The Shoe, Horseshoe Casino
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  • Jul 26 Friday
    Columbus, OH, US Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
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  • Jul 27 Saturday
    Canandaigua, NY, US Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
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  • Jul 28 Sunday
    Toronto, ON, Canada Echo Beach at Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
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  • Jul 29 Monday
    Hampton Beach, NH, US Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
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  • Jul 30 Tuesday
    Huntington, NY, US The Paramount
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  • Jul 30 Tuesday
    Hampton Beach, NH, US Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
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  • Jul 30 Tuesday
    Staten Island, NY, US Paramount
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  • Jul 31 Wednesday
    Hyannis, MA, US Cape Cod Melody Tent
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  • Aug 1 Thursday
    Huntington, NY, US The Paramount
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  • Aug 1 Thursday
    Hampton Beach, NH, US Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
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  • Aug 2 Friday
    Asbury Park, NJ, US The Stone Pony
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  • Aug 3 Saturday
    Philadelphia, PA, US The Electric Factory
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  • Aug 4 Sunday
    Newport, RI, US Newport Yachting Center
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  • Aug 6 Tuesday
    Vienna, VA, US Filene Center, Wolf Trap
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  • Aug 7 Wednesday
    Glen Allen, VA, US Snagajob.com Pavilion
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  • Aug 8 Thursday
    Greensboro, NC, US White Oak Amphitheatre, Greensboro Coliseum Complex
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  • Aug 8 Thursday
    Greensboro, NC, US Greensboro Coliseum
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  • Aug 9 Friday
    North Charleston, SC, US North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center
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  • Aug 10 Saturday
    Atlanta, GA, US Chastain Park Amphitheatre
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  • Aug 14 Wednesday
    Allen, TX, US Allen Event Center
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Discography

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  • Little White Lies (2009)
    Fastball
    Little White Lies (2009)
    Megaforce
  • Live at Jupiter (2005)
    Fastball
    Live at Jupiter (2005)
    Fastball
  • Keep Your Wig On (2004)
    Fastball
    Keep Your Wig On (2004)
    Rykodisc
  • The Harsh Light of Day (2000)
    Fastball
    The Harsh Light of Day (2000)
    Hollywood
  • All the Pain Money Can Buy (1998)
    Fastball
    All the Pain Money Can Buy (1998)
    Hollywood
  • Make Your Mama Proud (1996)
    Fastball
    Make Your Mama Proud (1996)
    Hollywood
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