Great bands are always collectively more than the sum of their individual parts. Creating something greater together was the inspiration for forming Seattle-based Rosso Viti – Singer Kim Virant from Kim Virant/Lazy Susan, Guitar Player Bryan Cohen, Bass Player Paul Christofferson from Radio Raheem Band, Zia Uddin from The Mayfield Four & Radio Raheem Band and Guitar player and Singer Ben McAllister from Medicine Hat – rallying together to make unique and sinewy Rock N Roll Music.
Rosso Viti started when Bryan and Kim recorded a demo of their song “Vive Le Heart” with Paul producing and playing bass. The resulting track featured Kim’s compelling rock n’ roll voice catchy chorus and strutting verses set to a dance beat. This song became the blueprint for the sound of the band.
Rosso Viti’s songs feature plenty of throwback anthemic elements of 80’s and 90’s rock music with modern alternative music moves mixed in. Lead guitarist and founder, Cohen, describes the sound, “Our music is a fun mix of catchy songs, crunchy riffs, and DIY garage attitude. It harkens back to early 80’s rock with all the fun and none of the hangover!”
Rosso Viti’s influences are diverse and vast. They love Spoon, the Jam, the Pretenders, Joe Jackson, Radiohead, Guided by Voices, Amy Winehouse, Amy Mann, Japanandroids and even Rick Springfield (Bryan). Whatever the influences are people say that Rosso Viti songs sound like early Pretenders so everyone is happy. And like Chrissie Hynde, Kim is a strong proponent of women fronting rock bands, “In today’s environment, we need the female perspective more than ever, Virant declares, adding, “and then you throw in a rockin’ groove and it’s even better.”
The members of Rosso Viti have combined to play almost every venue in the Seattle at least once. Individually the band members have opened for Robert Plant, St. Paul and the Broken Bones and Everclear to name a few as well as playing slots at Bumbershoot and Macefield Music Festival. Recently Kim Virant released a single featuring Mike McCready with a Bryan Cohen co-write on “You’re the Song” while Zia has been touring with Slash and Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy.
Rosso Viti’s launch, with their new EP “Viva La Heart” release, website, and all social media platforms is slated for Fall 2019. These intrepid Northwest music stalwarts will be playing clubs and outdoor events throughout the year and into 2020, performing their upbeat/low tech slash and trash brainy rock anthems live, loud and proud. Bryan sums it up perfectly, saying “This band was built to play live. We want to rock as many stages as we can!”
For more information on Rosso Viti, please contact Bryan Cohen, bcohen@cplusc.com, 206 388 8215 or Kim Virant, kimvirant@gmail.com, 206-898-2275