Vampirates

"Then the vampirates played and proceeded to absolutely beat the shit out of eachother and simultaniously amaze and confuse the audience with the ferocity of the music and the barroom brawl vibe they have with eachother. Bass player loses his strap and takes a knee mid-song so as to finish playing. Singer sees this and proceedes to barrel right into him with his shoulder and then, just in case that wasn't enough, kicks him while he's trying to play. Guitar player sees it and any rational person would go stop this violent mayhem with his band mates. Does he stop it? No, he runs and jumps right into them with the same abandon one would when one cannon balls into a pool. Only this isn't a pool. It's people and they're in your band." - Ryan Stark Before they were whipping audiences into a seething frenzy in underground clubs throughout the world, Vampirates were just a bunch of nice boys next door. Dave and Chris were fresh-faced pre-teens in Reno, Nevada when they started skating and playing music together. Over the next half a decade, they formed a series of increasingly successful punk bands, and were making a name for themselves in local media before they were even old enough to drive. Chris went off to Southern Oregon University in 2002 to study music business. That's where he met Pat, who was studying for a degree in classical guitar but ended up becoming a total bad ass on bass. They booked their first show as Vampirates in Pat's dorm room, and proceeded to sell out the 5-person venue. That night, a band of legend was born. After some initial line up changes Dave, Chris and Pat soon realized they had something important in common: the rare ability to make a lot of noise, while maintaining a high level of musical skill. Vampirates have always bonded through mutual respect, musicianship, ability to continue thrashing for forty-five minutes straight while bathed in sweat and beer, and a shared DIY ethic that shapes almost everything they do. They book their own shows, make their own merch, and have toured for several months a year, every year since 2007. Since their first show, they've become one of Reno's most well-known bands with a following throughout the United States. In 2014, Vampirates toured throughout Europe for five weeks playing shows in Norway, Italy, Austria, France and Germany. When they're not doing all that, Vampirates run the longest-standing skate camp at the Burning Man Arts Festival in the Nevada desert (Voted Best Camp). Dave books shows for one of Reno's most popular independent music venues; Chris plays in six other local bands; and Pat maintains a luxuriant beard and a set of life skills that would put most men to shame. We bring the fun.