Octopuss

OCTOPUSS are an Italian power trio of mind-blowing impact, with international relevance; the group's musical style, influenced by bands such as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Beatles, consists of rock with an emphasis on funk. “Octopuss’ show is a High-voltage music party!”(Mojo).
The band, formed in Milan in 2007 and composed of three well-known artists in the country, Reepo (guitar and vocal), Garrincha (bass - founder of the 6-times platinum band “Le Vibrazioni”, and member of the Italian X-Factor "Superband”) and Luca Capasso (drums - member of the international top-chart band “Planet Funk”, now replaced by Nick Turri), since its debut has been characterized by an energetic and steamy-hot performance on stage. “The combination of Octopuss' vintage and yet powerful sound with the energetic determination of the musicians, who are always warmly rewarded by the audience at every gig, makes their live performances unique”.
Octopuss have a large experience in live performance (hundreds of shows held in 3 continents: Europe, North America and Asia). They have performed at any array of venues and festivals all over Italy, plus tours in U.S., U.K., Europe, and recently 8 tours in China (including some of the world's most famous music venues and festivals in cities as Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Hollywood, Las Vegas, London, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Xiamen, Tianjin, …).
The band opened for big international acts (Deep Purple @Mirabello Stadium, Italy; Scorpions @Changjiang International Music Festival 2015, China; Planet Funk @Sant’Arsenio, Italy; Xie Tianxiao @Lanzhou International Music Festival, China; ...) in front several thousands of fans.
They also received various awards and recognitions (among them, winners of the Italian edition of the Jack Daniel’s Challenge for Rock TV as "the Best Rock Band", the trio was invited to perform at the “Global Music Event” at Lynchburg, Tennessee, to represent the Italian rock scene in the U.S.); they conceived and played a joint tour with the UK band Hot Head Show (the trio chosen by Les Claypool to open for Primus’ 2011 European tour), whose frontman is Jordan Copeland, son of the legendary drummer of The Police; they produced and performed during the Olympics ‘12 in a huge and humorous “flashmob” event, shot in London, and called “Shake It Off – The Octopus flashmob experience, with the help of the British film company “Focal Rhythm Production”, and they are also involved in the REZOPHONIC charity to raise money for the African Medical and Research Foundation.

After having self-produced a live DVD and their first album, Octopuss have gained a world class production and top studio recording just with the help of “buzzing” around the hot performances held in California during their first and second US tours: so, went to live in Los Angeles, Octopuss were invited to The Band's legendary Shangri-La Studios in Malibu by the owner Beej Chaney, for the recording sessions of their highly anticipated new upcoming album ('A Nut For A Jar of Tuna‘), produced and mixed by the famous British producer Gary Miller (David Bowie, Simply Red, Slash & Fergie, Andrea Bocelli, Lionel Ritchie, Donna Summer, Cheyenne, Bananarama, Kylie Minogue and many others) with the collaboration of Eric Lynn (sound engineer: Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP 2's, Metallica's “St. Anger”, …).

After the “Run Run Run” US radio airplay - the first single anticipating the new upcoming album release - with the help of the prestigious US company Big Noise, two Octopuss’ songs were placed by The Recording Academy on the Official Ballot for the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in the following categories: Best Rock Performance - “Octopuss - Run Run Run” and “Octopuss - Miami Airport”; Best Rock Song - “Octopuss - Miami Airport”. The song "Miami Airport" was also selected and used as jingle of all the 3D broadcasts of the Soccer Major League – “SERIE A” - matches on Sky TV Italy, and “Run Run Run” is actually entering in the “top 3” of the Taiko Chinese contest.

Meanwhile the OCTOPUSS’ “China invasion” has begun, including their 7 outstanding Chinese tours lasted about one month each, totally about 100 shows held in China in less than 2 years. During the first two tours, strongly recommended by Chinese rock star Cui Jian and Xie Tianxiao, Octopuss played at some of Chinese most famous livehouses (including “Yugongyishan” in Beijing, “Mao Livehouse” in Beijing and Shanghai, “TU Space” in Guangzhou, …) and big festivals, performing also their very own version of Chinese popular rock songs: “Ashima” and “Hai kuo tian kong”, with huge feedbacks from audience and local medias. The band was also invited to perform and awarded by prestigious Beijing’s “University of Science and Technology” for its cultural exchange activities between Europe and China.
During its second China tour (including cities as Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Jinan, …) the band played at “Changjiang International Music Festival 2015”, in front of 50.000 people, before the legendary band Scorpions, and also performed with honored guest Xie Tianxiao (they had already guested him for a secret show in Milan to perform with him some of his most famous songs for the first time in Italy). In September 2015, the band completed its “China tour 2015” with a tight schedule of performances at festivals (i.e. “Lanzhou International Music and Culture Festival 2015” and “MOMA” festival in Shanghai) and other Chinese famous livehouses (i.e. “7 Livehouse” in Zhengzhou, and “Mao Livehouse” in Beijing - which show has been coproduced and sponsored by Embassy of Italy in Beijing -, …). On May 2016, during its fourth China tour, the band has performed, among the others, at ones of the most huge and prestigious Chinese Music Festivals (Strawberry Beijing and Strawberry Shanghai, both performances broadcasted on TV) and at “Lai Fu Theatre” in Beijing; in July/August 2016 the band became the first international band signed by the Chinese company “XTX studio” and started its fifth China tour, performing more than 25 shows at other prestigious Chinese Music Festivals and livehouses (including Typhoon festival in Shandong, MOMA festival in Liuzhou, …), and guesting on stage icons of Chinese rock scene (such as Xie Tianxiao, Zuoxiao Zuzhou, …).
On July 7th, the band has also been invited to perform live on the huge Chinese TV Channel CCTV5 its original cover of one of the most famous Chinese rock song (Beyond’ “Hai Kuo Tian Kong”); the performance, broadcasted worldwide, has been seen by more than 50 million people in the Big China. In October and November 2016, Octopuss has performed their sixth China tour, including big festivals such as Strawberry Nanjing and MIDI Festival in Shaoxing (playing night time right before the Chinese rock star Cui Jian) and shows in more than 25 cities. On December 31st Octopuss performed live on the “New year eve TV show” held in Haikou, Hainan Island, broadcasted by Hainan Tv .

Currently Octopuss are the foreigner band who played more shows in China during the last two years, and they are actively busy promoting cooperation and cultural exchange between the European and the Chinese rock scenes. Meanwhile the tour is still going on bringing the band across Italy, Europe and China again during this spring and summer, to perform the songs from the upcoming album “A Nut For A Jar Of Tuna”.

... And more has to come