When Frank and Tim met during their sophomore year of high school in 2001, they hated each other. Once they discovered their mutual love of music, however, everything changed, and the two formed a friendship bordering on brotherhood. They became even closer once Tim started dating Frank’s sister. Back in those days they called their band Absent Minded, and though they wouldn’t play a gig for 4 more years, they had fun jamming in Frank’s garage and dreaming of becoming famous.

Their dreams almost died, though, once they graduated from high school in 2004. The best friends had a tough falling out, and didn’t speak to each other for several months. Luckily their friendship was too strong to fade, and eventually they reconciled their differences.

In 2005 they changed the band name to Six Ways From Sunday, which they trademarked soon after, and began recording their album in earnest, writing over 20 songs in less than 3 years. With Frank writing the music and Tim writing the lyrics, their songs amazed their friends and family, who soon began demanding a Six Ways From Sunday CD. In 2006, they played their first gig at Ashbury’s Coffee House.

That gig was to be the first of many they played in the Tinley Park area. It was difficult for them, however, to find skilled musicians to perform with them who meshed with the band both musically and on a personal level. After discarding a drummer, a lead singer, and several guitarists, they took a break from playing gigs and focused on recording their debut album, Long Road Ahead, which was released July 2008.

Over the years they developed a style of rock that is uniquely theirs, though they take inspiration from bands like Shinedown, Metallica, 3 Doors Down, Nickelback, and the Foo Fighters. They started out with a much lighter sound, with songs like “What If,” which is actually more of a love ballad, though their fans still request it at every gig. As the lyrics have become more insightful, the music has become progressively more complex, resulting in songs like “Blind”, which is an angrier, more in depth look at life.

In early 2009, the search for a drummer was still underway, as Frank and Tim realized that they would need a person that is willing to dedicate their time to all aspects of the band, so after a quick post on the net, they received a large amount of inquiries. They decided to audition a drummer by the name of Anthony Rotkvich. Anthony proved to be more than what the band could ever hope for. After several weeks, Anthony decided to make the commitment to Six Ways From Sunday, and the boys quickly welcomed him in. In the next few weeks from that point, Anthony brought in another guitarist for the band, Jason Moore, who quickly learned the tunes as well as proved a useful songwriter by adding his own flavor to the band’s new material.

All together, plans for a new album have been set in motion and they plan to release it in the near future.

 

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Listen

1. Where I’ll Be
2. How I Feel
3. Distant Memory
4. Blind
5. The Sign
6. Same Ol’ Path
7. What If
8. M.I.A.
9. Tell Me Father
10. Hold On
11. Long Road Ahead

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Drums, Vocals
Tony Rock - Six Ways From Sunday

Tony at Texas Rock Fest 11'

Growing up on the southside of Chicago, the drum sticks landed in my hands at the age of 7 but didn’t get serious till I was 13. I recall that it had something to do with a combination of Tommy Lee, Alex Van Halen, and the Appetite for Destruction CD. After beating on my mom’s Tupperware for months, I got my first drum kit and the rest was history.

Throughout the years of learning I adopted to many styles of playing and my influences started with Nicko McBrain, Tommy Lee, Jason/John Bonham, and they go toward the progressive rock styles of Todd Sucherman, Mike Portnoy, Ray Luzier, and Gavin Harrison. I always challenge myself to learn new and difficult things.

Through years I have worked a lot on original material and played out with a cover band for 4 years. I look forward to working with Six Ways From Sunday, and hope to bring a presence of playing that will not be forgotten. I believe in what Frank and Tim are writing and I plan on bringing an element that will hopefully launch the progress of the band to a higher tier.

Guitar, Vocals

I  played my first vinyl record at the age of two and have been in love with music ever since.  I started playing guitar at the age of 14 with the help from a friend. I got my first guitar/amp for Christmas. I had taken piano/organ/keyboard lessons at an early age, but by the teenage years I lost interest. My friend had taught me some basic guitar chords and I was on my way. For a long time I learned and played guitar by ear. I never took formal guitar lessons until I met Kurt Bonomo in 2002. It was not until then that my guitar playing took off.  Growing up in the 80’s I was heavily influenced by hair bands and shredding guitarists. Paul Gilbert, George Lynch, Warren DeMartini, C.C. Deville, Slash, Randy Rhodes, Adrian Smith, Mick Mars, Kirk Hammett, NunoBettencourt and Eddie Van Halen, I loved them all. The 80’s was a great time to be a guitarist.

Today my two main influences are Andy Timmons and John Petrucci. Both are very technical and embrace many different styles. They can shred when need be, bluesy at times or very melodic. They both love their gear which I do too. They are forever in search of great tone! I am also influenced by some great country guitarists such as Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and Kenny Chesney.

I never had any desire to play in a band until another close friend Pat found out I could sing and play guitar. At his next show Pat quickly dragged me up on stage to sing a song. I think that single moment helped push me to get out there and not just have my musical talents confined to the house. So when Tony and I met through a mutual friend in 2008 and he found out I could play guitar and sing, we quickly got together and jammed. I finally realized what I was missing all these years.

Once again, never having a desire to make my own music, Tony introduced me to Tim and Frank. I quickly fell in love with their music and an opportunity came up to fill in for a few shows. I quickly learned their material. Little did I know that those shows would lead them to welcoming me into the band and the rest is history.

 

Bass, Vocals

Tim “The Hatter” Hughes, the high energy bass player of Six Ways, was born and raised in Tinley Park, IL. Being the youngest of three kids, Tim has always been the mischievious one in any group.

After seeing his first Aerosmith concert, and seeing Joe Perry in action, Tim found a desire to play guitar. He got his first job for the sole purpose of buying a guitar. Not long after Tim and Francesco meet up, and were not immediately the best of friends. A few months past though, and they gradually got over their differences and discovered the common passion for music. Francesco began giving Tim guitar lessons which soon lead to him placing the bass guitar in Tim’s hands. That was it. An instant connection was unleashed as Tim hit his first note on his new found love and felt the power surge through his body.

After many years of lessons and cocky attitudes Tim learned how to finally put his emotions through his instrument. Tim nicknamed The Hatter, is rarely seen without a hat on, so rarely that there were once people in his life, who wondered if he actually had a scalp, or if it was just an exposed brain under the hats. Looking at Tim on stage you will notice tie’s flowing from his belt loop. He claims this is to pay tribute to his idols Joe Perry and Steven Tyler, but we just think he thinks it looks cool. You will always find Tim next to his brother Francesco, on stage, doing what they do best.

Lead Vocals, Guitar

Francesco Domenico Roti, composer and lead singer of Six Ways From Sunday and owner of Studio 6, was born in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, where he would live for only 5 years. His family moved to Oak Forest about the same time Francesco started attending school and learning to speak English, as he had only spoken Italian until that point.

When Francesco was in second grade, his parents bought him a miniaturepiano for Christmas. They didn’t know it at the time, but that was the beginning of what was to be a lifelong passion for music. When he was in fourth grade he developed a strong interest in drums, which led him to join the school band next year playing drums and percussion. He also met Roger Kellogg for the first time, a music teacher who would become his long time friend and mentor. Kellogg provided Francesco with numerous learning opportunities, as well as a bit of special attention for the child who shared his love of music. When Francesco got a little older, he would take part in Kellogg’s personal wedding band. Francesco stuck with the drums until his freshman year of high school, when he began teaching himself to play guitar and piano. This wasn’t difficult since he had already taught himself how to play the drums, only beginning private lessons his sophomore year under the direction of Glen Ellison. Over the next four years, he began shaping his music career by playing in all of the school bands and events. In 2001, Francesco met his long time friend and originating band mate Tim “the Hatter” Hughes, starting off what would be his greatest adventure.

Francesco spent his first year of college at Millikin University, three hours away from home, which meant the band had to be put on the backburner. It was at this time, however, where he really started to get into singing. He had always been the singer in the band, but with the intent of finding a separate lead vocalist, freeing Francesco to play guitar. After his freshman year, Francesco transferred to Columbia College in Chicago for Audio Recording, gaining skills that would later allow him to record most of the album at his small home studio in Oak Forest. When he moved back home, he reunited with Tim and started Six Ways From Sunday, beginning with songs such as “What If” and “Memory Lane”, which were compositions written by Francesco at Millikin and paired with Tim’s lyrics. Over the next few years, they hammered out more than an entire album of songs.