Cinder Road

As long as you understand he's talking circa 2007, then singer Mike Ruocco's declaration that his band Cinder Road are "old-school rock with new-school validity" is right on the money. The radio-friendly songs, the dramatic lyrics, and the guts-and-glory sound all came together in 2005 when guitarists Chris Shucosky and Pat Patrick, drummer Mac Calveresi, and bassist Nat Doegen joined Ruocco and formed Cinder Road. Named after the street where they grew up, Cinder Road were sure to draw attention in their home of Lutherville, MD, but it didn't take them long to earn an audience up and down the East Coast, thanks to intense live shows and constant touring. When the press started using terms like "arena rock revival," Union Entertainment Group — home to Nickelback — became interested. They brought the band to EMI, got them signed, and partnered them with producer Marti Frederiksen, who had previously worked with Aerosmith, Def Leppard, and Ozzy Osbourne. As their debut album was being slated for release in late spring 2007, the band hit the road once again, this time opening for American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry.