The Dirty Clergy

History

Formed in 2009 in Winfield, Alabama the band now consists of songwriter/guitarist Brian Manasco, Brad White on vocals, Joshua Pope on guitar, Ky Carter on Bass, and Cody Moorehead on drums. However, the band originally started out as a two piece folk band with Brian Manasco and Tyler Evans writing mostly protest songs. It wasn't until July 2010 they formed a full-fledged rock and roll band.

The band's "Breakdown" EP was recorded in San Antonio, Texas by Gordon Raphael, well known for his work with The Strokes and Regina Spektor. However, the EP was never officially released. That was followed in 2011 with their first full-length album 'Revival'

2012 saw the band tour extensively across the U.S. garnering positive reviews of their live shows and album. The Dayton City Paper proclaimed the band as a 'new gear in the rock and roll transmission'.

After a brief time off in 2013, they returned in 2014 to record "Shake, Shake". The song was featured on mtvU, axsTV and many commercial stations across the U.S. including KYXY 96.5 in San Diego, California. This success landed them the title of 2014’s Rock Artist of the Year from fashion blog Glitter & Stilletos.

The band's second studio album was recorded in Birmingham, Alabama by Lester Nuby III. The band has received moderate success with it including a top 10 showing on the KKBB Alt speciality charts album category and a top 5 with the single 'Summer Days'. More recently the band has been featured on Reg's Coffeehouse on Birmingham Mountain Radio and the KROQ program Rodney on the Roq with Rodney Bingenheimer. Paul Cashmere, Australian music journalist, also picked up on the band's latest release 'Rattlesnake' saying, "This is a band and an album I’m quite excited about. The Dirty Clergy represent everything that made Rock great. They have listened to the past and soaked up the influences. Just as The Stones and The Beatles sourced from Chuck Berry and Little Richard for their first few albums, The Dirty Clergy have taken their cues from Led Zep, The Ramones and maybe a touch of Crazy Horse and early Grunge." Well known Canadian music blog The Revue said The Dirty Clergy are a reminder that a classic genre can still feel refreshing and inviting – a rarity in today’s music industry. 'Rattlesnake' had done so well it caught the attention of top Alabama journalist John Archibald who did a piece on the band saying 'Hard work reminiscent of Springsteen, familiar and groovy and comfortable, but driving like a bunch of Alabama rockers chasing a dream through the streets of Manhattan.'

KFHS Radio in Fort Hays, Kansas, said "The Dirty Clergy’s Rattlesnake displays the band’s evident ability to create a dynamic range of sound. With fervent vocals layering both harmonic hooks and gritty energy, a listen through Rattlesnake has something for everyone. In a time where music is ruled by electronic, synth, and manufactured sounds, The Dirty Clergy is taking it upon themselves to remind you that rock and roll is still very much alive."

The band stated in an interview with Round Magazine that 'Summer Days' was one of the final songs written for the album 'Rattlesnake'. The original intention for the song was to have a set of these 'beachy/summer' type songs and do a 5 or 6 song EP. They scrapped that idea when The Raveonettes suddenly released their 2014 album Pe'ahi.

On September 9, 2016 Canadian radio broadcaster Alan Cross included the band's single 'Summer Days' in his Top 11 Songs of the Week. A list of hand selected songs by the international DJ himself.

The Dirty Clergy was featured, alongside English singer/songwriter David Gray, in an October 2016 edition of XS Noize Music's podcast being the featured band with their song 'Gold' The site also included them in their 'Unsigned Showcase' feature listing them as being for fans of The Strokes, The Killers, and The Cure.

In an interview with ReverbNation, the band confirmed they will be in the studio again with 'Rattlesnake' producer Lester Nuby III.

Musical Style

The band basically describe themselves as a 'rock' band, however vague that may be. Many reviews have labeled them a garage rock/pop band and most snuggle them in a group with bands such as Kings of Leon, The Killers, U2, and The Gaslight Anthem. The band covers multiple genre's in their music so nailing them to one particular genre isn't very accurate.

IMA Nomination

The Dirty Clergy's 'Rattlesnake' was nominated by Music Resource Group (MRG) for best indie/alt rock album in The 15th annual Independent Music Awards (The IMA's), the influential awards program for independent artists and releases. More than 400 innovative self-released and indie label projects culled from thousands of submissions worldwide, were nominated by fans and industry in more than 80 Album, Song, EP, Music Producer, Music Video and Design categories. The event is held each November at Lincoln Center in New York, NY.

-Truth Wars (2010)

-The Breakdown EP (2011)

-Revival (2011)

-Shake EP (2012)

-Rattlesnake (2016)

*Guest musicians on Rattlesnake*

-Untitled LP (2017)

*Guest musicians*

Albums

EPs

Singles