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Be sure to check out our Electronic Press Kit for more information.
Band History
Hopeless Romantica is a band out of Rowlett, Texas. Formed in the summer of 2007 by John Chambers (lead vocals) and James Gonzalez (lead guitar). Hopeless Romantica has done many shows over the past almost 3 years as well as competed and won a couple of competitions including “Gorilla Productions Battle of the Bands”. HR has recorded twice in studio, one being a 5 song demo and the other an 8 song EP which was recorded by an Grammy Award Nominated and Winning studio and staff from Luminous Sound in Dallas, Texas. Over the years HR’s name has continued to grow across the Dallas scene as well as somewhat across Texas. The name is also slowly traveling across the nation via Stickam.com where they practice live for people all over the country every Tuesday and Friday night, as well as a chat session afterwards for new people to get to know them personally as well as regulars to catch up on the week. HR’s purpose since the beginning has always been to spread the pro’s and con’s of love through music. How through all the up’s and down’s, it still makes up the greatest thing in existence.
“We are Hopeless. We are Romantics. These are the stories of our lives. This is Hopeless Romantica.”
- Chambers (HR)
Band Members
 |  |  |  |  |
| John Chambers | James Gonzalez | Sean Bottoms | Justin Pruett | Scott Kalnasy |
| Lead Vocals/Guitar/Piano | Guitar/Vocals | Bass | Drums | Guitar/Vocals |
John Chambers - Vocals/Guitar/Piano
John’s musical background all started as soon as he was able to sing. John has song in various choirs over the years including elementary, middle, and high school choirs, as well as church choirs, and college choirs including the Richland Chambers choir and the Richland Jazz Singers. John has sung all styles and types of music, from classical to jazz, pop to rock, even into soul. There isn’t much he hasn’t done as far as his vocal experience goes.
John also has been playing piano for 16 years starting when he was just 6 years old. He’s performed in many piano recitals and contests winning a hand full of ribbons and certificates.
Just recently, he has also picked up on playing the guitar, and is still learning something every day from co-band mates.
In 2007, Hopeless Romantica was formed by John and James Gonzalez (lead guitar) as an acoustic project that rapidly grew into so much more. Over the past 3 years, John has grown into more than just a vocalist. He’s taught himself correct breathing patterns, how to sing into a higher range, as well as vocal screams, also known as VOX used by many hardcore/metal bands known very well today.
Equipment:
Microphone: Senheiser
Social Networks: MySpace.com/RSChambers Twitter.com/ChambersHR
James Gonzalez - Guitar/Vocals
It all started back in freshman year in high school for James. Up until this point he had just been playing bass guitar. He was looking for more of a challenge. So he picked up a guitar and started to learn, mainly cover songs (incubus). By senior year he started to learn more complex music with the help of his friend Ryan Bentley (Memphis May Fire).
With stints in a few bands in the summer of 2006, James started to take on the basic forms of song writing. Then in the fall of that year he started college and met his future friend and band mate John Chambers. Within the next few months they started Hopeless Romantica, and the rest was history. Over the past three years he has not only progressed in guitar playing but also song writing. Through all the line-up changes on guitar HR recently found Scott, he has pushed James to continue to improve as a guitar player. James’ experience in Hopeless Romantica has helped his progression as a musician.
Equipment:
Amp: Line 6 Spider III 4x12 Half Stack
Cab: Mesa Boogie Rectifier 120W 2x12 Horizontal Guitar Speaker Cabinet
Guitars:
- Schecter Guitar Research C-1 Standard Electric Guitar
- Ibanez AS73B Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar
- Ibanez V70CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Picks: Dunlop
Social Networks: MySpace.com/krizunk_gonzo Twitter.com/jameslucasHR
Sean Bottoms - Bass
Sean’s interest in playing an instrument started when his sister and mom got him a keyboard for Christmas back in second grade. Both his mom and sister noticed that he was creating music and teaching himself how to play by reading the books that came with the keyboard. So a few months later he began taking piano lessons. He continued to take lessons till his sophomore year in high school, winning numerous awards and recognitions. When Sean started middle school he signed up for band and chose percussion as his instrument. Throughout middle school he took drum lessons. When high school started he tried out for drumline and made it. He played the bass drum his freshman year till he was a junior. Then his senior he played snare and became drum captain.
By the end of his high school career, Sean and Justin met Scott, and two other people to form their first rock band called Parliament of Rooks. The band fell apart due to lack of experience and management but it did land Sean a place in another band called Hopeless Romantica. He joined the band in Dec of 07. He started off as rhythm guitar player till the band was left without a bass player so he decided to switch to bass.
Equipment:
Amp: Ampeg SVT-7 PRO
Cab: Ampeg SVT-610HLF
Guitar: Jackson 5 string Bass
- Humbucker pickup
- J style pickup
Picks: Dunlop
Accessories: Audio-Technica ATW-2110 2000 wireless system, Monster Pro 900 rack power conditioner
Cases: Road Runner Bass Case, Road Runner 8u rack case
Social Networks: MySpace.com/s3an88 Twitter.com/s3anHR
Justin Pruett - Drums
Justin wanted to play drums in the 6th grade but was told he had no rhythm and was given the choice between trumpet or trombone. He played the trombone all through middle school, and towards the end of middle school his parents surprised him with his first drum set. A black Olympic by Premier jazz kit with basic Zildjian ZBT cymbals.
He continued to play trombone in high school, but at the same time he was teaching himself drums by playing along with both Jazz and Rock artists such as Buddy Rich and System of a Down. By the end of his high school career, Sean and Justin met Scott, and two other people to form their first rock band called Parliament of Rooks. The band fell apart due to lack of experience and management but it did land Sean a place in another band called Hopeless Romantica.
When Hopeless Romantica lost their drummer, Sean suggested bringing Justin on board and had him record the bands first demo with just 4 days notice in the summer of 2008. By March of 2009 Justin had a firm place in the band and recorded the 8 track EP Hopeless Romantica that was released in early 2010.
Equipment:
Drums: DDRUM AMX - 22" Diameter 20" Long Bass Drum, 14"D 7"L Snare Drum, 12"D 8"L Rack Tom, 16"D 14"L Floor Tom
Cymbals: Sabian - 14" AAX Stage Hats; Zildjian - 20" A Custom Projection Ride; Wuhan - 16" Crash, 12" Splash; Paiste - 8" PST 5 Splash, 16" PST 3 Crash
Hardware: Tama - Iron Cobra Jr Double Bass Pedal; Sound Percussion; PDP
Heads: Evans EC2 on batter, Evans EC2 Resonant on resonant, and Aquarian Super Kick 1 set for the bass drum.
Sticks: ProMark
Practice Tools: Roland RMP-5 Rhythm Coach; Rock Band the Video Game (PS3)
Social Networks: MySpace.com/jhp7894 Twitter.com/JustinPruett
Scott Kalnasy - Guitar
He was a sophomore in high school when he first picked up a guitar. A good friend of his taught him how to play the solo to Stacy’s Mom in ten minutes. He went home that night and begged his mother to buy him a guitar of his own and she did. His first guitar was a solid black Charvette, made by Charvelle.
Due to the frustration of not being amazing right off the bat, he put his guitar away for well over a year, until he joined his first band; Random Hero. The band lasted for about three months before breaking up. Playing with the band really improved his guitar and musicianship skills.
After Random Hero broke up, he again put his guitar down until his freshman year in college. He met Justin and Sean and they formed a band. It wasn’t until he started to play with them that he began to seriously write music, and practice. Playing guitar had taken over his life. He would rather play music than go to school and by the end of his freshman year his GPA was a 0.0 average. After the band stopped he focused on his school work, and is now only a semester away from graduating.
In December of 2009 he was asked to join Hopeless Romantica, and he feels very lucky to be playing with these guys. James and Scott click when it comes to writing guitar parts, and he is the only other guitar player he has ever had that chemistry with.
Equipment:
Amp: Line 6 Spider III
Cab: Line 6
Guitar: White Epiphone Les Paul
Strings: Ernie Ball 10's
Picks: Purple Dunlop
Social Networks: MySpace.com/K_Nast Twitter.com/Kalnasy
AboutHopeless Romantica is a rock band out of Rowlett, Texas, USA. This is their official website. You can view their Electronic Press Kit here. |
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