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From Rocky to the Phillies, the area always has been known for introducing underdogs to the world and another group is ready to bust out beyond the city limits.
Nick Anastasi, Jay Miraglia, Frankie Pedano and Mike Vivas are Fat City Reprise, a band on the rise that’s making a brief return home after a move to Los Angeles more than two months ago. The homecoming will be highlighted by a 6 p.m. Nov. 28 show at the Theater of the Living Arts, 334 South St., and the premiere of the band’s first music video. The TLA always has been special to the group.
"We’ve played there so many times before and we’ve always had great experiences," drummer Miraglia, who grew up at 22nd and Jackson streets, said. "When we were back in Philly, we used to play there a few times a year — about every six months or so — and every time our fans always came out in large numbers to support us."
Anastasi, formerly of 18th and Ritner streets, added, "South Street has always been our home. It’s where we grew up and it’s where we learned to play."
Joining Fat City Reprise will be homegrown talent Halestorm (which hails from Red Lion, about 30 miles south of Harrisburg, and who recently signed with Atlantic Records), as well as Ike, Stillicide, El Fuego, The Feathertops and Crash Motive.
"We’ve played with these guys when we were coming up at places like Abilene’s and Grape Street Pub," lead guitarist Anastasi said. "So it’s great to play with them again now that we’re coming back home."
It’s been a long time since the rock/alt/funk band jammed at places like the now-shuttered Abilene’s, 429 South St., and the journey has had many twists and turns. Their success took them on tour last fall and earlier this year throughout the Midwest and West Coast. California left such an impression, they decided to move there for good. Heading to Los Angeles on a three-day, cross-country road trip that began Sept. 15, the band has since firmly established itself in the SoCal scene, playing at places like West Hollywood’s House of Blues.
It’s been months since the quartet has seen Billy Penn, but the boys haven’t forgotten their roots, even with a new locale, fresh opportunities and growing fan base.
"South Philly will always be home," Miraglia said, "and no matter what happens next year we’re definitely always anxious to get back."
Their first music video, which the band has not even seen, for "Long Gone" has special significance.
"Ultimately it’s an anti-drug song about a girl struggling with a heroin addiction," Anastasi said of the tune from their 2007 self-titled debut album.
For lead vocalist/keyboardist Pedano, the song took on new meaning when his stepsister died under similar circumstances. He said the song "is the one with the emotional stock" and his sentiments were seconded by Cesar Kuriyama, the man responsible for the video — from creating the concept to directing to editing the final cut.
"He thought it was our most emotional song and thought it would make the best video," Anastasi said.
Kuriyama’s involvement is just as grassroots as the band’s rise. The group wanted to make a video but had almost no money. They put out a request on MySpace for filmmakers. Kuriyama liked what he heard on their page and has been in post-production since "Long Gone" wrapped in mid-September.
"We only finished our final shots days before we hit the road in September, so we’ve only just seen snippets," Anastasi said. "We’re really looking forward to seeing it at the TLA."
With the premiere, the video heading to fuse.tv and other sites, coast-to-coast road trips, weekly gigs and the legwork that accompanies it all, most bands would be seizing any time off, but Fat City Reprise has no plans to slow down. The new year comes with new opportunities, including a tour of the West Coast and perhaps an album — or two.
"We actually just finished recording our second album right before we left to come out here," vocalist/bassist Vivas, who called Ninth and Ritner home, said of "Pirate Radio," "and at our most recent shows we’ve been demoing material for our next."
After years of struggling the success is being savored, but it doesn’t come without sacrifice.
"We lived in South Philly our whole lives without seeing a championship. We are in L.A. for six weeks and the Phillies win the World Series. It’s one of the most bittersweet moments of our lives," Anastasi said.
"One day," Anastasi continued after a brief pause, "we’re going to be having our own parade down Broad Street."
