Halfway Crooks

Halfway Crooks blend reggae-rock with funk, hip-hop, ska & beyond, always resulting in their trademark sound. Infectious hooks & memorable lyrics will have you singing along as if you know them, yet the vibes are fresh & original. This, combined with high-energy performances, make them a force to be reckoned with. Halfway Crooks are a band from Yonkers, New York. They came together in early 2004...

Halfway Crooks are a band from Yonkers, New York. They came together in early 2004, mixing several musical elements together in a style that can only be described by hearing it: soulful and grooving rock, reggae, ska, hip-hop, and funk rhythms; overlapped by smooth melodies, melodic raps, and infectious hooks; sporadically accompanied by guest lyricists and vocalists, as well as brass instruments and percussion; culminating with insightful and memorable lyrics that paint a picture, bound to stick in your head.

Following a path of originality, similar to the influences of Sublime, The Roots, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, Halfway Crooks blend several layers that equally appeal to fans of many genres, people of different cultures, and ages spanning from Generation Y to the Baby-Boomers, widening their potential audience to no limits.

In 2007, the Crooks gigged locally as well as in Philly, D.C., and Vermont, after releasing "Throw the First Stone & Take the Streets" - 2 e.p.'s on 1 c.d. By the end of the year, they had put together their first full-length album, "Raise the Bar". It features 17 original songs, 2 of which were mixed by Jim Sabella (Public Enemy, Marcy's Playground, Catch 22). Both albums are available on cdbaby, itunes, amazon, rhapsody, verizon v-cast, etc.

Halfway Crooks started out 2008 with a bang ? as the New Year's ball dropped, so did their first full-length release, ?Raise the Bar?. Solely a DIY band, within weeks the Crooks' started selling the album on i-tunes and cdbaby, amongst other internet outlets, and have recently broke into such internet radio stations as last.FM. With the album in place, Halfway Crooks sought to flood the local and surrounding areas with performances- from their hometown of Yonkers to NYC and Long Island, to upstate NY in New Paltz, Woodstock, Rhinebeck, and Kingston.

In March, Halfway Crooks played and won the ?Woodstock Industry Night? at The Colony in Woodstock, NY. They headlined the following show, ?Concert for Charlie?, a charity event that raised over $5,000 for toddler's medical expenses. Less than a month later, they opened for reggae force The Aggrolites (Hellcat Records) in New York City. The summer brought the ?Pleasantville Music Festival? (attracting over 5,000 in attendance) where Halfway Crooks closed the beer garden stage, preceding headliner Joan Osborne. They also appeared on PCTV (Pleasantville Cable Television) doing an in-studio performance of ?Safety Net?. The third annual ?Walshstock Festival?, started in part by the Crooks, drew hundreds into the mountains just outside Burlington, Vermont for an explosive 4th of July weekend. ?The Greater American Food & Beer Festival? held in the fall (sponsored by The Peak 107.1) featured Halfway Crooks as the supporting act for legendary rockers, The Smithereens. And lastly, headlining on Halloween night in the heart of NYC's Greenwich Village proved to be one of the finest performances for the band. Just after the parade ended, Halfway Crooks were on stage, in full costume and full Halloween spirits, playing for a packed house.

Now as 2008 winds down, Halfway Crooks have entered the studio to record 2 brand new tracks ? ?Just a Dude? and ?Thru the Night?. They plan to release these songs on a compilation under their own label, Atomic Rooster Records, featuring several bands they have gigged with in the past year (due for release in early 2009). Halfway Crooks are planning to branch-back-out to other cities and states in the upcoming year, bringing their music and high-energy performances to new crowds.