The 440 Alliance Explained

The 440 Alliance
Background:	group_or_band
Origin:	Arlington, Texas, United States
Genre:	Cello rock
Years Active:	–present
Label:	Foundation Sound
Current Members:	Drew Johnson Andrew Walton Nathan Keefer Neil Fong Gilfillan Jeff Harvick Brandon Vanderford

The 440 Alliance is an American cello rock band from Arlington, Texas consisting of five cellists and a percussionist. The group formed in 2004 and is known for their diverse approach to the cello, incorporating electric effects, turntables, piano, and mallet percussion. They received national exposure on NPR's All Songs Considered,^[1] the Drew Pearson Show on Fox Sports, and on Fox's musical reality show, The Next Great American Band.^[2] The group has performed at a number of private parties for celebrities including Troy Aikman (Former NFL Quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys), Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys owner), John Kirtland (Former drummer for Deep Blue Something and owner of Kirtland Records), Janine Turner (from Northern Exposure), members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Dallas, TX movie premiere for the film The Soloist (starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.).

Current members

• Drew Johnson (High Notes) – Cello, Pedal FX
• Andrew Walton (Captain Bringdown) – Cello, Talk Box
• Nathan Keefer (Major Scales) – Cello, Piano, Acoustic Guitar
• Neil Fong Gilfillan (Maestro Fong) – Cello, Turntables
• Jeff Harvick (Kid Bach) - Cello, Theremin
• Brandon Vanderford (Lieutenant Branderford) – Drums, Mallet Percussion

Former members

• Cody MacCafferty (Commander Cody) – Drums
• Benom Plumb - Drums

Discography

• Top 440 (15th Anniversary CD), 2020

1. Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
2. Dreams - The Cranberries
3. More Than A Feeling - Boston
4. Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys
5. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
6. The Longest Time - Billy Joel
7. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
8. God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
9. The Final Countdown - Europe
10. Home Sweet Home - Mötley Crüe
11. Welcome To Your Doom
12. Eye of the Tiger (Live) - Survivor
13. Shut-Uptown Funk & Dance (Live Medley) - Bruno Mars / Walk The Moon
14. Canon in Astley (Live) - Rick Astley
15. Just What I Needed (Live) - The Cars

• Crooked Bridge, 2010

1. Bogus Gravitas
2. Sweet Cello 'O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
3. The Gold Cartridge (Zelda) - Koji Kondo
4. Fugue 'N Blues
5. The Price Is Wrong - Bob Israel
6. Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
7. Crooked Bridge Jam
8. All You Need Is Love - The Beatles

• The 440 Alliance, 2006

1. This is Gonna Rock!
2. 440 Jam
3. Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
4. Tango de la Turntable
5. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
6. Title
7. I Am the Walrus - The Beatles
8. ¡Te Gusta 440!
9. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
10. Black Tux (Hidden Track)
11. surlaW ehT mA I (Hidden Track)

• Playin' Cellos, 2005

1. Pulp Fact (Miserlou) - Dick Dale and the Deltones
2. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
3. Classic Crunk
4. A Day in the Life/Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (Live) - The Beatles
5. Super Mario Bros. (Live) - Koji Kondo
6. 440 Jam (live)

External links

• Official site

Articles

• NPR Music - The 440 Alliance: 'This is Gonna Rock!'
• Pegasus News - The 440 Alliance review
• The Shorthorn - North Texas Band Reaches Reality TV Realm
• The North Texas Daily - 4 cellists, percussionist see early success

Listening

• Audio Samples on MySpace

Video

• Next Great American Band audition tape
• The 440 Alliance performs at Troy Aikman's Super Bowl Party

Notes and References

1. News: The 440 Alliance: 'This is Gonna Rock!' . NPR . 2007-06-17 . 2007-12-20 .
2. News: Great American Bands . Fort Worth Star Telegram . 2007-10-19 . 2007-10-19 .