Going Places with Dina Guzzardo
Ill Rendition are a three-piece ska/rock/reggae band straight out of Atlantic City, composed of Christian Glomb (vocals and guitar), Connor Petras (bass), and Dave Freeman (drums). The band formed in 2009 with several changes to the line-up over the years, but Glomb has been the one constant. I got to have a conversation with Glomb about what it was like to share the stage with some of the biggest names in music, their on-stage presence; and their mascot, hype man, and animated fourth member, Gill Rendition.
Ill Rendition have been fortunate enough to share the stage with some incredible artists including John Mayer, Pepper, and Bumpin Uglies. However, one artist stuck out with the most because not only did they share the stage with them, but they also got to perform with them. “It’s been incredible getting to play shows with people we looked up to so much. I think one of the coolest ones was a festival we played out in Maryland, and Kash’d Out was the headliner. We looked over and Greg [Shields] hopped on stage and sang a chorus and a verse with us which was kind of a cool thing” said Glomb.
Unfortunately, the band was perhaps one of the first bands to feel the impact of COVID-19, as a scheduled show supporting Glomb’s favorite band, Ballyhoo, was set for the day lockdown was announced. However, fans will be pleased to know that Glomb sounded hopeful that this would be rescheduled, and for now, live streams are the best way to catch these guys live. Many artists have taken to live streaming as it is easy to set up your phone and you’re good to go. This was not quite good enough for Ill Rendition, and they wanted to bring their fans the ultimate live streaming experience. They linked up with an old high school friend of Glomb’s, Jason Spatz, who was well versed in the visual side of music production, to create a truly one-of-a-kind experience for their fans and ensure there was still amazing graphics to go alongside their awesome sound. This was important to the band as they are well known for their live performances.
Everyone who I have spoken to about Il Rendition has assured me that seeing them live should be on my bucket-list. Although sadly I won’t be able to in the near future, I was curious to know how they got this commendable reputation. “I think it is just the energy. We get so into it feeding off the people being there” explained Glomb. Their on-stage presence is a huge draw for many fans as they like to rip into each other, and the banter does not stop flowing for the entire show. This is something I am sure their fans are looking forward to when they can perform live again.
One of many admirable traits of the band is their dedication to worthy causes, the dearest to their heart being Elephants for Autism. EFA are a New Jersey based annual festival started by Jerry Ryan which seeks to raise money for charities supporting people with autism. It is a festival that Ill Rendition have participated in for several years and is a way they are able to give something back for the kids in the area.
Although the band comprises three music playing members, there is one additional member that fans will be familiar with – Gill Rendition. Hype man, mascot, loveable animation. Gill covers all bases but is best described as the “personified version of the band.” Glomb explained that Gill is kind of like the band’s alter ego and was created to give their fans someone to connect with. “We wanted people to catch a vibe from us without putting our images all over everything,” Glomb chuckled. For anyone curious what that vibe is, Gill is an alien riding a slice of pizza – a vibe I am sure we can all get on board with.
Currently, the band is working on two albums. The first is an album of covers which pokes fun at the name of the band. What started off as something of a joke, turned into the guys deciding that an album of covers would be a great project for them to work on. They have been tirelessly plugging away selecting songs to cover and apply their own sound to. The other album is a mix of original content and some cherry-picked singles from previous records which they have since decided they can improve. The addition of bassist Connor inspired the guys to re-record some of their old stuff and tweak it. These albums are expected to be released in early 2021.
In terms of seeing Ill Rendition live right now, like many bands they are strictly adhering to COVID protocols and have decided to put the safety of their fans and family first. That being said, they are planning to get back into live streaming soon. Updates can be found on their social media pages (@illrendition on all platforms). They can be found on all major streaming platforms and are in the process of organizing live YouTube streaming sessions. So, if you’re looking for your next obsession, download and connect with the vibes of Ill Rendition.
Dina Guzzardo is the President and Executive Promoter of Dina Media Group LLC. Dina Media Group is an innovative cutting edge event production and marketing company that produces and promotes large events as well as a talent agency that manages some incredible talent.www.dinamediagroup.com
