“Kellogg’s music is semi-gritty, melodic alt-country. Think early Wilco, Whiskeytown, or Tom Petty. Relaxed, yet passionate.” – BOSTON GLOBE

Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers is a Massachusetts’ trio made up of two distinct parts. In one corner stands the unmistakably jubilant personality of rock-n-roll’s The Sixers; in the other sits an authentic American songwriter in a period of profound growth. Rising triumphantly in the center is a band whose music is the perfect marriage of the two.

A few months after the band formed, they experienced a harrowing flight to Florida where they collectively saw their lives flash before their eyes. The experience caused them to all do a lot of soul searching. The result is Glassjaw Boxer – a lasting letter to the world about family and friendships, released in July 2007. Glassjaw Boxer was met with widespread critical acclaim, named a Top 5 Album of 2007 by USA Today. As a songwriter, Stephen emerged from the flight with a new found appreciation for everything and everyone in his life and his heartfelt songs reach out to those he cares most about. Delving into thoughts and issues we all struggle with on a daily basis.

The album’s centerpiece, “Fourth of July,” tells Kellogg’s life story – swapping holiday patriotism for the individual moments that shape the living of a day, year after year. “In Front of the World” shares instructions on life with a younger brother, ultimately recognizing Kellogg’s own weaknesses. The opening piano arpeggio of “Sweet Sophia” immediately recalls classic Springsteen, while the late-night vocal stomp of closer “Big Easy” evokes the swamp-folk of The Band. Meanwhile, themes of fatherhood (“Father’s Day”), friendship (“Milwaukee”), and love (“Hearts in Pain”) bind the set into a heartfelt, coherent work.

On stage they offer engaging live shows that effortlessly mix rollicking shoulder-to-shoulder sing-alongs, casually-spun three-part fables, and triumphant moments of musical synchronicity. With the Glassjaw Boxer material, the emotional spectrum expands even further, as Kellogg takes a quieter moment to share a soulful ballad or a poignant reflection. “It’s that much more of a ride,” says Kellogg. Keith “Goose” Karlson (bass/keys) and Brian “Boots” Factor (drums) – play together like brothers, effortlessly sharing the stage and the spotlight. Honed over hundreds of gigs across the country, the Sixers’ shows are vivid celebrations of camaraderie and friendship. “There is a realization in the band,” says Kellogg, “that this is a journey. It’s not just an end result. What you have is what you make of every day.”

For the past five years, Kellogg & the Sixers have toured non-stop, some years clocking in close to 300 shows. They’ve shared the stage with such notable and diverse artists as Guster, James Brown, Jason Mraz, Kathleen Edwards, Carbon Leaf, Mike Doughty, Josh Ritter, George Thorogood, Hanson, and Pat McGee Band. In addition, the band shared arena stages with million-selling American band O.A.R. Kellogg recalls the nervous scene prior to their first such show: “we were pushing each other around the dressing room like it was Braveheart – like we were going into battle.”

With a full North American tour lined up for the fall and the release of American Standard in the start of 2009, the future of Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers looks brighter than ever. And their broadening base of dedicated followers: teenagers covering their binders and MySpace profiles with “SK6ERS” and their parents re-discovering how rock ‘n roll can speak to them, deeply, through the words and music of Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, will continue to find what they’ve been searching for – a growing musical legacy of a life honestly and actively lived.